Solid Characterizations Power ‘La Cage’

By reviving the 1983 stage musical of “La Cage aux Folles,” Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities is offering the opportunity to compare it to the Americanized movie version, “The Birdcage,” out on video this week, as well as the original French movie, long available on video.

An examination of all three versions over the weekend reveals that the prix should go to . . . the stage version, at Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. It made sense for Harvey Fierstein (book) and Jerry Herman (music/lyrics) to turn this narrative into a musical. It’s set in a musical theater milieu--a building centered on a nightclub. The creators of the French film were especially negligent in using this setting.

The book for the musical eliminates the onstage presence of the young man’s biological mother, who was singled out as an unlikely contrivance by some film critics. But the emotions of the central story are stoked much higher onstage, and not only because they’re expressed in song. The spoken dialogue for that young man in particular is much more pointed. There are a few misfired jokes in the longer script for the stage, but the strength of the characterizations more than compensates.

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Irv Kimber’s staging in Redondo Beach is strong, too. Michael G. Hawkins as Georges, the “husband,” has an emcee’s charm but also the gruff honesty that’s required of this character; these qualities combine in his voice as well as the rest of his performance. Frank Stancati is a persnickety dynamo as Albin, the “wife.”

Jim Poulos, as their son, looks a bit like Michael J. Fox’s character in “Family Ties” and sings and dances with alacrity. Sarah Ramsey-Duke, as his fiancee, has a winning naivete. Michael McCarty is the very essence of red-faced bluster as her father. Carol Swarbrick brings a warm, knowing quality to the restaurant owner who assists the denouement, and Mark Nordike minces majestically as the “maid.”

Les Cagelles, choreographed by Roger Castellano, evoke the joie de vivre inside their “cage” with splendid spirit.

* “La Cage aux Folles,” Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Tonight-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 2 p.m.; Sunday, 7 p.m. $25-$40. (310) 372-4477. Running time: 2 hours, 55 minutes.