Fancy a good laugh?

By Maria Gregoriou

At the height of summer last year, we all re-watched one (or more) of Robin Williams’ films after the news that he was no longer a resident of this world.

If your choice was The Birdcage then you might want to see how the Greeks have put a twist on the story, as Theatro Ena in Limassol will be filled with sequins and sparkle as of Monday.

The play’s plot, just like the movie’s plot and the story behind the original 1978 film La Cage aux Folles, revolves around a gay couple, Armand Goldman and Albert.

Goldman owns a drag club and Albert (or Starina) is the club’s star attraction.

One day Goldman’s son, Val, comes home to visit and announces that he is getting married. But, alas, there is a problem. The parents of Goldman’s prospective daughter-in-law are very conservative and just wouldn’t go for gay in-laws. So, things being as they are, Val’s birth mother agrees to play wife, while Albert is stuck with playing an uncle for when the parents come over to meet them.

As in any good comedy, things don’t go as they should, roles are changed at the last minute and a conservative man ends up dressing very much as a flamboyant gay man.

The performance is directed by Andreas Christodoulides and some of the cast members are Manolis Michalidis, Sotiris Mestanos, Pantelis Antonas, Irene Constantinou and George Georgis.

The Birdcage
Performance of the story based on the original La Cage aux Folles by Jean Poiret. February 2-8. Theatre Ena, Limassol. 8.30pm. €15-12. In Greek. Tel: 96-452399

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