FAMILY DYNAMICS SET TO MUSIC IN MTC'S ENGAGING "LA CAGE AUX FOLLES"

Who is a mother? The woman who gives birth to you and then abandons you, rarely to be seen again or the man who wipes your brow when you are ill with fever and is there every day faithfully by your side? For Jean-Michel, the question becomes critical when, at the age of 24 years, he announces his engagement to the delightful Anne. Her father is the head of the "Tradition, Family and Morality Party," a conservative political party dedicated to the goal of closing all drag nightclubs. Since Jean-Michel's "parents," Georges the owner and master of ceremonies and Albin, the flamboyant transvestite star "Zaza," are intimately involved in that targeted enterprise, there are bound to be fireworks when the two prospective sets of in-laws meet for the first time.

Be prepared to jump aboard the merry-go-round that is "La Cage aux Folles," which literally means "the cage of mad women," parading across the stage of the Music Theater of Connecticut in Norwalk. This "gay" production enjoys a book by Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. Come to Saint-Tropez for the grand and gaudy adventure, with enough glamour and glitz to light up a third world country weekends until Saturday, April 19.

When Jean-Michel (Zachery Anderson) comes home with his good news, he urges his father Georges (Scott Mikita) to tell his “mother” Albin (Frank Matrone) to absent himself from the family home. He also wants the apartment redecorated in a pious manner, even though it will still be pink, and asks their butler Jacob (Cedric Leiba Jr.), who considers himself the maid, to tone down his outrageous persona. Thankfully, Jacob doesn't really listen.

The accommodating Georges (the most agreeable Mikita) agrees to the plan while the dedicated Albin ( the wonderful Matrone) is understandably hurt by Jean-Michel's attitude, he reluctantly says he will appear as a macho "Uncle Al" to assuage his feelings. The arrival of sweet Anne (Brianna Bauch), her agreeable mother (Laura Austin) and her staid and starched father (Lou Ursone) set the stage for riotous rockets and colorful explosions worthy of a Fourth of July.

Timeless tunes like "I Am What I Am," "With Anne on My Arm," "The Best of Times," "Look Over There" and "La Cage aux Folles" ring out in splendor as do the numerous dance numbers choreographed by Chris McNiff, executed by the statuesque Les Cagelles, Sam Brackley, Cameron Edris, Daniel Pahl and Pablo Pernia who are dressed to the nines in feathers and fur, sequins and satin by Diane Vanderkroef. The talented cast is completed by Shaylen Harger, Shannon Hofheimer, and Jim Schilling. Kevin Connors, director, has outdone himself in this wildly tender musical of love, understanding and forgiveness.

For tickets ($55-65), call Music Theater of CT, 509 Westport Avenue in Norwalk at 203-454-3883 or online at www.musictheatreofct.com. Performances are Thursday at 7 p.m. , Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Due to cutbacks in the arts, MTC needs your financial support today more than ever. Please give generously to keep the arts vital.

Drape yourself in a feathery boa and get ready for some flamboyant fun as "La Cage aux Folles" tickles and tantalizes your fancy.

TRIBUTE TO "THEATRE PEOPLE" COURTESY OF WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE

If you are a lover of theater, it doesn’t matter if you are a playwright or director, a designer of scenery or costumes, in charge of music, props, lighting or sound all behind the curtain, or treading the boards acting in a comedy, tragedy, romance or farce in front of the curtains with a facial expression, a dance step, or a commanding voice or being a member of the audience enthusiastically supporting the cast with joy and encouragement, you are all incredibly theatre people necessary for a successful production to occur. From now until Saturday, April 12, Westport Country Playhouse is honoring your love of the craft by paying homage to Paul Slade Smith’s adaptation of Ferenc Molnar’s "Play at the Castle.” Smith’s “Theatre People” is a sterling tribute to all things dramatic and comical, showing off the best of the theatrical world.

Husband and wife writing team, Charlotte and Arthur Sanders, gloriously adept in the hands of Isabel Keating and Michael McCormick, are on the verge of either a grand success in their chosen profession or a terrible disaster that could literally bankrupt them. Having checked into a lavish bedroom in a Newport mansion, they are guarding their golden egg, Rodolfo Soto’s Oliver Adams, who is about to sign a lucrative contract for his first novel. Oliver has pledged his love to a beautiful angel, Mia Pinero’s singer Margot Bell whom he met a year ago at a party at the Sanders' home and has written his new book to, his heart’s desire, but she does not know.

Now Margot is ensconced in the bedroom next door, about to remeet Oliver after a year of not seeing him, but conducting a correspondence of love letters. He has idealized her as an angel, a pure and virtuous idol with no knowledge of sex, who, instead, is happily carrying on an affair with her stage partner Victor Pratt, an amorous Michael McCorry Rose.

How to protect Oliver’s sensibiities and preserve that Margot is as pure as the driven snow and has not “drifted.” Charlotte has to stretch her creative juices. Luckily she has the help of the housekeeper Olga, in the capable hands of Erin Noel Grennan, to deliver champagne, sandwiches, pancakes and laughter for a happy ending, Mark Shanahan directs this romantic love letter to thespians, on a glorious bedroom set designed by James J. Fenton, and lovely costumes by Annie J. Le.

For tickets ($50-75), call Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Westport at 203-227-4177 or online at www.westportplayhouse.org. Performances are Tuesday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m. followed by a talkback.

Eavesdropping through walls and doors leads to a passionate ode to lips, lust and love that presents delightful complications in this 1948 era homage to the art of romantic storytelling.