Directed by Janet Mayers.

Janet Mayers of Conway has dusted off her director's chair to help bring to the Theatre of the Republic stage a Tony award-winning musical based on a 1973 French play with a screen version that became one of the most popular foreign films ever released in the United States. "La Cage aux Folles" opens May 16 with elaborate costuming by Sandy Flora and a romantic score directed by Dr. Andrew Fowler.

This flamboyant and outrageous musical comedy, sponsored by Time Out Bar & Nightlife, is also very "poignant," Mayers said, as the story about a son raised by gay parents unfolds to reveal how his shame to introduce them to his finance's ultraconservative parents changes following a comedy of errors.

Mayers, who has been a passionate Theatre of the Republic actor since 1968 and is upcoming President of the TOR Board of Directors, has directed several times in the past and wanted to try her hand once again. With assistance from June Brown and Charles Darville, Mayers has cast her former co-lead in "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" Fred Harris (Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd) as Georges. Harris, a Myrtle Beach attorney, takes the lead role in this show based on the movie "The Bird Cage," which features a chorus line of female impersonators.

TOR Executive Director Tim McGhee in the lead role of Albin, Georges life partner, is "perfect for the role," Mayers said. Albin is the fabulous entertainer Zaza, the star attraction at the Saint Tropez nightclub that Georges manages and where drag entertainment is featured. But Zaza has some competition from an over-the-top female impersonator, Jacob, played by Brad Woodbury, who wants to be the star of the show. Jacob is the butler--or maid as he keeps reminding his employers.

Set designers and creators Tim McGhee and Smokey Jakey are recreating the nightclub and adjoining apartment where the story unfolds and lighting design by Brian Carter and sound by David Catton-Johnson bring the show to life. Big show tunes such as "We Are What We Are," and "The Best of Times," will be familiar to the audience.

The product of Georges short-lived love affair of 20 years ago, son Jean-Michel is played by Chris Taylor, recently seen in "Fiddler on the Roof." Taylor's role runs the emotional gamut of being in love with a woman, Anne, played by TOR regular Rosa Rea. Every time the lovers see each other, they break into dance. The catch to their romance, however, is that Anne's parents, Monsieur Edouard Dindon, played by Richard Brooks, and Madame Marie Dindon, played by Karen Bland, are in the political realm. The Monsieur ran on a morality platform and has a reputation to uphold. So the young lovers are fearful of introducing the two very different sets of parents.

Jean-Michel would prefer that Albin not come to a meeting of the parents and Albin is hurt. The beautiful ballad, "Look Over There" speaks to Albin's devotion through the years to the young man. Albin is not about to be left out so a scheme is concocted in which he is to pose as an uncle and goes through lessons to be more masculine ("Masculinity") and to walk like John Wayne.

When the fiancee's bigoted parents arrive, however, Albin enters dressed as the mother and thanks in part to the exquisite work of the show's hair and makeup stylist JP Perez, he is so charming, the Monsieur insists they all to out to a high-class restaurantÑChez JaquelineÑowned by Jaqueline, who is portrayed by Beth Robichaud. Albin is encouraged by his fans to take the stage and perform as Zaza and at the end of the performance he does his signature moveÑhe takes off his wig. With the gig up, the Monsieur is stuck inside the club with press waiting outside so he and his family are dressed in drag to make their escape and save face. The "too funny" finale includes a lot of audience interaction, Mayers said.

Show dates and times are 8 p.m. May 16-19 and 23-26 and 3 p.m. May 20-27. Mayers said with ticket sales already going fast and with the last two shows at TOR selling out early, she expects to add a second matinee on May 27 and additional shows on May 28-29. To ensure reservations, do not hesitate. Call 488-0821.

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