Testing the bonds of love

It was maybe 15 years ago, though Dean Eldon Squibb isn’t quite certain, when he portrayed the character of Albin in the Musical Theatre Southwest production of “La Cage aux Folles.”

When Squibb learned that the Albuquerque Little Theatre was going to stage the musical this spring, the thought popped into his head about auditioning for it. He chatted briefly with Henry Avery, the director of the ALT production, about it.

Squibb wasn’t sure what he would do but then a few days before auditions, he said, “I got strange little clues that I needed to be part of this project.”

	‘La Cage aux Folles’ WHEN: 8 tonight and Saturday, March 2, 2 p.m. Sunday, March 3. Repeats March 8-10, March 14-17 and March 22-24  WHERE: Albuquerque Little Theatre, 224 San Pasquale SW HOW MUCH: $24 general public, $21 seniors, $18 students with valid ID, $12 for those 12 and under in advance at the ALT box office, by visiting www.albuquerquelittletheatre.org or by calling ALT at 242-4750 ext. 2Online Visit www.abqjournal.com/photos to see a slide show of the cast in “La Cage aux Folles.”

One clue came when he was shopping in a thrift store for his costume collection.

“I came across a shirt that said ‘La Cage New York Baseball Team.’ I didn’t know there was one,” he said.

“I thought, ‘You know maybe I should tell the story again. I knew that if I do do it, and Henry casts me (as Albin) I have to do it differently.

“I’m 15 years older. I used to be a dancer. Now I’m a mover, not even a hoofer – a cross between Bea Arthur and Joel Grey at 80,” Squibb added.

As it turned out, Squibb will have his chance to reprise the role of Albin at ALT where the musical opens tonight for a four-weekend run.

“La Cage,” which opened on Broadway 30 years ago, tells the story of the gay couple of Albin and Georges (Ron Bernitsky) in Saint-Tropez, France. They have lived together for years above the nightclub La Cage aux Folles where Georges is the emcee and Albin, a drag queen, is the star performer. Their “maid” is Jacob (Joe Moncada).

Their relationship is challenged when Georges’ son, Jean-Michel, announces he’s engaged to marry Anne. But Anne’s father heads a conservative political party that wants to ban local drag clubs. That triggers a series of developments that put Georges and Albin’s relationship to the test.

Avery said the ALT production is a combination of the original Broadway production and the 2010 Broadway revival.

“In this version you get to know Les Cagelles a little better. They have lines. … There are six instead of 12 Cagelles,” he said.

Les Cagelles is the name of the chorus line in the nightclub show.

ALT’s cut-down version, Avery said, makes the production cleaner because it focuses more on the family relationship in the story.

“It really is about family – family dynamics and love,” he said. “It happens that the family is two men and a son, rather than a man and a woman and a son. The focus is more on the storytelling.”

In contrast to Squibb’s stage experience – which includes performances with Albuquerque drag ensemble The Dolls – Joey Grider is a newbie.

Grider, a member of Les Cagelles, is appearing for the first time in a musical. In fact, it’s the first time he’s on stage.

“My stage name is Monique. So I have to dress up in drag. It’s the first time I’ve done that,” said Grider, who grew up in Moriarty.

A former co-worker of his, Larry Aguilar, the show’s choreographer, invited Grider to audition because he thought Grider might enjoy being in the show.

“I went, got cast. It’s pretty exciting,” he said. “I do a lot of singing and dancing as a Cagelle.”

Grider said he’s always wanted to be an actor.

Squibb said ALT’s staging of “La Cage” is timely because the issue of same-sex marriage rights is in the news.

He said that when he went to the audition, he was hoping to get the part of Georges but instead was cast as Albin.

“I’m so happy that it’s happened this way, for my sake,” Squibb said. “It has made me work harder, clean out my vocal pipes. I have to step up with the movement, with the dialogue.”

Jerry Herman wrote the music and lyrics and Harvey Fierstein, the book.

The original Broadway version of “La Cage” won six Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. It was revived twice on Broadway, once in 2004 and again in 2010. Both won Tonys for Best Revival of a Musical.