Theatre News

Norton Misses More La Cage Due to Rib Injury

| London's West End |

30 April 2009

Graham Norton (pictured) will miss today’s two performances of La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre as he continues his recovery from a rib injury he sustained on Sunday evening. Norton, who is due to finish his extended stint as Albin/Zaza on Saturday (2 May 2009), had initially been hoping to return on Tuesday but has missed all of this week’s performances. He has also pulled out of an engagement to host this evening’s West End Eurovision event at the Piccadilly Theatre in aid of TheatreMAD (See News, 9 Apr 2009).

A representative of La Cage Aux Folles told Whatsonstage.com: “We thought he might return tonight but he’s still too ill … we’re just taking it day by day and obviously hope he will return before Saturday.” He sustained the injury falling down stairs when he returned home after hosting Sunday’s Bafta TV Awards ceremony.

Norton has been playing the role since 19 January, when he took over from original star Douglas Hodge, who recently won an Olivier award for his performance in the role. The production, which is directed by Terry Johnson, premiered at the Menier Chocolate Factory in January 2008 and opened at the Playhouse on 30 October 2008 (previews from 20 October). Norton’s successor in the role is Roger Allam, who takes over from 4 May alongside Philip Quast, who returns to the role Georges (See News, 11 Mar 2009).

La Cage Aux Folles has a book by Harvey Fierstein (Torch Song Trilogy) and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, whose other classics include Hello Dolly!, Mame and Mack and Mabel. The score features songs including “I Am What I Am”, “The Best of Times”, “Song on the Sand”, “Masculinity” and the title number.

This year, in addition to two Oliviers (the second for Best Musical Revival), La Cage Aux Folles has won two Whatsonstage.com Awards and the Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical.

– by Theo Bosanquet