The actor will play Zaza in an adaptation of the American musical (itself inspired by the French play) expected at the end of 2025. He discusses this future project for BFMTV.
Laurent Lafitte is preparing to revive The Crazy Cage. Next year, the Théâtre du Châtelet will present the American musical comedy adapted from the cult French play by Jean Poiret. The actor of Dad or Mom will play the main role, that of Zaza, originally played by Michel Serrault.
Created in 1973 at the Palais-Royal theater, The Crazy Cage established itself as a classic, so much so that Édouard Molinaro adapted it for the cinema two years later. In 1983, Americans Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman presented a musical version on Broadway; it is this version which will be performed at the Théâtre du Châtelet next year, from December 5, 2025 to January 10, 2026, directed by Olivier Py.
“Replaying the play, I don’t know what’s better to do than what Michel Serrault did,” confides Laurent Lafitte to BFMTV. “While the musical, which is a way of approaching this story invented by Poiret differently, that interests me.”
“It’s a different way of telling it. As it’s a more Anglo-Saxon writing, American in this case, it’s a little more political and militant. It’s a very interesting way, in 2025, of telling this story again.”
“A great family show for Christmas”
First images, in which Laurent Lafitte appears unrecognizable as Zaza, have been revealed by the Théâtre du Châtelet. A few days ago, Olivier Py spoke about this project in the columns of Le Parisien:
“I imagine it as a great family show, for Christmas. It’s great, intelligent, profound entertainment,” he declared, deploring the French public’s lack of awareness of this musical adaptation.
“By crossing the Atlantic, The Cage became not only funny, but also very emotionally strong, very touching, and then it became politicized, taking into account (the evolution of LGBT+ rights).”
