THAT glitzy, warm. tragic musical, La Cage aux Folles is at the Lowry this week courtesy of Bill Kenwright.

Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman’s musical is about love – gay, straight and parental.

The principal lovers are John Partridge’s Albin, an ageing transvestite who comes alive when he plays ZaZa in La Cage aux Folles nighclub and Georges, who owns it.

They’ve been together for 20 years and feel comfortable with each other John Partridge is a charismatic Albin whilst Adrian Zmed makes a powerful Georges.

TV and recording artist, Marti Webb, plays their sophisticated and decadent friend Jacqueline who owns a restaurant bearing her name and helps them out of a difficult situation.

When we learn that Georges has a son after a one night stand and that he, Jean-Michele (Dougie Carter) is engaged to a girl with homophobic parents who want to close the nightclub, panic sets in.

There is a lovely scene where Albin attempts to become a macho man.

Superficially, you can enjoy the performance of Za Za and her supporting dancers La Cagelles who all wear a stunning array of costumes and all of whom are male.

What you see on the surface disguises a lot of unhappiness particularly in the case of Albin who is in reality shy and lacking in confidence.

* La Cage aux Folles is at the Lowry until June 17. For tickets, telephone 0843 208 6000 or see the website. Star rating: * * * *