'Cage In The Park' Honors English Language's 'Greatest Actor'

PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN — Et tu, John Travolta?

A form of outdoor summer theater far superior to that thing that happens at the Delacorte sometimes will debut in Prospect Park this weekend, according to a troupe of thespians paying homage to one of the most important theatrical artists of all time.

Sarah Bernhardt? No. Sidney Poitier? He wishes. Meryl Streep? Please.

Obviously it's Nicolas Cage.

"I'm just personally fascinated by him," explained co-creator and Daily Show producer Sebastian DiNatale. "Is he working? Or is he crazy?"

It's complicated question such a these that inspired DiNatale and Daily Show writer Zachary DiLanzo to write a theatrical interpretation of the 1997 Cage and John Travolta classic, "Face/Off," which will be performed this Sunday at the Prospect Park Peristyle.

In a promotional video for the play, an artistic director dubbed Seb Dinanzo explains, "Nicholas Cage is the greatest actor in the history of the English language."

"So when we say culture belongs to the people, the first thing we need to do is make sure that Cage belongs to the people."

We are thrilled to announce our Season 65 show: Face/Off. Two performances July 14th at the legendary Peristyle in Prospect Park. Theatre for all, Cage for all. #art #theatre #free #cageinthepark #cage pic.twitter.com/7wPK6O6j3J
— cageinthepark (@cageinthepark) June 6, 2019

If it reminds you a promotional video from The Public, that's because, as DiNatale says, "That is almost a complete rip-off.... We just replaced Shakespeare with Nic Cage."

Cage In The Park is about more than honoring the complex career of one of DiNatale's favorite actors, it's about poking fun at a theatrical institution that doesn't get much criticism, but probably should, the writer told Patch.

"This theater prides itself on creating equal theater, but the people who are financing it and part of the creative process are not representative of the people it means to serve," DiNatale said. "[It's] wealthy white men."

In the video, "Dinanzo" puts it a little more bluntly.

"The whole point of doing art is to brag to all of your other rich friends about how you provide art to poor people," he says.

Debi Lieder, an actor with the company, also steps in front of the camera to explain what makes "Face/Off" is relevant today.

"There hasn't been a more appropriate time for this tale of duality," Lieder says. "Hashtag resistance."

Lieder says she's honored to take part in this historic production because, "it offers people a uniquely outdoor Brooklyn live theater experience that's incomparable."

"You should see what those goons are doing over in Central Park," she added. "Shakespeare? Nobody likes Shakespeare."

A sample of the script, which DiNatale says is set in Ancient Rome and written in iambic pentameter, shows the hero "Travoltus" entering into a battle of wits against his nemesis "Cageo."

"Somewhere in your city, there's a catapult set to blow up in two days," Cageo tells Travoltus. Later he pleads, "Please don't mention that Francis Ford Coppola is my uncle."

DiNatale says he hopes to continue the Cage In The Park tradition next year with a musical interpretation of "Moonstruck," the romantic comedy starring Cage and Cher, which they may perform in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

The hope is that Cage In The Park will appeal to Shakespeare lovers, Cage fans, and people who just want to see theater without spending a day's salary on it.

"I really saw it as a great way to make a funny, goofy play about a Nic Cage movie," he said. "We're trying to appeal to many different kinds of people as possible."

"Dinanzo" presents a different selling point when comparing Cage In The Park to its compatriot company at the Delacorte Theater.

"Sure Central Park has a theater that seats 1,800 people, a real stage, professional and Broadway actors," he said.

But he adds that his team has something infinitely more valuable: "A two-hour permit and explicit instructions to be out by 8:30."

Face/Off

Where: Prospect Park Peristyle near Parade Place and Parkside Avenue

When: Sunday, July 14, at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.,

Price: free and open to the public.