Had a most exciting night at the Metropolitan Room as a guest on Jamie De Roy's show.
I've been looking forward to this for months but was a little intimidated to find out I was on next to closing!
Jamie's stock in trade is performing very funny parodies and special material usually by Barry Kleinbort who also directed tonight's event. She was followed by the wonderful Mary Liz McNamara who is new to me but I'm now a devoted fan.
Mary Liz sang and played an hilarious song called "Bacon" which she wrote. I found a YouTube of Sharon McKnight singing the song at another cabaret event so you could hear the material.
Comedian Myq Kaplan is a vegan so he launched his routine as a disapproving retort to Mary Liz's song. His material is so fast you just blink and you've missed two gags, and breathtakingly risky in testing the audience's comfort zone.
Alison Nussbaum performed a role she will never play because of "excess arm fat". The Casa Rosada balcony scene from EVITA which she mostly played with her arms resolutely glued to her sides.
The magnificent Penny Fuller was a surprise guest with a preview from her new one woman show
13 THINGS ABOUT ED CARPOLOTTI with book, music, lyrics and direction by Barry Kleinbort.
Then Tony-nominee for AVENUE Q John Tartaglia brought the star of that show, gay Republican puppet Rod, to join Jamie for a duet of "Baby, It's Cold Outside".
The next guest was pianist and composer Kenny Ascher who I had seen play with Christine Andreas at 54 Below. He repeated his Oscar nominated collaboration with Paul Williams, "The Rainbow Connection" but then I was surprised when he followed up with "You and Me Against The World" which he also wrote and was a hit for my aunt Helen Reddy. So when he finished his act and returned to our table I whispered a little family history into his ear and watched his eyes widen like saucers!!
I am very happy to say that my spot went like gangbusters and I was thrilled to discover afterwards that some celebs had been in the house such as Anita Gillette, Tony Lo Bianco,
Lorna Dallas (star of the Harold Fielding SHOW BOAT with Cleo Laine) and our mate Richard Hillman along with some lovelies from the PRISCILLA Posse.
Everyone was most complimentary and having also survived a successful audition earlier in the day I floated home feeling very encouraged.
With Richard Hillman and musical director extraordinaire Ron Abel
It is always a delight to see you! Your performance was absolutely brilliant, you were just marvelous! Wishing you much success and happiness always! xx
We're so glad to support you in whatever you do. You are lovely and talented, and we hope to see lots more from you! Keep up the amazing work!
ReplyDeleteBernadette Erica
and the Priscilla Posse
It is always a delight to see you! Your performance was absolutely brilliant, you were just marvelous! Wishing you much success and happiness always! xx
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