Cabaret Chronicles II

by Michael Barbieri
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This month, I wanted to share a few individual achievements from very different performers:

NYNTDQ
First of all, I’d like to congratulate Bella LeMay, the winner of Season 5 of the Metropolitan Room’s New York’s Next Top Drag Queen competition.  Produced by Joseph Macchia and hosted by Holly Dae, the contest featured 13 relatively new drag performers, all of whom sang live - no lip syncing.  There was a new theme every week - one week they’d base their drag around fairy tales, the next week it would be gods and goddesses, and so forth.  While I enjoyed many of the competitors - Mildred Scrodum was an outrageous audience favorite, Cherry Poppins was fresh and innovative, and Diana Carfire had a tremendous vocal belt, but LeMay’s presentations were clever and her looks were always polished.  Eventually, it came down to Miss LeMay and Diana Carfire, with LeMay winning by only one point!  Look for the All Stars Competition in the fall, and Season 6 of NYNTDQ in the spring.  I can guarantee it’ll be a drag, but in the best way!

Made By Raffi
I’ve known Craig Pomranz since 1981.  We became friends at a local NYC piano bar called Brandy’s.  In my former career as technical director, I had designed the lighting and sound for many of his cabaret shows.  I had always known Craig as a singer and performer, but now he’s accomplished something I’ve never seen from anyone in my cabaret family before - he’s written a children’s book called Made By Raffi.
 
Made By Raffi is a lovely story of inclusion and acceptance, centered around a young boy who feels different:  He’s smaller than the other boys, he likes to wear bright colors, he doesn’t like playing football or roughhousing with the other kids in school, and during playtime, prefers keeping quietly to himself.  When one of his teachers shows him how to knit, Raffi finds his niche - something he does well, and which makes him happy.  At first, the other kids tease him, but when he creates a special garment for a school show, he becomes a hero to his classmates!

Featuring charming, colorful illustrations by award winning artist Margaret Chamberlain, Pomranz has created an important book that speaks to children and adults alike - kids can learn to embrace their own differentness, while parents can help their children who feel different, or who might have trouble accepting classmates perceived as different.  Chamberlain’s artwork sets a perfect tone by showing the diversity of Raffi’s world.  Children of all races play together at school, along with a little girl in a wheelchair, other children have more subtle differences - they wear glasses or have hair of different colors and textures.  And if you consider its strong LGBT subtext, this book could be an excellent tool for gay parents, or for the parents of young children already identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

Inspired by a true-life incident, Pomranz wrote Made By Raffi in an effort to support young boys and girls who might not fit in because of who they are or the activities they enjoy, and the book has been published in 8 languages and 11 countries  so far!  

Love and diversity have never been more colorful!

For more info on Made By Raffi, go to www.craigpomranz.com

Leslie Orofino: Cocktails With Cole
I had the chance recently to catch “Cocktails with Cole,” Leslie Orofino’s sparkling tribute to composer Cole Porter, one of the preeminent contributors to the Great American Songbook.  Born in Indiana, Porter became the toast of Broadway and Paris, and a renowned gay icon.  In “Cocktails with Cole,” Orofino gave us some of Porter’s most well-known songs, and she clearly loves and respects the material, making for a delightful evening.

Taking the stage at Don’t Tell Mama, Orofino opened with “It’s DeLovely.” In a simple black frock, long black gloves, shimmering necklace, and a diaphanous red scarf, she looked de-lovely indeed, bringing to mind the elegance of cabaret singers in the 1930’s.  In “Let’s Misbehave,” she played nicely with some of Porter’s wittiest lyrics - ‘It’s getting late, and while I wait, my poor heart aches on. Why keep the brakes on? Let’s Misbehave.’

Relating Porter’s life story, Orofino told us that Cole identified as gay early on, which affected not only his life, but his songwriting, which she demonstrated with a plaintive “What Is This Thing Called Love?”  played with a misterioso Latin feel.  

Moving on to Porter’s time in Paris, Orofino donned a stunning red feather boa - on loan from a friend of the late, great Julie Wilson (to whom the show was dedicated,) and we were treated to “Give ‘Em The Ooh-La-La,” “You Don’t Know Paree,” and a flirty version of “C’est Magnifique,” in which she played charmingly with the audience.

She also handled light comedy very nicely, giving us “The Laziest Gal In Town,” while occasionally nodding off atop the piano.

After a story of a terrible riding accident, in which Porter’s horse fell on him, shattering both his legs, we learned that through the constant pain he suffered, he never stopped creating.  This brought one of the loveliest moments in the show - Leslie singing “Dream Dancing” with a star-filled nighttime sky behind her.  

Kiss Me Kate’s “Too Darn Hot,” featured a jazzy arrangement that showcased her excellent band, Daryl Kojak at the piano, Boots Maleson on bass, and Rex Benincasa on drums - three strong musicians who complemented, yet never overpowered Ms. Orofino’s vocals.

One final story told of the loss of Porter’s mother and wife in short succession, with Orofino capturing the longing and mournfulness of “Every Time We Say Goodbye,” after which she wrapped up the show with “Just One Of Those Things.”  

It was wonderful to see Leslie Orofino perform again, and despite a bad cold which marred her sumptuous alto a bit, causing her to fight and sing around some of the higher notes, she soldiered through like a true professional and still gave us a refreshing evening that went down smooth and easy!

For upcoming dates and information, go to www.leslieorofino.com


Now let’s see what next month brings!!

 

 

 

Michael Barbieri

Food & Entertainment Writer