Nantucket Un-Valentine Cabaret

The surprise of the winter so far has been the Un-Valentine Cabaret, last Saturday night, February 16 at the Box, presented by Seaside Shakespeare Company. Susan McGinnis pulled together an eclectic group of entertainers, some seen for the first time ever performing in public.

The night began with cocktails, pizza, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, and pizza. Showtime brought MC’s Susan Burns and AT Wilce to the stage, who introduced, vamped, and threw in a performance or two of their own.

After much fussing with microphone placement, Harold Freeman Williams III (aka Skip) and Mollie Glazer performed the “Classical Triangle Solo”, the word solo likely referring to the one and only note Mr. Williams played, after much intense concentration and audience anticipation.

Laurel Devaney danced the “Belly Dance Accompanied by the Oud”, with said oud played by Caleb Cressman, rumored to play the oud and oodels of other musical instruments.

Len Germinara recited “Love Poem”, all the while with his eyes on the lovely Sarah Oktay. That much would be no surprise to anyone knowing the producer of the Nantucket Poetry Slams, now rechristened “Spoken Word Nantucket”. It was his crooning of “On the Street Where You Live” that brought the house down.

Susan Burns had her turn as Anneke Schlemer singing “Food Is Loff”, well timed and well intoned.

Maybe Sandy MacDonald has sung on Nantucket before, but if so, I missed it. Sandy sweetly seranaded AT Wilce with her “Piaf Suite”, bringing a tiny tear to AT’s eye.

I had been looking forward to the next group up. I met one of the members of the band in his A1 cab just a few weeks ago, and he told me about this new band starting up. I asked him what the band would play. Paul Emack is probably in his mid 20’s, so I expected the name of a song I’d never heard of by someone I’d never listen to or like. “The Weight” by The Band, Paul said. Now I was interested. So new that they yet had no name, Paul joined Caleb Cressman and Timmy McDonald for their first public performance, and I wish them many more. You can never have too many local bands.

The biggest surprise of the night for nearly everyone (Michael Kopko excluded) was Lisa Wendelken who sang “Another Place, Another Time” and “My Funny Valentine”. Who knew she was that good?

Lenny Diamond, aka Mark Carapezza, wrapped up the evening on guitar and vocals with his self-written “Balloon Glasses”. The photos that follow will explain what that oen was all about.

The show was produced by Susan McGinnis, and directed by Kate Splaine. The assistant director, stage manager, and production designer was Christie Cure, with lights and sound by Joel Finn, with Ginger Andrews providing lighting supervision. The accompanists were Robert Behrman and Caleb Cressman.

Thanks also to the Chicken Box for providing the venue for the evening, one of best of the winter.

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