Guest article contributed by Christine Mason
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Photograph: Kurt Sneddon
Christine Mason is one of cabaret’s most ardent fans. A ‘former performer’ who had put her own singing career on hold while she ‘got a real job‘ and concentrated on being a mother and wife, Christine put her mouth where her money was last year and debuted her first solo cabaret show ‘Serendipity’.
Those who missed seeing the show last time have another opportunity in June, in Adelaide’s Cabaret Fringe Festival.
While her home town, Adelaide (South Australia) boasts the world’s largest Cabaret Festival, for many afficianados, the mecca of cabaret is New York. Chris recently returned from a trip to the Big Apple and shares her experiences of the different cabaret rooms that she visited.
Serendipity
Christine Mason, with Matthew Carey at the piano
June 2, 2012 @ 8pm
La Boheme
$25/$20 ($20 groups of 6+)
In January this year I finally put a line through New York on my bucket list. Done? Well not quite, so I added the Big Apple back in at regular intervals on my audacious list of things to do. Be warned, New York is like that. In one visit you will barely scratch the surface of the entertainment that is available in this city. Here is a taste of some of the cabaret venues on offer.
The Duplex is situated in West Greenwich Village and overlooks Christopher Square from the corner of Christopher St and 7th Avenue. Barbara Streisand and Woody Allen are among the greats who have graced the stage at this world famous off-broadway cabaret theatre so I was surprised to discover how tiny it was.
At the top of a narrow set of stairs an informal bar with window seating provides a small but comfortable pre show area for drinks. If, like myself, you are on a wait list for a ticket and have spied the license above the door indicating a maximum of 60 patrons you can do a nervous head count and pray that by some stroke of luck there might be a spare seat.
Persistence pays off on the night that I attend the second show in John Bucchino’s Monday night composer’s series. On entry I discover that the theatre is long and narrow with a single line of tables along each wall. Packed to capacity there is barely enough room to squeeze past Stephen Schwartz and Benj Pasek seated at a rear table. (This will forever be on my grateful list.) The stage not much wider than the grand piano occupying it is positioned at the end of the room. This is an intimate and informal space that feels more like your lounge room than a venue, coats are stuffed under chairs and drinks are passed forward by anyone who has a free hand to the tables at the front. The crowd on this particular night were a mix of young and old and when John Bucchino thanked a long list of luminaries in the audience it was clear I was amongst a group of mostly family and friends. I got the feeling the Duplex is probably like this most nights of the week as this is a place where many artists and writers come to test out new material. Just as Adelaidians gather at La Boheme, it appears our clever cousins across the Pacific get together in Greenwich Village.
At US$15 with a 2 drink minimum my experience at the Duplex was priceless .
Birdland is situated in Midtown, a short walk from Times Square on West 44th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue. This club has a long history and is known for its association with the cream of jazz from Count Basie, John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk to Diana Krall, Pat Methany and Dave Brubek. It is also home to Jim Caruso’s Cast Party a popular open mic night where you never know who will pop in after their Broadway show to entertain.
The room is split-level providing excellent sight lines from the tables and the seating allows for a little more elbow-room than most. You can opt to sit at the bar or take a table to enjoy a meal from the award winning Cajun based menu.
The acoustics are what you would expect from a world-class venue and the furnishings are stylish but comfortable. There is a small gift shop at the coat check just inside the door and most artists will sign CDs here after the show.
I saw acclaimed jazz artist and Grammy nominee Jane Monheit perform with her band here to a packed house that was somewhat touristy which is I guess not unexpected given the venues reputation and proximity to the tourist hub of Times Square. Tickets were US $40.
I was however surprised that only a small number attended a Sunday afternoon master-class at Birdland held by Jane and her long time accompanist Michael Kanan. An audience of perhaps 30 attended to watch 11 performers of varying degrees of skill and experience. Many of the performers have appeared at Jim Caruso’s cast party nights and it was nice to see Jim sitting at the bar in a show of support. Jane and Michael were extremely generous in giving instruction and insight on their craft over a period of 3 hours. A cover charge of US$50 per performer and US$25 to observe was value for money and I recommend that if you are ever in New York to check out the master class series at Birdland.
The Blue Note is another esteemed venue in Greenwich Village situated on 131 West 3rd Street between 6th Avenue and McDougal Street. (There is a subway stop right on the corner).
This is one of the premier jazz clubs in the world and has been home to an endless list of treasures including Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Tony Bennett and Quincy Jones.
The club runs 2 shows every night of the year at 8pm and 10.30pm and even in the sub zero temperatures of winter patrons still queue outside on the side walk to get in. The Blue Note is however worth the wait and once inside it proves to be a cozy and friendly establishment.
Entry is past a bar and cloakroom into a long room with a mezzanine floor at the back. Stairs at the front take you up to an extensive gift shop and dressing rooms. Again, this is a venue that is not large and seating is snug. A full dinner service is offered and on the night I was there the desserts arriving at the start of the show provided Ann Hampton Calloway with some funny lines and audience interaction.
Like The Duplex the club felt like it was filled largely with locals, family and friends. The tickets at US$20 (plus 2 drink minimum) for a double bill of Ann Hampton Calloway and John Pizzarelli was a steal and these two performers complimented each other perfectly. Worthy of a special mention is The Blue Note’s sound system which is particularly clever in that it has massive reinforcement but with levels kept low this results in exceptional clarity right to the back of the room. (Ok also impressive is that sound is even wired into the toilets situated up stairs so you never have to miss anything!).
I also found it a nice touch that Ann took the time to thank people personally at the door on the way out. Just another reminder, you really can get to meet anyone in New York.
Feinstein’s is found on the other side of town at 540 Park Avenue (at 61st Street). It is presented as a supper club and is on the ground floor of Loewe’s Regency Hotel. Run by Michael Feinstein the club is a sophisticated venue that attracts the very best in cabaret and musical theatre. On Thursdays at 11pm Scott Siegel hosts ‘Broadway Ballyhoo: A Showtune Hootenany’ where special guests in town are invited to perform.
Performing at the Ballyhoo on the night I attended were legend Marilyn Mayes, MAC Award winner Natalie Douglas, Maya Days (Aida, Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar) and Joan Almedilla (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables). With a line up like this it was no surprise to find actors Angela Bassett and Kim Cattrall amongst the ‘in’ crowd being entertained.
Feinstein’s is a small and intimate room with dressed tables and luxurious surrounds. A full dinner service is provided. My tip would be to arrive early for a chance at a table near the front as some of the tables tucked to the sides do not offer the best sight lines. Another reason to arrive early is to sit and wait in the hotel foyer to watch the performers as they arrive. I found it extremely entertaining (and informative) to watch them greet family and friends, generously acknowledge strangers, engage in deep discussions with accompanists about arrangements and hunt down pianos for a quick rehearsal or rooms to get changed in.
Although an up-market establishment at the swish end of town, Feinstein’s still offered an air of informality and felt inclusive to ‘out of towners’ like myself. Scott made a special effort to introduce himself at all the tables including mine after the show and appeared genuinely interested in sharing our experiences of the night and how we came to be there.
Tickets were US$25 with a 2 drink minimum.
Le Poisson Rouge is located in Greenwich Village at 158 Bleecker Street . Now a Nightclub area, Bleecker Street was once the centre of American bohemia, where Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Springsteen to name a few began their careers.
The venue is different from the other places I visited on this trip. It is a chic nightclub with security on the door (an age limit restriction) and a dark interior. The main space is a huge basement with a long bar and stage that can easily hold a full rock outfit. Seating is for around 250 (or standing 700) so this is a sizeable venue with a sound system to suit. The walls are painted black with red art work and the vibe is contemporary and cool. La Poisson boasts a fusion of art and pop cultures hosting acts in the past such as Lou Reed, Phillip Glass, Florence and the Machine and Paul Simon. It was the perfect place to see Storm Large with her band.
The crowd was eclectic, made up of young locals plus a good mix of the old but adventurous and eccentrics. No tourists here, this audience were staunch Storm Large fans who knew all the songs and engaged in good humoured banter with her during the Q & A session between the two 40 minute sets. Tickets were US$20.
Some helpful tips:
- New York is freezing in winter and it is common to queue on the side walks waiting to enter venues so make sure you rug up and have an umbrella.
- It’s a good idea to have made a reservation as these venues are popular and have limited seating so although they do have a ‘wait list’ you can easily miss out.
- Double check the check (bill) as often a 20% tip has already been included.
- These venues have waitered tables but when it’s busy it is easier to order your 2 drink minimum together so you can sit back and enjoy the show uninterrupted.
- The New York subway system is safe and easy and will get you to all of these venues with minimal walking distances to the door. C and E trains will take you down to Greenwich Village.
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