July
9, 2007
Seems
Like Old times
Mark
Twain once said, "Honor was something you get once you're dead."
However,
last week, on a sticky Friday night, a celebration took place in a chic
club in the Flatiron district that honored one of cabaret's own who
is very much with us. And, not only is he alive and well and living
in Manhattan,
he's earned the respect and love that poured his way in droves from
his many family of friends that came to celebrate one of their own who
has been there through the best and the worst of times over the past
seventeen years.
Looking
at the mixed crowd, it seemed like old times.
They
poured into Metropolitan Room at Gotham. They spilled onto the streets
outside the cabaret's most popular watering hole. It was a happy mix
of seasoned and new performers from all the clubs and piano bars. And,
naturally, there was a lot of the kissy-poo that happens when old friends
run into faces they haven't seen in awhile. But it was also a significant
shindig full of the good feelings one gets when family and friends gather
for a July 4 barbecue. Some folks came from as far away as Michigan,
Florida and Pennsylvania. Some came from a block away.
Critics,
like everyone else (but not as often as everybody else,) occasionally
take a day off. Not Stu Hamstra, not even on his birthday. The guy is
indefatigable in his zest to catch a show and support cabaret and piano
bars in all the large and small clubs around town.
He's
that familiar denizen of the night who is sometimes silly, occasionally
crafty, sometimes controversial but always a supportive room-hopper
who publishes this site and has been one of cabaret's most reliable
champions over the last seventeen years. So, instead of writing more
about myself and my fascinating life, I thought I'd devote this week's
"After Dark" column to celebrate this good natured, often unrewarded,
taken-for-granted man with simple values whose greatest joy is sitting
in a dark room and listening to a terrific show. After all, the amount
of performers who are now regulars, got their first-ever mention because
of Stu Hamstra is staggering.
One
might say that he's cabaret's best friend. And, to show their appreciation,
members of that community quickly sold out the Metropolitan Room to
help him celebrate his 68th birthday show as well as the Hotline's 17th
anniversary to simply sing the praises of a kindly old friend.
Cabaret
Hotline has served the cabaret community for seventeen years due to
the tireless efforts of Stu. He manically hosts the site that calls
attention to shows and artists all over the country and spreads the
news of the community as well as all things cabaret. The message board
alone, which is where many performers get to promote, support, praise
or critique one another, is also the place where an entire community
usually hears good or bad news about fellow performers or artists they
support. The site gets thousands of "hits" each week (and sometimes
daily!) At times, it has also served as a place to vent epistles on
one subject or another pertaining to cabaret, the clubs, MAC or assorted
subjects of personal and professional interest to the community. It
is often the best way to spread the latest news. Sadly, but significantly,
it has been a source of announcing losses such as the recent deaths
of much loved people like Thommie Walsh, Hope Hardcastle and D. Jay
Bradley.
There
were several MAC officers and board members in the sea of faces. I spotted
Scott Barbarino (who also now hosts another cabaret site, Cabaret Exchange,)
Cynthia Crane, Ruth Kurtzman and Ricky Ritzel as well as some club operators
from rooms around the city including Collette Black who was honored
with an award later on. They filled the room and table hopped before
the show. Schmoozing was the order of the day.
MORE
- page 2 3 4
Back to NYC CABARET REVIEW
Index Page
Back
to CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE Home Page
