Hey folks! Yesterday (Saturday, 17 Nov. 2019), Mariah and I picked up my Grandma Lucille and headed for the historic Columbia Theater in Longview, Washington, for the 70th Anniversary of the Cabaret Follies! According to the MC for the show, the first Follies took place back in 1949! (I did not attend that one...)
My Aunt Teresa was one of the performers in this event (I spotted her in four numbers, but I might have missed one---there were a LOT of people on the stage during some of the skits,) and it was Teresa's posts on Faceboot that clued us in to the fact that this event was happening at all! (Thanks, Lady T!!!)
The Columbia Theater is a cool, old building---according their Faceboot page, it was built in 1925!!!---that hosts concerts, plays, and film screenings, where Mariah and I (over the years) have seen everything from a showing of Forbidden Planet to Bob Newhart live on stage! It's a wonderful venue.
Now THIS show, called Take It to the Limit Cabaret 2019, was about an hour and 45 minutes long, including two Acts with an intermission between them. The show was a collection of modified pop songs from the last 100 years or so, with stops at 1920's Flapper Jazz, Barbershop, Doo-Wop, '70's Rock, Funk, Disco, Country, and Pop, with a healthy dose of comedy swirled into the mix.
The performers were mostly local folks, community theater types out to have a good time---and their enthusiasm came through in every minute of the show. I've been to quite a few local / high school / community plays---in fact my older daughter was a stage manager at the community college here in town while she was in school, which helped pay for her college courses---and this group had some shockingly good performers in it! I'm willing to let a few flat notes or missed cues slide by in a show of this type, and the occasional flub happened---no big deal---but I was genuinely impressed with several of the vocal performances, which was cool.
I'd situate the show somewhere between the animated film, Sing, and the famous Portland drag show at Darcelle XV (minus most of the raunch!) I was definitely amused, especially by the hilarious torch song performance of "Smokin' Hot!" by Adele Baker Swift! That lady KILLED IT!
The backing band was also very good throughout the show, and had no trouble sliding from Cab Calloway to Abba to The Eagles, which is no small feat!
The COSTUMES were also excellent! We were specifically told not to take pictures or video, so I didn't, but I really wish I could have gotten an image or two of the lighted, rainbow costumes from the "Dancing Queen" bit! The were F.A.B.!!!
Overall, we had a great time, and as I said, the performers were clearly having a ball! The tickets weren't cheap, but the MC also mentioned that the proceeds for the show were going to Community Home Health and Hospice, so the event was actually helping a good cause as well as being a fun time!
What I'm trying to say is GET OUT THERE and do something with your family. If you don't want to be a performer, you can still show your support by GOING and watching the shows. I know my Aunt Teresa had a fantastic time IN the cabaret, and Mariah and Granny and I loved watching it. Make some memories, support art and performance, and keep your home town interesting! Everyone benefits!!!
[Mariah and Grandma Lucille]
[Lucy, Aunt Teresa, and cousin Carson (Teresa's son!)]
That's it!!! Thanks for stopping by!
---Richard F. Yates (Holy Fool and Theater Lover!)
[P.S. - I suppose I should mention, all the photos were taken by me with my phone. We're LOOKING at buying a fancy new camera, but that might have to wait until we're rich...]