CABARET LIFE NYC: Upcoming Must-Sees: Williams, Robert at Iridium; Oberlin, Katona Bennett at FeinsteinÂ's

Cabaret Features and Commentary by Stephen Hanks

When I began writing cabaret show reviews almost two years ago, I decided one of my policies would be to NOT promote upcoming shows, lest I be accused of playing favorites. But now that I'm also a cabaret "columnist," I've amended my policy, kind of as a reader service, and each month may recommend a few shows featuring performers that I've previously seen and/or reviewed-and, of course, appreciated. This doesn't mean that their new shows will engender automatic raves, it just means that based on this reviewer's previous experience, you're likely to have a swell old time. For this first foray, I'm flagging two shows each at two of our most venerable nightclub venues.

Darren Williams (July 26) and Lauren Robert (August 7) Ready to Rock Iridium

Back in the mid-1970s, when I was deeply into my Elton John fanatic haze, a couple of trusted college friends introduced me to another gay, piano-playing, singer-songwriter. They were big fans of Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli so this Judy protégé and Liza's first husband was on their radar. One day they played for me the album "Taught by Experts" by the late Peter Allen and I was immediately hooked by the intelligent lyrics, the wonderfully upbeat pop hooks, the lovely ballads, and Allen's infectious personality. Then hearing his live double album recorded at Reno Sweeney's, "It's Time for Peter Allen," only sealed the deal. I've been a huge fan ever since.

So I was more than intrigued when about three years ago, I found that one of Peter's fellow Aussies, Darren Williams, was performing an Allen tribute show at the Metropolitan Room. As a die-hard Peter fan, I was going to be tough to impress, but I was floored by Williams' reverential, yet not imitative, homage to one of my musical heroes. I've seen Darren's show "Not the Boy Next Door" a couple of times since (at the Met Room and at the Laurie Beechman), and he's been terrifically entertaining every time. Handsome, charming, and possessing an even stronger voice than his muse, Williams' take on the Peter Allen songbook should be a treat even if you're discovering both amazing Aussies for the first time. Darren Williams will be performing two sets of "Not the Boy Next Door" at the Iridium on Thursday, July 26 at 8pm and 10pm.

A couple of years ago, I went to Dana Lorge's Halloween party at her Wednesday Night at the Iguana variety show, and one of that night's singers was an attractive, curvy blonde who took the stage in a tight-fitting police outfit, complete with handcuffs and billy club. I immediately wanted to be placed under arrest, not just because she looked great in uniform, but because she sounded amazing. Lauren Robert blew the roof off-and me away-with the kind of powerful renditions of blues and R&B songs that would make most blue-eyed soul singers blush.

Though Robert has been a professional singer, songwriter, and actor for almost two decades, and spent 14 years as the lead singer of the popular Louisiana Zydeco-funk band Mojo Hand, she may be one of the best kept singing secrets in New York. Perhaps Robert won't be a secret much longer, as she has just released a 15-song CD of passionately original songs (you can find it on the website CD Baby) tinged with glorious blues and gospel colors, and she will be singing many of them (hopefully, along with some blues classics) at her show Lauren Robert with the Barry Levitt Band at the Iridium on Tuesday, August 7 at 8pm. (Please click on Page 2 below to continue.) 

During more than 30 years as a magazine and website publisher/editor/writer, Stephen Hanks has written about sports, health and nutrition, parenting, politics, the media, musical theater, and cabaret. In addition to writing about New York City cabaret for BroadwayWorld.com, Stephen also reviews cabaret shows for Cabaret Scenes Magazine and CabaretScenes.org. He is the Board President of Musical Mondays Theatre Lab, which workshops new musicals in New York City, and a former Board Member of the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs. In 2011, Stephen was an Associate Producer for the Off-Broadway show THE FARTISTE. Please contact Stephen with your comments and questions at: stephenhanks41@gmail.com

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