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| Grove Stars Turn Out to Benefit PAWS |
by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
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Photo by
Joseph R. Saporito |
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| George McGarvey & his Girls |
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Cherry Grove performers and guest talent participated in a gala show, at the Grove Hotel's Ice Palace, on June 7, to benefit the Pines Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), which rescues, cares for and places lost and abandoned pets. Sal Piro organized the effort, DJ Chuck was on sound, Tiffany Taylor was on spotlight, and Postmistress Jeanne Skinner, 91 years young, served as "card girl," introducing the acts.
Valerie Perez, in the Grove, and Lee Frey, in the Pines, head up PAWS' operations. Near the start of the evening, Henry Sterling presented Valerie with a check for $4,340 for PAWS, proceeds from his Memorial Day Weekend benefit deck sale. Valerie announced that Island Breeze owner Bob Dixon would match the $2,963 take from the evening. And Chuck congratulated the hotel manager on his weight loss, saying, "Sal lost an entire Pines boy: 97 pounds."
Porsche sang of suddenly finding love "Under an Orange-Colored Sky;" saluted Fire Island, "our summer home," with "Summertime," Janis Joplin-style; and in drag king mode, as Elvis, sweetly serenaded us with "Can't Help Falling in Love with You." With Christopher Vassiliades at the piano, George McGarvey sang a dulcet "Not While You're Around," adapting a song from Stephen Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd" so that it concerned the pair of protective pups accompanying him. Rose Levine belted out an upbeat pairing of "Nothing Can Stop Me Now" and "I'm Shooting High." Assisted by pianist Jack Aaronson, this baritone waxed wistful in Flaherty and Ahrens "(At) Times Like This (I sure could use a dog)," from "Lucky Stiff."
"Funniest Mom in America" Nancy Witter spoke of marrying in maturity and wishing she could open a gift registry at "Prescriptions and Procedures." Carol Ann Dono rapped about weight and declared, "My Entenmann's golden fudge cake is always there for me."
To make this year's benefit more compact than previous ones, Mistresses of Ceremonies and Chinese auction were dispensed with. Past MC Bella, therefore, showed up dressed for bed to open the show and share some dish, and saved glamour for the finale, when she became Pearl Bailey as Dolly, exhorting "Wave your little hand and whisper 'So long, dearie.'" Lola Galore and Urban Sprawl danced a delicate minuet and lamented that a cherished swain is gay. Mimi Imfurst melted down before our eyes as Liza Minnelli, doing "Rose's Turn," from "Gypsy," and in "And I Am Telling You, I Am not Going," from "Dreamgirls," with raucous interpolations, culminating in her picking photographer Francesca Galliano up, out of the audience, and twirling her around.
Linda Dickerman and Barbara Hirsch made a pretty pair of babies, noting that, whether person or prune, "he's always full of wrinkles" and inquiring, to strains of "Turkey in the Straw," "Do your ears stick out?" Ruth and Susan Freedner entertained as Louis Prima and Keely Smith, the latter deadpan in the face of the former's carryings on, in "Bei Mir Bist Du Schön," "That Old Black Magic," and "I've Got You Under My Skin."
Coco Love contributed more Sondheim, ruefully limning love with "The Boy from ... , " who is unobtainable--and gay. Demi-Tasse, as Barbra Streisand, considered reincarnation and wondered, "What did I have I don't have now?" from "On a Clear Day, You Can See Forever." Philomena recommended "Cross Over the Bridge" and "change your reckless way of living" as a solution to problems with love. Angela Mercy made a fierce Cher, fielding a medley of "Half Breed," "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves," and "Dark Lady." "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," swore Charity, to a cha-cha rhythm.
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