The Arts Project of Cherry Grove (APCG) Labor Day Weekend Show was Matt Baney, the Cherry Grove Homecoming Queens (HQs), and their friends’ latest “Legends” installment, “Legends VII: Jingle Belles,” on September 2, a rollicking show with a Christmas theme. Narration was by Matt and by Gay Nathan as a dear Mrs. Claus, who read Matt’s Grove version of “A Visit from St. Nicholas (’Twas the Night Before Christmas).” Mary DiFede and Sue Rayson warmed us up with a sing-along of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.” Matt introduced the HQs present, elegantly dressed for the holidays and in chronological order, from the first one, Panzi, to the reigning one, Ginger Snap, and they led us in a joyous sing-along of “We Need a Little Christmas,” from “Mame.” We then met “our Christmas fairy,” Bella, all in black, declaring, “I wanna be evil,” and giving us her take on family visits, gift-giving, and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
We heard from the first of the evening’s fine singers, Matthew George, pouring heart and voice into “I Believe in You (Time goes by/And I’ve been holding everything inside).” Dapper song-and-tap-dance man Brad Bradley taught the Abominable Snowman (Lorraine Michels) to “Put One Foot in Front of the Other.” Assisted by Dan Daly at the piano, Panzi offered “My Simple Christmas Wish (I want to be Rich, Famous, and Powerful),” working remarks about Philomena and Rose Levine into the lyrics, and bringing down the house. Chris Caswell urged, with polish, “Step Out, Step Out of the Sun,” another show-stopper, and joined fiancé Matt in singing a romantic “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” with references to Philomena and to Alison Brackman, on sound. A glamorous and bluesy Robin Kradles sang lyrically, “(Good girls get toys for Christmas, but Santa) What Do Bad Girls Get?” which had kinky moments. Ken Woodhouse gave a topical twist to “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” as a message from POTUS.
Barbra Streisand made her presence felt in Ariel Sinclair’s quirky, jittery “Jingle Bells” and Demi-Tasse’s Bach-Gounod “Ave Maria,” an ethereal moment. Ivanna Cocktail, backed by China, Lola, and a fluffy friend, proved that “It’s a Marshmallow World,” by tossing marshmallows out to the audience. In her risqué number, cowgirl Donna Piranha, riding a hobby horse, vowed, “I’m Gonna Lasso Santa Claus,” and a robed Whore D’Oeuvre, “Wrapped in Red,” swore, “This Christmas I’m gonna risk it all,” assisted by Ginger and Matthew, with a dramatic reveal. Logan Hardcore’s “All I Want for Chrismas Is You” got the audience clapping along and seemed to include a sly proposition to someone in the front row.
RGs (real girls) in the cast Sue Panzer, Angela Smith, SallyAnn Piacentino, and Paulette Manos segued from “Polar Express” to graffiti-covered subway cars and rapped about “Christmas in Hollis (it’s Christmas time in Hollis, Queens).” And Paulette as Alvin, Jennie Mandelino as Simon, and Sue as Theodore, with furry tails, were led by SallyAnn as Ross Bagdaserian, Sr., in “The Chipmunk Song,” wishing, “Christmas Don’t Be Late,” and moved into “Uptown Funk (Don’t believe me just watch),” in treble chipmunk voices as well. Matt and Bobbie Green, assisted by Martha Pitkin, Zach Kelly-Spadafino, Maria Elena Passaretti, and Ellen Biggers of the stage crew, assured us that “Everyone’s Just a Little Gay” to ring down the first act curtain.
In “our attempt at high-brow entertainment,” as Matt put it, 'mean girl' ballerinas Logan, Donna, Beach DeBree, and YaNeeda Dunes towered over and beat up on Ginger in a scene from “Swan Lake.” Poor Ginger would suffer for her art again later, as the Angel atop the Christmas tree, lamenting, “Who put the stump in my rump?” to the tune of “Who Put the Bomp.” It was truly a moment of high culture when Nina Bianchi stepped up to the piano to play an upbeat original composition.
The only RG ever to be chosen HQ, Scarlet Oh!, had her moment center stage, romping as a kid anticipating Christmas morning and fulfillment of her wish, “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” with an inflatable blue hippo assisting.
As we bade farewell to the 2017 season and looked forward to 2018, Brad, singing sweetly, wondered wistfully, “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?;” the Legends Tabernacle Choir—the HQs and RGs—delivered the tintinnabulation of “The Legend of the Bartenders,” with a warning, “Don’t Drink and Drive;” and we all toasted next year with sparkling cider and a sing-along of “Auld Lang Syne.”