This isn’t your grandmother’s cover band concert. Assuming your grandmother has a cover band. And she’s not dead. It’s Cabaret, Georgetown’s long-running, annual variety show featuring performances by campus singers and musicians.
Each of the 11 vocalists is backed up by a student band featuring including horns, saxophones, guitar and piano. The backing band performs the songs admirably, at times outshining the vocalists themselves. Band members occasionally abandon their instruments in order to perform backing vocals.
The unquestionable star of the show is three-year Cabaret veteran Carl Lukach (MSB ‘03), who effortlessly emulates Stephen Tyler’s large-lipped wailing (sans lips) for Aerosmith’s “Cryin’.” His winning combination of boyish charm and unrivaled stage presence could feasibly garner him entrance into the latest boy band spinoff.
Another memorable performance is Tara Daniels’ (CAS ‘03) powerful, throaty rendition of Fiona Apple’s “Criminal,” capturing Apple’s embittered passion. Daniels also shines with her feminine take on Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Beth Cooney’s (NHS ‘03) poppy performance of “Come On, Eileen” and James Brufee’s (CAS ‘03) take on “Billie Jean,” as he deftly imitates the king of pop, complete with gratuitous crotch-grabbing also standout.
As the first first-year to be involved in Cabaret in years, Eleanor Gillespie (CAS ‘06) performs an authentic rendition of Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8ter Boi,” complete with ridiculous trademark necktie. Authenticity aside, perhaps this song would be better relegated to the halls of middle school than as part of a college production.
Rounding out the two hour set is Cabaret Veteran Rev. Pat Conroy S.J., who adeptly wields the maracas in “Make Me Smile.” He might be creepy, but he can sing.
While at times the performances exhibit the familiar traits of middling cover bands, the event is still worthwhile. The show is not particularly innovative, but the performers can certainly be lauded for their dedication. They have practiced weekly since returning from winter break. Also, each performer is responsible for coordinating costumes and backup vocals for their acts. There are costume changes for each song, ranging from long white wool winter coats to red snakeskin pants. While some of the costumes are well done, others, like Salah Al-Essir’s (SFS ‘03) and Lukach’s matching red paisley polyester shirts come off looking like Siegfried and Roy without the million-dollar budget.
Much of Cabaret’s value is found in its ability to extract students from the stagnant confines of the campus social scene, giving students the chance to stumble drunkenly around a hip nightclub instead of a cramped Village B apartment.
This is drunken fun with a cause, however. All proceeds from the show benefit the D.C. Schools project, Volunteer and Public Service’s program which tutors around 200 students from underprivileged areas in the District.
After years of drawing students out to the Black Cat, Cabaret finds a new home this year at the downtown nightclub Insomnia. Thursday night, the show will be in the main room downstairs, where smuttier students can occupy themselves in one of the dancing cages suspended from the ceiling, while on Saturday night the show moves upstairs to a smaller venue.
Insomnia has a state-of-the-art soundsystem and a capacity of 1,000 people, exceeding the Black Cat by almost 300. While this increase in capacity is fortunate, as previous Cabarets have routinely sold out, the cost of renting out Insomnia is almost three times the price of the Black Cat. Organizers hope increased revenues will offset this cost so D.C. Schools project does not suffer.
For the feel of a campus event off-campus (an intriguing prospect), check out the performers of Cabaret as they appropriate your favorite songs and make them their own. If your peers singing covers for charity are your thing, you won’t find a better performance around.
Tickets are on sale in Red Square. $10 for Seniors, $12 Advance, $15 Door. Insomnia is located at 714 Sixth Street N.W.
