It was a dark an stormy night as we set out to the Duplex to see the 2009 version of Michael Holland and Karen Mack's Hole-O-Matic. We arrived to warm and welcoming hot and sweet drinks, hot cocoa a la "Bailey's Irish Cream" and a Starbucks cocktail concoction, loosening us up for the evenings festivities.

As we were seated, a male youth called "slave," offered a "Hole-O-Dex" of musical numbers (Hole-O-Matic, Hole-O-Dex — get it?). Duets, ballads and medleys spanning 40 or so years of popular music. We were invited to select as many cards as we desired, then deposit them into a clear glass bowl to insure that there was no fishy business going on.

The premise of the show: play and sing the requests, is quite simple. The talents involved in carrying it out, however, are anything but. Together, Holland and Mack are, in uncomplicated terms, a human jukebox. It takes years of performing as well as familiarity with decades of pop culture to pull off the musical feats the Hole-O-Matic team delivers.

I truly believe there is a special God that grants silly wishes. As I was leaving the marital home I mused, "Hey! Wouldn't it be great if they did a medley of the Gary Pucket and the Union Gap's triptych, "Young Girl," "This Girl Woman Now," and finally, "Woman, Woman" (do you have cheating on your mind)?" Oh, I thought, "I would LOVE that!"

As if I were dreaming, the Hol-O-dex's very first offering was a medley called appropriately enough "Woman," that had not only Gary Pucket's classics, but also threw in Tom Jones' "She's a Lady." It was a Twilight Zone moment — but in a good way.

I'd seen Karen Mack previously, but always as a backup singer or supporting player, also featured in the late D. Jay Bradley's annual Christmas shows, and lucky to have been able to before Jay's untimely passing. Mack has a youthful, shimmery sound — healthy and supple; a terrific voice that she uses properly. And, when inclined, she can belt her tush off while never pushing, even for a second.

With a impressive four-octave range, Michael Holland was an ensemble all unto himself. He shifted from high soprano melodys to the depths of funky bass lines, weaving around Ms. Mack with dexterity and humor. On guitar or piano — they were a perky yet focused unit.

According to my husband and in-house layman critic, one of the best things about the team is their willingness to tackle anything, such as their medley of "Millworker," one of the worst songs ever written by the great James Taylor, and "Moonshadow," written by "The Artist Formally Known as Cat Stevens," providing an awesomely funny counterpart.

We've got this whiner, mad that she has to work at the mill.

Millwork... it ain't nothing but an awful boring job...

...Then it's me and my machine
For the rest of the morning
For the rest of the afternoon
And the rest of my life

But if a "Moonshadow" would follow her she might get... permanent disability!

And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plow, lose my land,
Oh if I ever lose my hands, oh if....
I wont have to work no more.
And if I ever lose my eyes....

Mack and Holland had me laughing hysterically at this point, screaming at my husband, "Don't you get it?" To put that together must mean the pair spend many sleepless nights working on their material.

The graying members of the audience were thrilled when Mack and Holland did a '70's disco medley — in my opinion, the finest music next to Beethoven. (Please stop laughing.) When it seemed they could not top themselves, they asked for requests and my gallant spouse entreated, "Please, do the 'Women' one." They complied, making my night complete.

And why not? That is what Karen, Michael and the slave are there for — to cater to their audience's musical memories: good, bad, or execrable. What a treat!

Hole-O-Matic will be at the Duplex again on January 24th, 31st, and February 7th and 14th and 21st.

Melody Breyer-Grell
Cabaret Scenes
January 10, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org