The  Duplex has been a Greenwich Village piano bar and landmark as long as most people remember.  Its upstairs show spot is a brick-walled cabaret snuggery that is everything an intimate cabaret spot should be: cozy, warm and friendly.  Over the years, The Duplex has been a launching pad for newcomers and up-and-comers, and a welcome venue for many with already-established reputations.

The room's manager, Thomas Honeck (pictured), an impressive performer himself and host to the evening, seems particularly adept at spotting, and booking talented aspirants. A convincing display of that was the 2009 Duplex Gala, in which fourteen acts that call The Duplex home gave convincing displays of their appeal to an enthusiastic audience. All had forthcoming engagements there, fashioning the event into a clever and spirited version of “Coming Attractions.”

Leading off the parade of performers, singer-songwriter Julie Gold—a Duplex regular who declared her special love of the place where “the piano is always tuned and the drinks aren't watered down”—lauded the opportunity offered those whose marks had yet to be made. Gold, of course, is the songwriter of Bette Midler's hit, the Grammy award-winning “From a Distance.”  Many of the fourteen acts consisted of multiple performers, which makes individually acknowledging each of them here not feasible. A few however, cry out to be mentioned.

Colleen McHugh presents an ever-changing monthly show. Her notable specialty is taking a theme from the audience and composing an on-the-spot lyric.  At the Gala, she solicited the saddest tale of woe and handily created a bluesy “Love Is a Slow Learner.”

Petite Brooke Ferris did a bang-up job with “Sacrifice of Love,” a number from the New York Theater Barn's forthcoming show there.  Recent debut vocalist Stacie Koby evoked both amusement and sympathy with her attempts to get out from under a father's overanxious over-watchfulness with “I Just Want to Have Fun.” Bistro Award-winner Brian J. Nash, one of the Duplex piano bar entertainers, was equally rib-tickling with a parody of the songs from Les Miz.

The “standards” and their eminent composers were nowhere to be found.  The songs, as well as the majority of performers, were new to the scene.  One thing the night proved, however, was that The Duplex offers talent a-plenty whose names one might not know, but are certainly worth the modest cover and a two-drink minimum to see and enjoy.

Peter Leavy
Cabaret Scenes
November 5, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org