The Palm Closes Out Season with RISE Benefit
It’s the end of the season, and there has to be one final show. One that combines the talent of two cabarets but without the dancers that bring much to the fore, but there is no space.
There is also not a lot of time to create a show with everyone still working their final performances.
What would I have done? Easy! Roy Cruz would sing his two fave cuts from his Freddie Mercury tribute, same with Eva Jimenez and Pink, Chris Lopez and Sam Smith, Mau and Bruce Springsteen. Cecille could bring both Rihanna and Beyonce, Nacho Granados Tom Jones, and some Sinatra, Maru and Gaga, Waleska, Madonna, Losanna, Christina Aguilera, Nick Rogers, his wonderful Josh Groban. Steven Retchless could bring the best of Britney Spears and Buble would shine one more time through Armando Chakám and Daniel and his Monaco Band could do some Billy Joel, Elton John and maybe some ABBA.
Hoo-boy, did I miss the mark? By a mile.
Chris Lopez and Roy Cruz combined their talents and produced a variety show that surpassed all expectations and left us smiling and weak with joy from being bombarded with song choices that were over the top, kitschy, catchy, singalongable, and absolutely brilliant in their delivery!
The energy was palpable, and it proved impossible for some to remain dancing in their seats; they had to get up and move!
Everyone was dressed in white, including Lisa Manoogian from RISE who graciously thanked everyone from the stage for supporting the Children’s Shelter. Proceeds from both shows went to the kids – yes, they blew the first sold-out house away at 7 pm and went back and did it again at 9 o’clock.
After the opening couple of ABBA tunes with the entire cast stretched across the Palm’s stage, the duets that ensued were unusual, to say the least, like Chris Lopez and Armando Chakam making a whole new world in Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” and taking the harmonies to an unearthly level. Eva played guitar for Steven Retchless, and everybody was encouraged to sing along. And we did.
The 70s and 80s ruled with songs like “Footloose,” “Hotel California,” and that amazing time capsule when Freddy Mercury and David Bowie created “Under Pressure.” And, no, Roy Cruz did not sing it!
Every minute of the almost 90-minute-long performance was high energy, and joyful. Jump up and dance, sing your heart out, get out of your box, and do something new experience.
But that’s the The Palm Cabaret In their 25-year existence, they have learned what works and what doesn’t. The owners, managers, staff, sound and light crew, and entertainers work together as a team.
And, they love one another – that is so clearly evident. They are full of gratitude, each one, to be able to do what they do, make a good living at it, and provide the caliber of entertainment that we have come to expect and receive over and over again. Every year it gets better.
Mil gracias to the Palm and sister, Coco, Cabarets, for the finest season to date in Puerto Vallarta.