Come to the Cabaret MetroStar Talent Challenge: Meet Sizzling Runners-Up Grabianowski, Bufford

For decades during the 20th century the legit theater was described with melancholy as "the fabulous invalid." It's a phrase you don't hear these days, because there's lots of theater around and not only in the expected big cities but in more and more regions--much of it luring young audiences.

But the phrase may have a germane use: for cabaret--an entertainment genre that has fallen on hard times. These days fewer clubs across the country support intimate rooms where singers can ply their wares for eager and appreciative audiences. Though venues are fewer, however, there appears to be no shortage of talented performers wanting a career while not aware of the immense luck needed to attain that career.

Fortunately, there are places where encouragement (false hope?) is given. One is Manhattan's Metropolitan Room. There, for the second year running owners Chris and Steve Mazzilli have offered what they've called "The MetroStar Talent Challenge." Nothing should be held against them for dreaming up the competish to fill the room for eight consecutive Mondays in the dull days of summer. Plenty can be said for their committing to bring attention to new and not-so-new-but-not-yet-recognized talent.

The contest's finals were held only a few days ago (Monday, August 31), and of 60 entrants--winnowed over the weeks by audience votes and a shifting panel of judges--the first and second runners-up were newcomers who sizzled during their two-song last efforts like steaks on the grill.

First runner-up Danielle Grabianowski is one of those performers who can remind a listener of many predecessors. Yet she instantly seems newly-minted, someone you haven't seen before. Grabianowski has a cute face and flowing hair that might remind older spectators of Mary Pickford romping across the silver screen. She has a tremolo not unlike that of Adriana Caselotti, who provided the voice for Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." So yes, there's something of a dated charm about Grabianowski, but at other times--particularly in her saucy second song "Bumble Bee"--she evoked Janis Joplin as the late rock 'n' roll blues icon might have warbled after downing one or two Quaaludes. You could say that--chanting confidently with a twinkle in her eyes and ready to goose innuendoes amusingly--Grabianowski suggested someone so steeped in a pop-singing past that she registers as unique. You could say she's in the Kristin Chenoweth tradition. But that would type her, and, really, she already defiantly resists being fitted into anyone else's mold.

Second runner-up Carole Bufford was right on Grabianowski's heels. Not much bigger than a minute and sporting a helmet of black hair over pert features, Bufford sang as if she was damned if she'd be limited by her petite appearance and suburban drinks-party demeanor. For her first number, she sang Bessie Smith's "You've Been a Good Old Wagon," which continues with the jibe, "But Daddy you done broke down." She was as brazen with it as would please the toughest Jazz Age critic.

Switching from a song about, as she put it, "dumping" a lover to one about being dumped, she slipped slowly and gingerly into "Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)." Emotionally intelligent, Bufford began the ditty with the air of a loser, but as she worked through it, she located the undercurrent of anger in the wounded words. When she reached the concluding tables-turned lyric that goes "Though you don't want me now, I'll get along somehow, and then I won't want you," she repeated the final dismissal several times as if delivering a witch's curse.

Incidentally, the contest was won by the more than competent Liz Lark Brown, who unlike the two whom the judges placed after her, is more familiar to local cabaret goers. She's so well known that she's served as a back-up singer for last year's winner, Anne Steele. Curiously, in a release issued about the results, the Brown win is dubbed "a sweet twist of fate."

But many observers may decide the outcome wasn't so much a twist of fate as something else, something having less to do with chance. You see, last year's winner Steele was also one of the judges at the this year's finals. That this year's MetroStar Talent Challenge victor has worked closely with one of the judges has an iffy ring to it--at the very least. It gives an impression you'd think the contest holders would work diligently to avoid. As it was carried out, the contest results all but invite charges of favoritism.

Nevertheless, Grabianowski and Bufford had their chance to shine and undoubtedly will continue to do just that when they alternate as the opening act during the week-long Metropolitan Room engagement that Brown nailed down--as well as other helpful amenities--with her (tarnished?) MetroStar Talent Challenge triumph.

Comments

[bstuff]

Ms. Brown won because she was the best performer as voted by a large number of people over the course of several performances. She was funny, touching, sad and smart. And on top of that she's got a great voice and she knows how to use it.
This article is odd in the way it presents the winner of the competition almost as an "also ran". If that's because Mr. Finkle thinks there was cheating involved he should state that plainly and not just hint at it's possibility. Or, maybe he should investigate the situation first. But then he would have found out that it would have been impossible for one judge to swing the competition in anyone's favor. The audience's votes for three weeks prior were collected and tallied for the final night. And the judges from those earlier weeks also had their votes factored in to the total result. This was all described in plain detail that night; he would have known all of this if he had been there. Oh, wait, he was. So...
Yeah, I don't get it.

[christeas]

I am so happy to see the Metropolitan room and this competition got a write up. I was privileged enough to see the competition and was really astounded at the talent on stage. it does however sadden me to see Mr. Finkle basically negate Ms. Brown's win because she sang back up for last years winner. It is not only petty, but unprofessional as well. Ms. Brown, should you read this article, please note people in the audience such as myself with no connection to any of the winners were in awe of your talents on stage. I am certainly not negating the success' of the runners up - they were also fabulous in their own rite. In this audience member's opinion - the win was well deserved. My deepest and heartiest congratulations, Ms. Brown!

[valiterna]

Ms. Brown WON the competition not because the house was stacked in her favor (as is intimated by our Mr. Finkle) but because she was the best consistently over the course of the competition. She was the funniest, most professional and ultimately the most engaging of the three. I will be happy to see her show when it opens. I encourage all of you to do the same. And I would gladly pay for Mr. Finkle's ticket except that he seems like rather poor company and I would like to enjoy myself in the glow of Ms. Brown's success.

So, remember to not believe everything you read and maybe next time (the esteemed?) Mr. Finkle will learn the facts before trying to, unsuccessfully, tarnish someone's hard earned and deserved win

[valiterna]

This article is terrible. It paints Ms. Brown as totally undeserving of a win. Ms Steele was a judge only for the last night, and I can't imagine her vote counts for all that much. It should be pointed out to Mr. Finkle that the audience was voting throughout the entirety of the contest. At the very least the finalists competed for 3 weeks for the win earning votes every week (the whole competition lasted 8 weeks). During that time both the audience and judges -- who did not know Ms Brown -- were voting. All of these were averaged together to earn the 1st place. Perhaps he could speak with the vote tabulator? A win would have taken several nights of total strangers voting for Ms Brown, because her performance was their favorite.

He closes by saying that the win is tarnished. He basically encourages people not to support Ms Brown, and negates her abilities other than to merely call them competent. Before she even gets a chance to build a show, he's knocking it down, and hurting it's chances for success.

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