The crowd who shows up at Patricia’s is as interesting as the entertainment – this week we met J, a dancer from Australia – her husband is dancing at the Moulin Rouge, and the two perform an acrobatic “bands” dance, circus style. She was beautiful and fit, and it made me think about painting the two in their act. She had that fresh “Aussie” attitude -- American without the Puritan. I visited with a Croatian tour operator who spoke all the European languages and perfect English. There were several Americans there – a student from Oklahoma, a computer programmer from the DC area, who still used a standard camera and developed his own pictures whenever he could; a couple of French; and three Canadian women – one who taught art to children, both “Canadian” and aboriginal. We had a hearty discussion about art and culture.
Patricia offers a 20 euro dinner with wine and entertainment every Sunday night -- everyone is welcome. Entertainment varies – it’s the thing that draws me. This last week it was an R+B Gospel singer. The deep tones of “the Upper Room” came from a place out of this world. It turned out Connie Fredericks-Malone grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts – not far from Winsted, Connecticut where I am from. She is married to an ex-Jesuit and the two were out and about promoting the teaching of French by singing – a legacy to Connie’s sister, Carol Fredericks, who lived her life singing in France.
The whole affair is as close to Cabaret as I can imagine without getting “corny”. There was a couple who danced to recorded music after the singing was over: the woman had a body not unlike a weasel -- no waist, but a long muscled torso. She wore fabulous, dramatic makeup and her partner, less of a dancer, seemed like Karen Carpenter’s brother. She was going to belly dance here on Easter.
B, the American guy who is always there, dozed in a chair. It’s the kind of place one can get away with that. Patricia seems to have no expectations for us. Blair meets a woman who refers him to an opthamolagist. “Is that the dip?” she inquires.
It’s amazing the thing ever gets off the ground – the atmosphere is beyond casual. We arrived, a little early, at 7:15, as instructed in the directions. W, the computer operator was there, but there was no sign a soiree is about to happen. The setting is an one-room apartment, with an open kitchen and toilet down the hall. Mirrors surround the big room, making it feel festive and full, regardless of how many people show up. I think there were about 20 this time.
Wine is opened, but dinner is yet to be prepared. Patricia greets everyone, and about 8 PM, gets the singer going while she cooks. The vegetarian dishes are always good; I smelled the beef starting to burn while Connie sang. An assistant serves up the dishes of food – as much as we want, always enough. Wine is poured, and there is water, bubbly and flat. We eat and visit and before we know it the evening is over – we wish our hostess goodnight. Patricia wears a poker face – someone who has introduces snake charmers and dancers, sex therapists and artists. Come to the cabaret.
Laurie (painting and text) and Blair PESSEMIER http://www.paintfox.com/
"The Party (Soiree)" Laurie Fox PESSEMIER Acrylic on canvas 16 x 12 inches
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