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| Performers & Contemporaries Salute Jeanne Skinner at 90 |
by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
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| Sal, Jean, and Fran |
| Photo by Joseph R. Saporito |
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Jeanne Skinner, Cherry Grove's postmistress since 1966, turned 90 on January 15 and, on August 18, Grove performers, friends, members of Jeanne's family, and a trio of her contemporaries, welcoming her to "the 90+ Club," saluted her at a show at the Ice Palace, organized and emceed by Sal Piro, who has cast her in all 10 Arts Project of Cherry Grove shows he has directed.
Welcoming Jeanne to their midst were Grove nonagenarians Rev. Dr. Charles Whipple, Glen Boles, and Miss Carman, the 'Mother of Us All.'
Sal reminisced about Jeanne's increasingly important roles in his shows. Geri MacWhinnie, Jeanne's daughter, read the lyrics to a song about Cherry Grove that Jeanne sang, to the tune of "Spring Fever," in a show directed by Ted Drach in 1986.
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Rae De Stefano sang "The lady is a star," a cappella, in tribute to Jeanne, and was joined by Elaine Lukash, of the Cherry Grove Fire Department, of which Jeanne is a member, for a verse of "The lady is a stamp," apt stamp poster in hand, to the tune of "The lady is a tramp." Denise Harbin, as Elvis, equipped with an envelope, pertinently performed "Return to Sender." Dominic De Santis spoke of watching Jeanne's family grow up in the Grove, "which means that gays and straights can live together-and we don't turn them gay!"
Announced by Sal as "the Cherry Grove Gay Men's Chorus," a mustachioed Lyn Belensky, Pat Wagnis, Linda Dickerman and Barbara Hirsch did a barbershop quartet number. Linda and Barbara reappeared for a Simon and Garfunkel medley of "Sounds of Silence," "Mrs. Robinson," and "Cecilia." Ann Phetamine delivered a hot "Miss Celie's Blues," from the film "The Color Purple." Lynne Tunderman talked about Jeanne's pair of red Samsonite suitcases, revealing that they are full of empty soda cans that Jeanne redeems as a donation for her church, and recalled that, as a prank, a friend sent Lynne an envelope marked "confidential: pregnancy test results," about which a concerned Jeanne promptly spread the word.
Donna Piranha's number was "To Sir, with Love." This writer sang "This Nearly Was Mine," from "South Pacific." Paul Jablonski announced that "Neither rain nor sleet nor snow will keep Jeanne from reading all our postcards."
Demi-Tasse was Barbra Streisand, doing "Starting Here, Starting Now." Rose Levine began by singing "They Say It's Wonderful," from "Annie Get Your Gun," and followed it with an a cappella "Rose of Washington Square/Rose of Cherry Grove Fame," who has "got no future, but, oy, what a past!" Ruth and Susan Freedner took us backstage for a glimpse at sharing the dressing room with colleague Jeanne, and Susan recalled a time when no one had telephones here, except Jeanne, responsible for the "emergency number." She would knock on the door saying, "It's an emergency," said Susan, who added, "No, it wasn't an emergency-it was 'dyke drama!'"
Bella, appropriately in red, offered "Red, Red Robin." Amelia Migliaccio told a story about Jeanne correcting a wrong geographical detail on a postcard someone was sending out. Versatile singer Porsche gave us "All That Jazz," from "Chicago," in the voices of Cher, Eartha Kitt, Marilyn Monroe, Carol Channing, Macy Gray, and Janis Joplin. Her Judy returned for an emotional "Over the Rainbow," from "Wizard of Oz." Tony Bondi, backed by Donna and Ann, provided the grand finale with "Mr. Postman."
Fran presented Jeanne with a bouquet from the Fire Department. And Jeanne had the last word, addressing the assembled with the words, "Actually, I feel young again." Long may she reign!
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