Twenty Cherry Grove performers contributed their talents to the annual fundraiser for PAWS (Pines Animal Welfare Society), which rescues and places stray pets found on Fire Island, at the Ice Palace on June 4. Fire Island Pines’ Lee Frey and Cherry Grove’s Valerie Perez head PAWS and Sal Piro organized the benefit show. DJ Chuck McTague lent invaluable support, coordinating music and sound.

Kenny Holcomb, who frequently appears at Broadway at the Beach, on Monday nights, and ‘Lavinia Draper’ (Susan Campanaro), who has a show on Wednesdays, kicked off the evening by collaborating on an entertaining pre-show. “You ain’t nothing but a hound dog,” they sang, after which Lavinia worked the room doing “Get your kicks on Route 66,” and Kenny offered his take on “Big, Blonde, and Beautiful,” from “Hairspray,” as “Big, Bald, and Beautiful.” Lavinia and Kenny sparred over a shared boyfriend, querying, “Does he love you like he loves me?” “That’s Life,” Kenny shrugged, when Lavinia stormed off.

Lavinia pressed pink boa, plastic chair, and stage floor into serious use for an expressive “Mein Herr,” from “Cabaret,” with Kenny following up with a wrenching “Once before I Go,” Peter Allen’s song. Lavinia dedicated “The World Goes ’Round,” complete with audience sing-along, to the memory of the late actor, singer, and pastry chef John “Rose E” Scoullar. “Last Dance” was Lavinia and Kenny’s closing duet.

Bella, who will have an Ice Palace show on the first Sunday night in August, Emceed the first act of the PAWS show proper, sizzling as she declared, “I’m a queen, I’m the hottest thing you have ever seen.” Asking “Who won the world?,” Logan Hardcore wowed us with a split and additional energetic, athletic dancing. This writer followed Logan, singing “Moon River,” Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer’s theme from the film based on Truman Capote’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

After Bella introduced new Grove Homecoming Queen YaNeeda Dunes, Ruth and Susan Freedner, mugging as Louis Prima and Keely Smith, offered “Bei Mir Bist Du Schön,” with Susan casting a look toward their landlady at the first appearance of the phrase “Bella bella” in the song; “That Old Black Magic;” and Cole Porter’s “Night and Day” and “I’ve Got You under My Skin.” “You’re in the doghouse now,” glamorous Robin Kradles sang to the boy ‘puppy’ she had in tow. Suave Demi-Tasse remained unflappable, insisting “Can’t take my eyes off of you,” despite a technical glitch that led to an impromptu encore, which was abruptly terminated. Demi also led us in singing “Happy Birthday” to Bella.

Linda Dickerman and Barbara Hirsch, whose song was “In the Mood,” began with ‘cooking with the grandmas,” but soon appeared in Rasta garb, as the ‘hot mommas of the Grove,” employing their pots and pans as a steel band. Singers Jim Speake, swinging “Doctor My Eyes,” and Rose Levine, belting out “Don’t bring a frown to old Broadway” and “Take Me Back to Manhattan” a cappella, concluded this part of the PAWS show.

Panzi and Philomena, who will be part of an Imperial Court of New York benefit for the Community House here on August 28, were MCs for the second act, and began with a spirited duet of “River deep, mountain high.” Dallas Dubois’ contribution was an upbeat “Ring Them Bells,” really selling it. Ann Phetamine, a vision in glitz and platform boots, began a hip hop number so vigorously that her Afro wig went flying. A colorful Charity, in red hat and dress, with fuzzy lavender sleeves, accoutered with sparking jewelry, cha cha-ed her way through “Whatever Lola Wants,” in Della Reese’s version, from “Damn Yankees.”

For a most grand finale indeed, singer Porsche, of the many voices, celebrated her new dark-haired look by singing part of “Sway with Me” as Judy Garland; purred her way, Eartha Kitt-style, through “Old Fashioned Girl,” and concluded with “One Night Only,” from “Dreamgirls.”

Sal presented a plaque to Valerie, in gratitude for her work with PAWS. Matthew, of the M&Ms, won the 50-50 raffle prize of $510, which he generously donated back to PAWS.