Try as he may, writer-comedian-actor Bruce Vilanch will never look like Barbara Stanwyck in “Double Indemnity.” Although he wears his blonde shoulder-length hair with a more casual chic than did that Paramount babe, the current star of Broadway’s “Hairspray,” did not appear (for all intents and purposes) in drag as the host of the 2005 Nightlife Awards show at New York’s Town Hall Theater on Monday evening January 31. Happily the amiable yet barbed-witted Vilanch injected plenty of laugh-aloud humor into the almost four-hour event that recognized the year’s outstanding performers in song, comedy and jazz. Yes, the length of the event prompted some walkouts, but the faithful, dedicated, and appreciative persevered and were rewarded with some of the best acts in the last hour.

The greats, near-greats, legends and near-legends of the cabaret world celebrated with the up and coming performers as winners of this year’s Nightlife Awards. Twenty-three judges comprised of journalists and media professionals made the selections. Unlike the other awards major award ceremonies, there was mercifully no thank you to my agent, mother or seventh grade English teacher speech permitted during the well-attended (actually capacity) Scott Siegel production. Entertainment and only entertainment was the rule. Under the crisp direction of Gabriel Barre, each winner was already on stage and ready to perform following a brief introduction by a presenter of note.

Of course, with such well-known personality-plus presenters, including Joy Behar, Julie Halston, Charles Busch, Tony Danza, Rue McClanahan, Steve Ross, and Dick Latessa, it wasn’t a surprise to discover that many of the younger winners still have a long way to go to achieve anything close to star status. The important thing, however, is that the cabaret community, its performers, producers and fans had come together to receive, respect, and honor its own. Certainly cabaret has a unique place within the entertainment industry, a place that continues to serve as a practical launching pad as well as a hospitable and intimate venue for the established.

As Vilanch aptly noted, with regard to the performers who would be appearing on the large Town Hall stage but who would ordinarily be performing on something closer to a two-by-four, “No one has to enter through the kitchen.”

Peter Yawitz (Photo courtesy of Michael Portantiere of Theatermania.com)

Although musical theater star Alice Ripley’s somewhat belabored and over-dramatized rendition of Kander and Ebb’s “New York, New York,” and Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind,” established at the outset what proved to be a general tendency for many of the singers to either scream into the mike and/or drain the life out of a song, sisters Liz Callaway and Ann Hampton Callaway, winners of Outstanding Duo/Group Cabaret Performance in a Major engagement, raised the stakes with an invigorating blend of “Stormy Weather,” with “When the Sun Comes Up.” A svelte Andrea McArdle ventured securely “Over the Rainbow,” but the obviously reduced antics of Eugene Mirman & Bobby Tisdale, winners of Outstanding Group Comedy Performance,” failed to register.

Vocalist and guitarist Allan Harris sang a breezy “Skylark” in honor of the late Jackie Paris, winner posthumously of Outstanding Male Jazz Vocalist. Comic/singer Peter Yawitz, winner Outstanding Cabaret Musical Comedy/Characterization, found a receptive audience to his keenly considered special material “Safer to Talk Like a Man.” Not even multi-talented drag star Charles Busch, who made the evening’s most impressive fashion statement suggesting he’d just been elected Manchurian Prime Minister, could compete with the haute couture and haute-r coiffure of drag star Ruby Rims, who engaged us with a poignant and cuddly “Teddy Cares.”

Patrice O'Neal (Photo courtesy of Michael Portantiere of Theatermania.com)

Some of the evenings best laughs, mostly political in nature, came from presented comedienne Kate Clinton. She introduced fired-up comic Patrice O’Neal,” winner of Outstanding Male Standup Comedian, who proved he was even more politically fearless and fair poking fun at both Bush and Theresa Heinz Kerry. Laurie Kilmartin, winner Outstanding Female Standup, either delighted or maddened many with her blunt religious-based humor.

Keely Smith (Photo courtesy of Michael Portantiere of Theatermania.com)

We suspected the pros were here to stay when Karen Akers and Keely Smith, co-winners of Outstanding Cabaret Female Vocalists in a Major Engagement, had their turn. The stunning Akers (does she not get more beautiful every year?) sang a haunting synthesis of “Falling in Love with Love,” and “I Fall in Love too Easily,” perched atop the grand piano. The ageless (she is 76) Smith socked out “I Ain’t Got Nobody,” like we like it, and then not only enticed Tony Danza to join her singing the classic “Old Black Magic,” (her backup musicians playing the original Louis Prima arrangement), but she encouraged the adoring audience to participate.

Mark Murphy (Photo courtesy of Michael Portantiere of Theatermania.com)

Guest artist comely Jeff McCarthy used his rich baritone voice to winning effect with “Once Upon A Time.” The Joe Lovano Quartet, winner of Outstanding Jazz Combo Performance, satisfied the purists while Mark Murphy was honored with an award as a “Legend of Jazz“ that represented five decades as a jazz performer. His meditative style brought back memories of long-ago nights in Greenwich Village coffee houses, as he sang his own composition “I Know You From Somewhere,” actually written as a tribute to the spirit of New Yorkers after 9/11. Conversely, an even more jazzily introspective interpretation of Roger and Hart’s “Give It Back to the Indians,” might have suggested to some that we do just that.

Phillip Officer (Photo courtesy of Michael Portantiere of Theatermania.com)

Phillip Officer, winner Outstanding Male Vocalist, used his long hair as dramatic tool as much as he did voice for “In The Still of the Night,” ; and a mushy ballad that went on forever.

Leslie Anderson (Photo courtesy of Michael Portantier of Theatermania.com)

Leslie Anderson, winner Outstanding Cabaret Piano Bar Performer, got the evening’ s heftiest laughs. Her ditsy operatic aria tour from Puccini to Bizet was embellished by her own dazzling virtuosity on the slide trombone. What could top that? Actually jazz pianist Bill Charlap did with his sublime variations on “Some Other Time,” from “On the Town.” You could hear a pin drop. Barbara Carroll, the great dame of jazz piano, rippled through a medley that celebrated the work of the late composer Cy Coleman that sent many in the cheering audience to their feet.

Paula West (Photo courtesy of Michael Portantiere of Theatermania.com)

Speaking of forever, it took more time for Paula West, winner Outstanding Female Jazz Vocalist, to sing “If I Only Had a Brain,” than it would take to watch the entire “The Wizard of Oz.” The sweet song that Carolyn Montgomery, winner of Outstanding Cabaret Female Vocalist, caressed with vocal integrity was not identified. The most somber moments came from a clearly moved Patti Lupone, who offered a tribute to the late composer and arranger Dick Gallagher.

Chorus (Photo by Jack Quinn)