Bradshaw was one of my first friends in the cabaret community, which like other branches of the entertainment world has its mix of the warmhearted, the suspicious, the envious, the deceivers, the grand! Although I had emceed several one-night-only shows at major dance clubs in NYC, I had never done a regular (running!) cabaret show before 1988, and I was met with tons of skepticism and sideways glances by the "upperclassmen" when I first came onto the scene. The venue was 88s, a two-story cabaret house with a full restaurant and sing-along piano lounge on the main floor, and the sweetest, loveliest cabaret performance house upstairs. 88’s was one of the great “downtown” cabaret clubs in Greenwich Village which had a reputation for being artsy, quirky, unique, and loaded with original and off-beat talent. At the time I had decided to do a cabaret show, most of them were musical tributes or compilations; one pianist, maybe a small combo, and one singer… twelve songs, some patter, done and done. My proposal was a complete a "book" musical/improv with an actual cast, multiple costumes and changes, scenery, props, programs, and even changing guest stars from other shows who would "drop" in to do specialty numbers each week. I was producing, writing, directing, and acting in it… and even managing to put together the programs that were set up on the tables like standing “menus” as if the Café were a real restaurant… in the Art Deco tower of the Chrysler Building!
Bradshaw, from the first minute I met him and he saw what I was up to, encouraged me, introduced me to friends, and gave me ideas, support, and inspiration. That show, CAFÉ BERLIN ran for 3 years. And when, after years of playing it "safe" in the fickle corporate world, I was laid off, and had to reinvent myself, it was Bradshaw on a sunny April morning on Fire Island who talked to me about my plans for Sybil Bruncheon, and what I could now do with her with the whole new world of technology available....There we were bundling up in our sweaters having coffee in the chilly sunshine of the retreating Winter of 2011, sharing what it means to move on, to embrace new adventures in the face of loss, heartbreak, and adversity. Bradshaw's love for his life-partner John was inspiring to any who knew them and a ferocious rebuke to all those who think that a same-sex couple could never have a meaningful and long lasting relationship.
Over the years, Bradshaw had moved in and out of my life as our careers and fortunes changed and evolved....now we decided that we would start interviewing all the old-timers (a vanishing breed!) out in Cherry Grove and capture their wonderful stories, mischiefs, scandals, gossip, and memories of the Island back in the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s before all of it was lost....a wonderful project for the coming Summer and Fall. And it was just that last week or so of 2011 that I went to his home and picked up the newly reworked and digitized DVDs of CAFE BERLIN. We talked at length about the coming Spring and the Archiving both of his library and the exciting pursuit of the Fire Island project....We both joked that if the Mayans are right and this IS the end of the World, we would rather throw caution to the wind and have a Ball doing our shows and projects, like children playing for all they're worth, and Fate be damned!!! We both agreed to use 2012 for fun, adventure, and new hope!..
I'm sure that Bradshaw is having some of John's brilliant (and I mean BRILLIANT!) apricot cobbler right now while they sit together at end of day looking at the first stars coming out on a Fire Island evening that will always be balmy and perfect....the ocean is rolling softly in the background... I'm sure Bradshaw's making all the lighting and sound arrangements for a perfect paradise to come for the two of them...
I'll stay here, and continue to play in the sand of our Earthbound world... being even more appreciative and grateful for the year, the month, the week, the sunset, the moment that is given....loaned, I should say, and is taken back finally. And that lesson will be one more gift that Bradshaw left behind without even knowing it... you see, he was accidentally generous.
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