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by Michael Vizcarra/PNN Media intern
They say you're only as old as you feel. If that's the case, the performers
of the Senior Action Network's (SAN) 9th Annual Gray Cabaret at the Victoria
Theatre are definitely in the prime of their youth. The Senior Action
Network is a grassroots advocacy organization passionately devoted to issues
which affect the Senior communities. SAN's mission is to organize and
empower Seniors to influence public policy*. The Gray Cabaret showcases the
wealth of talent of San Francisco's senior citizens. It features music,
dance, poetry, and singing, highlighting the diverse multicultural,
multiethnic make-up of San Francisco.
Stepping into the Victoria Theatre (near 16th and Mission), the first thing I
notice is the sense of pride exuding from the predominantly senior citizen
audience who are here to support their friends, family, and their community.
Even though the audience members are mainly senior citizens, there are people
here who encompass a broad range of age from mothers, fathers, daughters,
sons, granddaughters, and grandsons, all here showing their pride and
support. Also present in the audience is Chris Daly, S.F. Board of
Supervisors, whom the audience showed much appreciation for.
The hosts for the afternoon's event are Angela Alioto (daughter of former
Mayor Joseph Alioto) and Geraldine Earp (SAN's former President) who dedicate
this event to Richard Reed, an advocate for homeless senior citizens, who
passed away recently. After a moment of silence, I take a seat and prepare
to enjoy a couple hours of entertainment. The first act is Henry Irvin doing
his version of "Night and Day" followed by Dorothy Lefkovits doing her
rendition of "Teach Me Tonight." Both songs are reminiscent of the
1930s/1940s style of singing, when crooners and their lyrics really meant
something.
A few of the performances really caught the eyes of the audience and myself.
One of them was the San Francisco Center Chinese Folkloric Dance Troop doing
Tai Chi to a musical score. Their beautiful costumes, complete with red fans
as props, brightened the dark theatre and captivated us with their fluid,
youthful movements. I can see the pride beaming from the Troupe's faces as
they performed their routine. Another artist that caught my eye was Erma
Hennessy. She wrote and read a poem entitled, "When You Are Finally Old".
This was a fantastic tongue-in-cheek poem about the daily ailments and little
idiosyncrasies of everyday life of a senior citizen, " my teeth will sleep
in a cup of water, that's where they will stay all night‚ I know in the
morning, at least they'll be all white." She had us rolling in the aisles
with laughter. It's very funny poem indeed, but also giving a sense of truth
to what senior citizens go through. The last performance of Act One was by
Jean Ammerman, who sang "Can't Say No". Her comical rendition of this song
also had us cheering and laughing. Her performance was excellent, complete
with the irony of being a senior citizen but playing the part of a little
girl.
Act II featured even more diverse performances. The International Folk
Dancers, "Stelita", performed twice. The first being a traditional Mexican
folk dance, and the second a Tango. Mario Herrera, a Filipino-American, sang
twice as well, the first a Filipino folk song, "Cometan" and the second a
Latin American folk song, "Usted". I had the pleasure of sitting next to Mr.
Herrera's wife who was quick to show her pride and support of her husband by
saying that he is an actor as well as a singer. She also showed generosity
and kindness by offering me part of her sandwich and some fruit, which I had
to accept out of respect, myself being a Filipino-American as well. Another
performance that needs to be recognized was that of Mai Lan. She is the
pianist who accompanied many of the performers in their songs. Despite the
fact of having to be led to and from the piano, Ms. Lan showed how vibrant
and youthful she really is by demonstrating the dexterity needed to play the
instrument. Once seated in front of the piano, she was as nimble on the keys
as any person of any age.
The Gray Cabaret was a spectacular event. I was surprised myself at how much
I enjoyed it. The diversity, the wealth of talent, and the sense of pride by
the performers showed me that being a senior citizen is about being youthful
and celebrating your strengths, achievements, and passions. If you are only
as old as you feel, then these performers will forever be young. |
