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6 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | OCTOBER 2015 By Patty Jordan On a hot August night, more than 300 Four Seasons residents and their guests shared an evening of fun at the PG55 show, Twisted Cabaret. And it wasn't only the weather that was hot. The audience was treated to 15 acts, most of which were geared to adult audiences, if you get my drift. There were songs, dances, skits, comedy and illusion, all of which had folks laughing and clapping, often at the same time. We were even treated to the talents of a cowboy hat wearing pole dancer, who in his other life is Yvette and Ken Thomas' son-in-law! There was enough variety in this show to please a very appreciative audience and it was obvious that the performers worked hard to make this a successful evening. But it takes more than 15 different acts to make a show like this work, and this show had just that extra something. His name is John Horning and he organized, produced, directed, and performed both as emcee and magician. Many of us have seen John do magic tricks and perform a dialogue with his friend Vern. He has been in most of PAC's variety shows as well as numerous magic shows here at Four Seasons, but this is the first time we've seen him as a song and dance man. That's because he has never sung in public before, except at karaoke. Using music from Cabaret, John wove a thread throughout the show, changing costumes and very much staying in character, tying everything together in a most entertaining package. When asked what motivated him to take on such a large task, he said that he just wanted to put on a great show and felt that he could make that happen. He also said that the participation of about 53 people, including performers and those behind the stage, made the show a success. The technical crew had the most complicated program in Four Seasons' history, and they pulled it off like pros. Actually, some are pros. For example, sound director Stan Sweeney has two Emmys for his sound work in TV. And we have a new lighting system with a computerized board that came with very difficult instructions. But they weren't so difficult that Michael Rothberg, a computer pro, couldn't translate them and write out directions that everyone could understand. The efforts of this technical crew and stage hands, led by Andy Shipper, made this very complicated show, with set, lighting and music changes flowing from opening number to curtain call. John also couldn't have done it without the help of Assistant Director Colin Taylor and PAC Artistic Directors Susan Yuel and Sheldon Craig. Barbara Wasco directed the Four Seasons Singers and Martha Franck got the line dancers shaking those booties. Roberta Hokuf and Barbara Wasco wrote an original, and bawdy, skit that took us to Alaska. The Little Women, led by Kathy Taylor, did a number that you just have to see to believe! We were regaled with songs by Zelyne Rudolph and Joanne LaPointe and a very funny ditty sung by Gary Stifter and Bob Jernejcic. Colin Taylor pulled an amazing array of things out of… are you ready for this? His unzipped fly! And of course, The Real Men of Four Seasons had us laughing out loud. We were also treated to a beautiful number played by Wan Yeung on a Pipa, a traditional Chinese string instrument. The audience enjoyed this so much that more than a 100 of them came back the next day to hear Wan give a concert for us. There were just too many performers to mention them all here, but if you missed the show, or just want to see it again, please go to the Four Seasons Website where it is posted in its entirety, fourseasonsatbeaumont.com. Cheryl Staples, Roberta Hokuf, Patty Jordan, and Barbara Wasco John Horning was the amazing emcee of the show. The "little women" Twisted Cabaret Delights

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