Those who were privileged to attend TNT MEN's Naked Cabaret on Sunday,
September 14, will attest to Charles Seminario's accomplishments as a
performer.

In the intimate atmosphere of the Maples, Charles performed a range of
material associated with some of the leading divas of the American stage,
such as Lena Horne, Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, and Bernadette Peters.
This show may have been a rehearsal for the 519 Community Centre fundraiser,
Diva Envy, but Charles treated us to a full show, with introductions to the
songs, audience patter, and expressive movement to accompany the songs.

Costumes, however, were absent--fortunately. Charles' nudity added to
maintain audience attention, and it certainly added a new layer to his
opening song, where he sang about doing anything to get into a musical!

The show had its gay content, not only in addressing gay iconography with
the divas, and by maintaining the male pronouns in the love ballads, but
also in the instance where a slight change in the lyrics made a song a queer
fantasy: in his Midler-inspired rendition of "Love Potion Number Nine," the
lyrics "but when I kissed a cop down on 31st and Vine, he broke my little
bottle of love potion number nine" became " when I kissed a cop down on 31st
and Vine, I got my money's worth of love potion number nine." I doubt that
the Coasters ever sang it like that! The classic ballad, "You Don't Know Me"
resonated for every man in the room who was never able to tell a male friend
that their love for him was more than friendship.

Charles is too good to perform only once for TNT MEN, so we've requested him
for an encore performance to be scheduled some time this winter. Along with
Charles, we may have some other guest performers, as well as opportunities
to skip the light fantastic on the dance floor--no disco, but foxtrots,
rumbas, and slooooow couple dances. In keeping with the theme, we are
considering serving cocktails--gimlets, mimosas, brandy Alexander, and the
like--at affordable prices. This time, the event would be a Saturday evening
affair, formal nudity required.

If there are other talented artistes within TNT MEN who are interested in
performing at this event, contact oscar.