Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – Nonbinary cabaret artists come out to heal: JUSTIN VIVIAN BOND swells in “Well, Well” and JOHN JARBOE conducts a sing-along

• By drediman
• May 19, 2025
• No Comments

This month’s nightlife adventures have led me to a pair of cabaret shows by uncompromising nonbinary talents, both of whom sought to provide solace in these unsettled times. As always, read on for my thoughts.

JUSTIN VIVIAN BOND: WELL, WELL
Joe’s Pub

In November, Justin Vivian Bond commiserated with devoted fans in Oh Well, v’s cabaret act that coincided with the release of the disconcerting results of the 2024 Presidential Election. Earlier this May, the legendary downtown entertainer followed up that sold out show at Joe’s Pub with Well, Well (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED), which continued to mull on our times via songs by lesbian and trans singers, as well as gender non-conforming songwriters (the trilogy concludes with next month’s Pride installment Well, Well, Well, which I will be sure not to miss). Well, Well found Bond at the peak of v’s powers, beguiling audiences with swelling emotions and song interpretations that cut to the heart of the material vis-à-vis the current state of things. To boot, Viv sounded terrific, the legendary performer’s trademark gravely vibrato as seductive as ever. Some highlights from the thoughtfully curated song cycle included trenchant renditions of SOPHIE’s “It’s Okay to Cry”, k.d. lang’s “Miss Chatelaine”, and Bambi Lake’s “This Is Charlotte Rampling on the Line”. A somber thread also ran through Viv’s show, particularly evident in clear-eyed performances of songs like Joan Armatrading’s “Save Me” and Mary Gauthier’s “Mercy Now”. As per usual, Bond’s show was laced with keen observations, drawing in the audience with v’s wisdom and distinctively wry sense of humor. Also as always, Viv was accompanied musically by longtime usual suspects, led by the great Matt Ray on keys.

THE BEARDED LADIES / JOHN JARBOE: AHHHHHHHHH! AN EVENING OF SING-A-LONG WITHOUT GOD OR COUNTRY
EstroGenius Festival at the cell

Earlier this month at the cell in Chelsea, I also had the chance to catch an hourlong set performed by John Jarboe (otherwise known simply as “Jarbeaux”), the artistic director of the Philadelphia-based The Bearded Ladies Cabaret who is perhaps best known for their autobiographical solo show Rose: You Are Who You Eat. Entitled AHHHHHHHHH! An Evening of Sing-A-Long without God or Country (RECOMMENDED), the performance was an offering of the long-running ExtroGenius Festival, an annual collection of shows that champion under-represented voices in the performing arts. In essence, Jarboe’s latest creation is a feel-good yet prayerful sing-along of defiance and escapism, which is, oddly enough, just what the doctor ordered. Backed by a live band — the game Mel Regn, Josh Machiz, and Heath Allen — the loosely-structured, highly interactive evening (there’s even a dance break session squeezed in) unfolded organically, buoyed by songs from the likes of Madonna, Queen, and Billy Joel, which Jarboe transmuted with transgressive glee. Throughout, they sang with commanding conviction and showcased their prowess as a master of ceremonies — even if attendance was a tad on the sparse side — instinctually guiding the evening to a place of both healing and community by way of outrageousness. Then there were the looks, which in this performance included warped, lovingly-handcrafted visions of the pope and Minnie Mouse, both appropriate icons for Jarboe’s unhinged sing-along.