Mac is Back

Entertainer Peter Mac, who we wrote about following watching him perform last September at the Gardenia restaurant-cabaret in West Hollywood, has upped the ante on his local gigs, by becoming the resident performer at a new cabaret venue.

The long-popular French Quarter restaurant in the French Market Place (a dining and shopping facility in WeHo) has created a performing space specifically for Mac.

Each weekend, Mac and/or his special guests offer the special blend of nostalgia and celebrity impersonation that have proven a winning formula for Mac in other engagements in L.A. and elsewhere. He is particularly known for his warm and winning portrayal of the late superstar Judy Garland.

Playing throughout March on Fridays and Saturday nights is “The Songs That Got Away.” What Mac promises is to sing songs that Garland never got to perform, but perhaps should have. We’re told the mix of tunes will be highly eclectic—drawing from ABBA, Disney, Sondheim, and much more. His familiar accompanist and musical director Bryan Miller will also be on hand.

During his engagement last fall, I praised Mac for the unique blend of elements he was offering at that time. He enthralled the crowd as Judy, and then emerged later in the show out of that guise, appearing as Mac, a gifted male singer who mixed songs with moving anecdotes about his upbringing. I plan to catch one of his upcoming appearances in this new venue. He’s a terrific entertainer, and it would be great to support his efforts. The French Quarter is to be commended for creating this new entertainment showcase at a time when cabaret is L.A. is sadly much harder to find than it used to be.

—Les Spindle