Clint Holmes performs at Cabaret Jazz in the Boman Pavilion at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, May 4, 2012. On guitar is John Wedemeyer.
Clint Holmes was rehearsing his Paul Simon-Cole Porter tribute show at Cafe Carlyle in New York on Wednesday when he steeled away for a break in the club’s tearoom.
Holmes had Simon on the brain, certainly. His cabaret show is an inspired depiction of a barroom conversation between Simon and Porter, weaving Holmes’ own handcrafted versions of their classic songs into the script.
As Holmes and his show director and friend Larry Moss walked into the room, they noticed a familiar figure, one that prompted a double double-take.
It was Paul Simon.
“We look over, and there’s Paul Simon, sitting with a woman and having a very intense conversation,” Holmes said Thursday afternoon in a phone conversation from the Carlyle, where on Wednesday he taped a DVD of the Simon-Porter performance to play for those interested in making the show a theater piece. “I’m looking over there, thinking, ‘I hate to be that guy who goes over there and says, “Hello, Mr. Simon,” and interrupting this serious conversation.' ”
Holmes returned to the main club and gameplanned the circumstance with his wife, Kelly. They considered writing a note to Simon and having the message delivered by a waiter. But the two could not agree on just what that note would say.
“The lady at the front desk, she was laughing at us,” Holmes said.
Holmes had to make himself, and his project, known to Paul Simon. That much was certain. So he sidled over to the table and said, “Hello, Paul?”
“Yeah?” Simon said.
“My name is Clint Holmes,” Holmes said, accurately.
“Yeah?” Simon said.
“I’m doing this show about you and Cole Porter …” Holmes pressed on.
Simon took interest.
“Oh, yeah!” Simon said. “I read a review that thought that was just great. I thought of some obscure tunes you can use in the show.”
“That sounds great,” Holmes said. The two chatted for a few moments, as Simon was impressed that Holmes performs “Love” at the start and end of each performance. Holmes then returned to the rehearsal, telling Simon he would be performing the show later in the evening for a DVD.
“I was hoping he’d come back,” Holmes said. “Of course, he did not come back.”
But Leonardo DiCaprio, wearing a cap over his eyes, did venture into the club. Moss is working as DiCaprio’s acting coach at the moment, for the upcoming Quentin Tarantino film, “Django Unchained.” Actress Linda Purl (she was in “Matlock”) and Broadway stars Chita Rivera and Ashley Brown (who played Mary Poppins on Broadway) did make the show.
Holmes, who returns to Cabaret Jazz on July 6-8, says he likely will be in contact with Simon again, probably in a more formal context.
“I didn’t say, ‘Gimme your number,’ but if I want to take this into a theatrical setting, I need to get his blessing,” Holmes said. “At least I greased the skids.”
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWithTheDish.
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