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Photo credit: Diana Cardenas

'Doppelbanger' is autobiographical gay tarot cabaret with free beer

"Doppelbanger" goes into my personal favorites file. From Philadelphia, this is Nick Jonczak’s first time performing in Cincinnati. He is very personable and interacts with the audience throughout the entire show. He also hands out…

“Doppelbanger” goes into my personal favorites file. From Philadelphia, this is Nick Jonczak’s first time performing in Cincinnati. He is very personable and interacts with the audience throughout the entire show. He also hands out free beer. Who doesn’t love that?

The original performance description read “autobiographical gay tarot cabaret.” While this all very true, I encourage everyone of all sexual fluidity to come and enjoy the show. Yes, he does talk about his relationships with different men, and there is some brief nudity, but it is worth the tarot card reading and free beer. I promise.

Photo credit: Diana Cardenas

Once you walk into the room you are instructed to take one tarot card from the table. You are told you will need this for the show, and you can keep it once it’s over. Once you find your seat, Nick makes it a point to come up and speak to you. He’ll ask how you heard about the show and if you have ever had a reading before. He makes you feel comfortable and smile.

Nick begins by saying the only masculine role model he had growing up was his older sister. She is a tarot card reader as well and he followed in her footsteps. She taught him how to do the readings and he keeps an article of her clothing with him when he reads to honor her. She’s fine and alive, don’t worry. She is married now so they don’t get to talk as much as they use to.

As Nick’s eyes survey his audience, he is telling us about different features he appreciates on the men that he dates. He describes strong arms being one of his favorites. He goes into detail describing the lines of the muscles, how the cuffs of a t-shirt will hug the biceps. Then his eyes fall on me. He walks over, crouches in front of me and says “You have some really nice arms. I noticed them as you walked in. Can you make a muscle for me?” Everyone is staring at me. Now I am a part of the show. So, I stood up and made the flexed the biggest muscle I could. Everyone applauds and I smile from ear to ear. I’m in the gym 5-days a week. I work hard for these arms!

Finally, I wave to my fans and sit down. Nick then asks which tarot card I chose: the Page of Pentacles. He asks if I am in school. I say no. He asks if I work with kids. I say yes, and that is true. I am the Acolyte Director at church and I teach Sunday School. I also just hired two student interns in my office. Nick goes on to say that working with kids is one of my passions. I had a decision to make recently, that including working with kids and I was struggling with it. He said I made the right decision to continue my work with kids and even though it requires a different style than I am used to, I will be fine.

Photo credit: Diana Cardenas

I didn’t cry, but my eyes watered. He was right. Recently, I was asked to help facilitate a professional development class to about 30 teenagers. I’ve taught kids before, but never a group over 15. As soon as I was offered the position, I said yes immediately because kids are my passion, but I would go back and forth with myself if I was making the right decision. I am nervous with such a big group, worried I won’t impact them how I need to and will be doing a disservice. Nick convinced that I made the right decision and to not let fear govern my inner voice. Yes, I will have to adapt my teaching style to a larger group, and I won’t be the only facilitator. I’ll have help. Nick gave me peace.

He continues the show detailing more features he likes, choosing people in the audience that have those features, and reads their tarot card. It’s so cool to see their reaction and hear how the tarot card relates to their life. Nick also, tells personal stories about his relationships, and when he realized he was gay.

At the end, he hands out beer and shows everyone a trick of how to open one beer with the other beer. This is funny because it was one of his dominating exes that taught him this trick and swore him to secrecy. Well, the secret is out! Thanks for the trick, Nick.

Marissa Staples is a Cincinnati published author and writer for The Voice of Black Cincinnati. She developed her love of arts from her mother, Kandi. Being a native of Cincinnati, she loves to travel. If she is not traveling, you can find her reading, writing, volunteering or drinking wine. Wine always brings smiles, friends and creative dialogue.