There are three theatrical clubs in New York: the Lambs, the Players, and the Friars. The Lambs are actors who want to be gentlemen. The Players are gentlemen who want to be actors. And the Friars are neither, joked Dean Freddie Roman during the Players Club’s salute to the Friars Club. A unique concept brought the two Clubs together for the first time in their histories–the Players having been around since 1888 and the Friars since 1904.

The Players hosted the event in their Gramercy Park mansion and served cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and dinner in their main dining hall. As Friar Stewie Stone remarked, “You christians will eat s--t. If Jean-Pierre had served those hors d’oeuvres there would have been another crucifixion.” But it was all in jest since the Friars enjoyed their repast as they broke bread with Players. After dinner, the dining room was cleared and set up theater style for a show unlike any other seen by both clubs.

Produced by Barry Dougherty, who enlisted the help of fellow writers, Friars John Marshall, Frank Santopadre, and Andrew Smith, the show included hilarious sketches akin to those the early Friars used to perform during their Friars Frolics. Of course, these sketches had a new millennium edge to them: one of them being a séance where they conjured up Al Jolson, played curmudgeonly funny by Friar Jim Murtaugh. Medium Friar Paulette Attie said, “I'm sensing the spirit of a Friar. Call me crazy, but I think it’s Ted Danson.” When Murtaugh’s Jolson introduced himself she quipped, “Sorry. It’s just hard to see through blackface.”

Dean Roman played “Father Friars Club” dressed in a monk’s robe to Murtaugh’s Mike Wallace. Fielding questions about the Club such as, “I understand that many of your ninety-year-old members are trying to attract younger members” (to which Roman quipped, “No, you got that all wrong–our ninety-year-old members ARE our younger members”) the Dean pretty much encapsulated one hundred years into a few hilarious moments.

Friar Len Cariou sang a few parodies, one of which was of Friar Irving Berlin’s Alexander’s Ragtime Band, in which he crooned such lyrics as, “C’mon and hear, c’mon and hear, it’s the Friars’ hundredth year! / Propose a toast! Attend a Roast! We’ll call you fat, dumb, bald or queer!....” This was followed up with a parody of You Always Hurt the One You Love:

Writer/columnist Player Sydney Zion said a few words about the Friars and the Players, noting that while the Friars Club has many bartenders the members don’t seem to drink as much as the Players who only have one bartender. Comedian Friar Tom Cotter weighed in with the comedy, launching into his opinions on everything from having to be PC in calling “bums” the kinder gentler “homeless”–which he assumes will eventually be upgraded to “outdoorsmen”–to the “poverty parade” he has to make when boarding a plane and walking by the people all comfy in First Class.

The evening was not without its music, as Friar Sal Viviano belted out What Kind of Fool Am I and did justice to the Friars own song that was penned by Victor Herbert for his dinner in 1907–Here’s to the Friars. Michael Allinson, the President Emeritus of the Friars Club recreated his critically acclaimed performance in the Broadway version of My Fair Lady by singing Why Can’t A Woman Be More Like A Man in homage to both Clubs allowing women in as Members.

The audience knew they were in for something outlandish when Roman warned the Players that the next sketch was “not exactly filled with sugar and spice.” Friar Dick Capri and Player Patrick Tull portrayed how the Players would Roast Sophie Tucker versus how the Friars would do it. Needless to say, Mr. Tull was as sophisticated and haughty as any Player could be at one of their famous Pipe Nights while Capri’s x-rated expletives left jaws dropping in between guffaws. It ended with that  timeless gag–a thrown pie which made a direct hit on Friar Andrew Smith’s face as he attempted to intervene between the dueling Members.

The irony was not lost on the audience when the lovely Friar Susan Lucci followed the pie-throwing act. She graciously maneuvered around the hastily mopped up pie remnants to serenade the audience, redirecting the evening from the playfully bawdy track it had been coasting on to a pedestal of refinement and class.

The evening shared the best of both worlds. John Martello presented Dean Roman and Friars Executive Director Jean-Pierre Trebot with a gold plate commemorating the Friars “100th Birthday.” What a way to celebrate two milestones–the Friars Centennial and the joint venture of two amazing entertainment clubs!