It was a local cabaret night fundraiser for the community theatre, a spirited mixture of volunteers and professionals, performing Broadway numbers.  One of the performers was a young man, about 30, with phocomyelia. You may not have heard of this condition, but fortunately there is always Wikipedia for background.

Those born with this defect have shortened limbs, somewhat like the flippers of a seal. Read more on Phocomyelia Reappears…