The Crowd

B.W. Cook

The ballroom of The Four Seasons Hotel, Newport Beach, was transformed

into an intimate supper club last Saturday evening. Quite a remarkable

feat, given the grand size of the room that often serves hundreds of

guests for every imaginable purpose.

On this night, however, The Angelitos de Oro, a support wing of Orange

County Big Brothers/Big Sisters, turned the setting and the evening into

a warm and gracious benefit for the children.

The organization, under the stewardship of benefit chair Darleen

Manclark, is comprised of a committee of talented volunteers including

Eve Kornyei, Cecilia Nott, Carolyn De Wald, Bobbie Purcell, Rhoda

Stanley, Martha Crowner, Kate Eastman, Barbara Barnard and GiGi Spragins.

It is often amazing how one detail can change the entire feeling of an

event. The Angelitos party had such a detail. Exquisite floral

arrangements donated by Stan Hansen and Kornyei added a touch of magic

to the room. On some tables, large rust-colored iron candelabras held

spring bouquets in pale shades of the season.

On other tables, low arrangements of coordinated flowers sent their

message of beauty and quality. The overall affect was classy and it

brought the crowd together giving the benefactors the feeling of

attending a special dinner in a unique setting rather than in a hotel

ballroom. And the Four Seasons is one of the best ballrooms -- even

without flowers.

Add to the decor the well-dressed crowd of longtime Angelitos supporters

including Elizabeth Fairchild, Maria Crutcher, Marilyn Wooten, Toni

Oliphant, Sandy Sewell and Joan Sammis, and you have the makings of a

first-class evening. Guests mingled in the salon of the hotel ballroom

sampling a variety of specially prepared martinis. A large bar in the

shape of a diamond displayed the assortment of elixirs and preparations

to suit each individual taste.

“It’s funny how even drinks come in and out of fashion,” commented one

gent standing in line for a duo of drinks made with Bombay Gin, double

olives in both. “A few years ago the martini was practically extinct. Now

it’s the most popular drink in town.” Sometimes that formula applies to

people as well.

At the end of the cocktail hour the ballroom doors were opened and the

crowd sauntered in to find their tables. Manclark and her staff managed

to move the tables around just perfectly so that everyone was involved.

Somehow the room seemed just right. Not too crowded, not too grand.

The intimate feeling encouraged table-hopping, which is not always an

easy thing to do at big dinner parties. This group in particular is prone

to hopping. Many of the people have been good friends for half a century

and even longer.

Credit must also be given to chair Manclark. Her infectious warmth spread

across the room. She dazzled the guests with her silver and black

shimmering ball gown, her blond hair swept up on top of her head.

Manclark is as much ringmaster as master of ceremonies. Her friends adore

her energy. Strangers were compelled to feel as if they had been a part

of the group for years.

Dinner was served at 8, beginning with a smoked salmon dish sprinkled

with fresh snipped chives, red onions and Sevruga caviar wrapped in

cucumber shells with sour cream. You could hear the tasting. The salmon

was superb, the caviar perfect.

Some of the guests had saved a martini or two to mix with their caviar

and salmon. Others were jealous. They managed to carry on. Wines were

poured as the main course was presented: a sliced tenderloin of beef with

truffle sauce. For dessert: a o7 vol-au-ventf7 star with lemon cream

and fresh berries on plate generously laden with berry coulis.

During the dinner, organizers introduced the crowd to some of the young

people who have been mentored by Big Brothers/Big Sisters in Orange

County. Their heartfelt and humorous tributes brought down the house. It

was, after all, the reason for the dinner, the fancy food, the gorgeous

flowers and the martinis. It was all about raising money to provide the

services of Big Brothers/Big Sisters to families who need positive role

models for their children. It was all about giving back, promoting

positive community values, doing something for a child without the power

to help themselves.

The evening was crowned with the performance of Broadway performer Davis

Gaines. Gushing, Manclark introduced the singer to the crowd, many of

whom were already fans of his range and talent. Gaines has both starred

and co-starred in a number of Broadway productions that have stopped on

tour at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Among his credits,

“Hello Dolly” and “Phantom of The Opera.”

The singer, accompanied by a world-class pianist, took the audience on a

musical tour of Broadway hits, including some popular favorites as well.

His performance skills shone on the Broadway numbers.

Enjoying the evening were Jim and Harriet Selna, Aiden and Ann Raney,

Bill and Hope Carroll, Phyllis Baillie, Elaine Basmajian, George and Kate

Eastman, John and Marcia Cashion and their son, Allen with his wife, Pam,

Walter and Betty Jo Pusch, David and Lois Tingler, David and Judith

Threshie, and Ray and Gloria Osbrink.

B.W. COOK’S column appears Thursdays and Saturdays.