Dressed for the ‘Lagunatics’ occasion

BARBARA DIAMOND

The most recent “Lagunatics” show was a dazzler. The fun began at the

pre-show parties at the Veteran’s Memorial Building, where many of

the guests were dressed to reflect the senior prom theme of the show.

Barbara McGillivray and Kathleen Abel plundered her daughter Lea’s

closet for the dresses they wore to the July 30 party. Filmmaker Greg

McGillivray wore a light blue formal jacket that Tristan Abel wore to

his junior prom, with shoes McGillivray wore 40 years ago when he

narrated the surfing move, “Free and Easy” on stage.

Festival of Arts President Anita Mangels accessorized her dress

with her class ring. Annie Morris sparkled in a strapless gown from

her own wardrobe, accented with a corsage her husband, Mike, bought.

He also presented corsages to Senior Center President Pauline Walpin,

Louise Buckley and Festival of Arts exhibitor Lu Campbell.

Walpin pinned her corsage to the ruffled teal dress she bought for

$5.95 at the Salvation Army.

“She is the winner of the best sleeves award,” said Nikki Ford,

daughter of the Laguna Beach Woman’s Club President Peggy Ford, who

attended the gala with Martha Lydick, who wears two hats: president

of the Laguna Beach Friends of the Library and of the Laguna Beach

Taxpayers Association.

Campbell was elegant in a black top and leopard-print stole worn

over an ivory satin skirt she bought at a thrift store.

Ann Quilter wore the one-shouldered shocking pink dress she wore

in the Patriots Day Parade to publicize “Lagunatics,” complete with

combat boots. Daughter, Emily, was pretty in a pink chiffon,

bridesmaid-looking, dress from Working Wardrobe, a philanthropic

organization that provides clothing for needy women reentering the

job market. The dress, Emily said, was rescued from dowdy by the fur

flip flops she wore. She o7is f7her parents’ daughter.

Her father, Charlie, a member of the cast, wore a white dinner

jacket with Bermuda-length pants, black socks and dress shoes to the

party.

“It’s been a full day, with two performances and a stint as

bartender,” Quilter said.

Little did he know!

In the evening performance he misstepped, damaged his ankle and

wound up the next morning in the emergency room at South Coast

Medical Center -- but he still planned to perform in the final show

later that day.

Insurance broker John Campbell also wore short pants -- with a

double-breasted, pinstripe jacket and puka-shell necklace.

“I had two friends who went to one of my proms dressed like this,”

said the Laguna Beach High School graduate.

Also at the Saturday gala: Skipper Lynn, Kelly and former Mayor

Paul Freeman, Marion Jacobs, Barbara and Ed Gazich, Denise and No

Square Theatre board member Rick Gold, former Mayor Kathleen

Blackburn, 30-year resident Frances Foster, Laguna Beach Community

Clinic physician Korey Jorgensen, newlyweds Faye Kirk and Bob

Chapman, and about-to-be-wed architect Morris Skenderian -- who will

take the plunge after 29 years of bachelorhood, when he marries

Stephany Griffin Sept. 17 in the Rose Garden at Hotel Laguna.

Gala volunteers included Margo Van Zandt, Candice Burroughs, Lee

Andersen and Katy Moss, who assisted caterer Maggie Hempen.

Montage Resort and Spa representative Chris Loidolt, who wore a

champagne-colored lace dress from the Goodwill, oversaw the

opportunity prize drawing.

“The raffle and tip money will be matched as part of the Hearts of

Montage Challenge Grant to the senior center,” Loidolt said.

Gala guests were taken by bus to the Laguna Beach High School

campus, where “Laguntics” was performed in the Artists Theatre.

The four performances, July 29 through 31, of the 13th annual

“Lagunatics” benefited the Suzi Q Senior Center. The show was

dedicated to the memory of the late Thurl Ravenscroft, whose

“grrreat” voice gave a distinctive flavor to Kellogg’s Tony the

Tiger, the Pageant of the Masters and “Lagunatics.”

Suzi Q was the pen name of Elizabeth “Liz” Quilter, a columnist

for the Coastline Pilot. Her four sons -- Charlie, Chris, Pat and

Matt -- donated a chunk of money to the building fund for the center,

which is named in her honor.

Their rendition of the Creedence Clearwater hit, “Susie-Q,” with

special lyrics composed by Matt, Pat and Chris, brought tears to more

than just my eyes. Liz is missed, but she will be remembered.

Her daughter-in-law, Ann, and son, Chris, are the co-chairs of the

fund-raising for the senior center. QSC, a maker of pro-audio

amplifiers founded by Pat, was a major sponsor this year of

“Lagunatics.” Chris was co-author with Bree Burgess Rosen of the

show.

What more can be said of Burgess Rosen? She is a genius with

words, not to mention her flawless a capella renditions of “The

Star-Spangled Banner” and her ability to guide and teach students.

Another touching moment was retiring Police Chief Jim Spreine’s

talk-sing of “I’ve Grown Accustomed to This Place,” a special version

of the Lerner and Lowe love song (I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face”)

from “My Fair Lady.”

He too will be missed, by the cast and crew of “Lagunatics,” as

well as the city, when he and his wife, Linda, move to his home state

of Washington later this fall.

One of the funniest bits in the show, but only to those in the

know, was City Councilman Steven Dicterow’s deft move with his cowboy

hat to obscure daughter Taryn’s decolletage in the “Mammas Don’t Let

Your Babies,” number.

Among the cast members: Mayor Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider, Council

members Jane Egly and Toni Iseman -- who can boogie with the best --

Pamela Plummer, Dave Schaar, Randy Hatfield, Laura Parisi, Gregg

Barnette, Rufino Cabang, Lynn Epstein and Pavillion’s Peter Jones.

* OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box

248, Laguna Beach, 92652; hand-deliver to Suite 222 in the

Lumberyard, 384 Forest Ave.; call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949)

494-8979.