This beautiful room pales in comparison, however, with the glory of the guests.
The Island’s finest are out in their finest to sway and swoon to the dreamy jazz stylings of the Chris Mitchell Quintet.
The evening was charmingly introduced by our very own Gracie Finley, who is serving as Co-chair of the Private Lives Ball. Gracie is here with her husband, the very charming Mr Barry Stickings, all the way from their home in Great Britain, just to support The Montgomery Theatre in its efforts to bring high quality professional theatre to Cavendish PEI in honour of the Island’s most famous and accomplished author, L.M. Montgomery.
The Stickings are seated with Gracie’s fellow thespian, Ms Glenda Landry and her devoted hubbie Cliff Campbell. Oh, it’s “Kindred Spirits” all over again when the former Anne and Diana come out to play together! Glenda is doing double duty as resident beauty and as Official Judge of the dance competitions.
Champagne is flowing freely as the band begins to play....
Oh my, the crowd looks lovely floating across the dance floor in their gowns and black tie to the first tune – Our Love is Here to Stay. Oh, I wish you could see the likes of Gray and his dance partner, Brenda Porter: he in his kilt and she in a tux – darlings, WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO? Gerry complains that despite the cross dressing , Brenda won’t lead! Well, I never!
Other couples, more traditionally dressed, have taken their roles more seriously – many have taken advantage of the ballroom dancing lessons offered as part of the ticket price for this fabulous fundraiser. And you should see them strutting their stuff as vocalist Pam Barr croons
It Had to be You. Yes, romance is alive and well in Charlottetown tonight! Oh my –
Is that our Official Chaperones I see in a moving musical embrace? Catherine Hennessey and Ron McKinley – who would have guessed?
Well, the dance floor is crowded now as couples swirl slowly to the tune Smile. I see Mr Erskine Smith and his lovely wife Patricia have generously come in from The Victoria Playhouse to dance in support of the Montgomery Theatre. Artistic solidarity at its best! Melanie and Kris Taylor from Harmony House in Hunter River both looked gorgeous and Cate Proctor from The Guild popped in from volunteering at the Razzle Dazzle Ball - looking fabulous as always. The Confederation Centre donated the tables for the night - thank you to the delicious David Mackenzie.
Architect Ole Hammarlund and his jazzy snazzy wife Karen Lips are here of course - you just try to keep them off a dance floor! Oh my – Ole is wearing tails! For once Karen’s classic black outfit is eclipsed by her husband’s – but her WONDERFUL hairstyle provides her usual panache. They surely do dance delightfully! The Montgomery Theatre is so grateful to them for giving such a lovely radio interview about The Private Lives Ball.
Whoo hoo! The pace just picked up with a lively Samba to a rendition of Quando Quando Quando and am I impressed! Boy that looks like fun! I’m a little jealous – only my fingers get to skip and trip across this little keyboard - but under the table my feet are tapping!
We only have three daring couples cutting the rug as they say for this one – the rest of the crowd are watching in amazement and comforting themselves with champagne, darlings! And where is my glass, I wonder? I’m just too busy gossiping to get myself a bit of refreshment!
Oh, they’ve just started playing Always and the couples are crowding onto the floor once more. Lovely, just lovely....
Our Chaperones & Judges have just been called to the front of the room by our host, Artistic Director Duncan McIntosh, to observe the Foxtrot Competition. Couples are encouraged to make a wee donation as they enter the dance – this is a fundraiser after all! Pam Barr has begun singing Paper Moon and I see eight brave couples trying it on for size... The Judges are going to have a tough time calling this one! The rest of us observe enraptured as the swell sixteen strut their stuff – and a big round of applause marks the conclusion of the dance.
Now the Judges have slipped away to confer as Pam and the band pops into It Don’t Mean a Thing if It Aint Got that Swing to finish the first set. Who IS that dashing couple who have claimed the entire dance floor as their own for a wild careen around the room in the finest display of dancing style! I must go and ask...
Well! This evening is certainly exciting! Mr Ron McKinley on behalf of the 3 Judges has just announced that the winners of the Foxtrot Competition are John Sylvester and his partner, the lovely Diane Knox. Their prize is Dinner for Four at The Pearl. Yum!
Oh my, now we are enjoying a fashion show! Beautiful specialty garments are being introduced by our co-hosts, Ms Grace Findlay and Mr Arnold Smith. Our gracious models are: Ms Findley herself in a scrumptious green crushed velvet gown,
followed by the famous and fantastic CBC celebrity, Ms Karen Mair modeling a pencil-thin blue-black sheath. I swear, her beauty is wasted on radio!
Then we got to admire a very pretty, floaty, coral floral cocktail dress, very finely modeled by a lovely young woman, Miss Sarah Greenan. (Here is a view of my ebony gown and chapeau as I interview Sarah!) On her heels is that hysterical historian Miss Catherine Hennessy circling the room in a burgundy velvet cape rakishly offset by her own crushed plush top hat beribbonned in – omigod, is that JUTE STRING? What’ll she think of next?
Darlings, I was so stunned by that vision of eccentricity that I almost missed telling you about the stoles and capes and scarves in angora and sequins and shiny beads shown us by Karen and Glenda and Grace... Sorry Arnold, your creations are beautiful and deserve a better write-up than they are getting here – no jute string on Arnold Smith creations, I can guarantee it! Tthey are all Coc0 Chanel original designs, lovingly reproduced.)
I just got back from a wee break – and a side trip to sample some of that champagne, darlings! – when the band began again with Sweet Embraceable You. Oh, for a dance partner! I did find out while wandering around that that brave couple of dancers who took over the floor are Mike and Colleen Sheen, recently moved to Wheatley River after years away in St John’s. Welcome back, I say! We need people like the Sheens, full of joie de vivre and a love of dance and theatre!
Pam Barr is back with the band singing You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You, but only one sweet couple are swaying on the dance floor. Then on to My Funny Valentine, which has brought out the Sheens for a romantic twirl and another couple who dance like a pair of pros... Who are they, I wonder? What I do know is that the combination of Chris Mitchell’s dreamy cool sax with Pam Barr’s powerful vocalizations is really quite divine, darlings! OH, YOU WISH YOU WERE HERE!
The Tango Competition is about to begin: Gracie Finley has called the Judges back to the front of the stage. Prize for the best Tango is 2 tickets to any performance at the Shaw Festival! I see NINE couples on the floor – but one couple is Duncan McIntosh partnering Julia Sauve, our dance coach, so I don’t imagine that they are competing – that wouldn’t be fair! (but it sure is pretty to watch.) Karen Lips & Ole Hammarlund are holding their own, as are Gerry Gray and Brenda Porter, John Sylvester and Diane Knox, and the Sheens.
Gosh! They are all so good, it must be tough to judge... Well, maybe not so very tough, judging from the snorts and giggles coming from the nook behind me where the adjudicators have slipped away to confer.
Now the band is giving us I’ve got You Under My Skin and once more the dance floor is packed. All those happy faces! For a moment, all I want to do is watch and wish...
Ah, now Duncan McIntosh is announcing a wee break. Time for more bubbly! And mmmm, is that a CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN? Oh my! According to my programme, that means it must be after 10 o’clock! Where does the time go when you are having so much fun?
And now Jack and Susan Lessard of the Ballroom Barn in New Glascow are giving a demonstration of how it really should be done... lovely, just lovely....
Apparently they’ll be back to show us the Cha Cha, but first we have Catherine Hennessy announcing the winners of the Tango competition as Lindsay Reddin and Randy Campbell – Glenda’s son! Well that explains the giggles from the back room – Glenda was excusing herself from judgement lest there be a perceived conflict of interest (something which Transport Minister McKinley knows all about!)
A great shout of laughter went up over that observation... Light-footed Lindsay in her little basic black ensemble certainly helped her partner shine in his pale blue three piece suit.
I’ve just had a lovely visit from some ladies trying on some of the items from the Fashion Show. One of these was Suzanne Tining of the Department of Veteran Affairs. Ms Tining is a great supporter of The Montgomery Theatre - and evidently has excellent taste in designer originals.
And here are the musicians again starting up a light-hearted tune to which the Sheens and the Lessards give each other a run for their money for style and grace. Soon more pairs come onto the floor for a spin. The couples are mixing it up – Hmmm – mayhap there will be some REAL gossip for this gal to report if things keep up in this vein...
Wait! Duncan is proclaiming the Waltz Competition – Here come de Judges! Come on all you people, get up here and DANCE! The tune is Someday My Prince Will Come. Oh my, all the loving couples look so fine as they waltz their cares away. Gracie and her Barry are sticking out in the crowd doing a lovely display of marital mutuality. Happy Valentines Day to romantics everywhere!
Chris Mitchell has announced the last dance, after handsomey thanking the bar staff, the caterers, and The Montgomery Theatre and Private Lives Ball committee for having them play. Their last tune is The Lady is a Tramp.
The couples crowd the floor for a last chance at musical bliss... After the musicians have said goodnight, Glenda Landry comes up to announce that the winners of the Waltz Competition is none other than Mike and Colleen Sheen – and deservedly so! They have won a Dinner for Six at The Dunes!
Ah, the Auction begins! First a Dinner for 8 at the Doucette House with chef Arnold Smith. Bidding starts at $100 and builds to $550 under the persuasive auctioneering of Duncan McIntosh. The successful bidder is Dr Kaiser. The next item is 2 tickets to the Stratford Festival worth $250. Bidding begins at $100 and goes for $150 to Wade MacLaughlin. The third item is a chance to BE A STAR! - perform as “Amanda’s Servant” in Private Lives at The Montgomery Theatre (and 8 tickets for your friends to see you get 3 guaranteed laughs). Bidding starts at $100 and builds to $275 – winning bid by Glen Sinclair!
Best Dressed Couple (chosen by Arnold Smith) is announced as the Kaisers who won tickets for 4 to any performance at The Montgomery Theatre 2009.
Most Improved Dancers (as chosen by Julia Sauve) are Fred and Mary Horne who won a Carriage Ride. ...
And it seems that the party is over! Ah, parting is such sweet sorrow – but how lovely it has been to spend time in company with such and illustrious group of well-wishers! See you all in Avonlea Village in Cavendish for The Montgomery Theatre 2009 Season! You’ll know me, darlings – I’ll be the one in the marvellous hat!
