‘An Evening of Romance’ Benefits SCR

“Romance,” said Tana Sherwood, “is dancing with someone you love.”

“Romance?” said Richard Hall. “Hey, we’re going to all go get naked after this.”

Is this what the French mean by la difference ?

Hall and Sherwood, general chairwoman of the guilds of South Coast Repertory, were among the 225 guests at the guilds’ “An Evening of Romance” benefit Saturday at Crystal Court--a Valentine’s eve dinner dance that netted an estimated $7,000, according to gala chairwoman Susan Shusko.

After a cocktail hour reception, guests helped themselves to a buffet dinner provided by the Gianni restaurant, then sat at tables set beneath posters of past SCR productions such as “Boy Meets Girl,” “Playboy of the Western World” and “Romeo and Juliet.”

Acting like starry-eyed, if not star-crossed, lovers, Rick Capretta and Lisa Tesar raised glasses of red wine in a toast.

“The truest form of romance is passion,” opined Capretta, bussing his beloved. “We met eight months ago at a business seminar. We’re romantic--and practical.”

At another table, Robert and Donna Peebles, SCR Silver Circle members, shared their plans for the hearts-and-flowers holiday.

“We’ll go to church, come home and rest, and go to dinner at a wonderful restaurant,” Donna said.

“We’ll wash the dog together,” Robert deadpanned. “It’s a golden retriever. It’s a great dog.”

Romantic, and practical.

Metro guild member Karen Rosenthal, attending with beau Neil Jensen, said the couple would spend the day at Crystal Cove “flying Neil’s remote-control airplane.” Rosenthal laid her hand gently on Jensen’s shoulder and smiled. “That was Neil’s idea.”

Talk was all but suspended at 10 p.m., when the Lynn Willis Orchestra lit into the James Brown classic “I Feel Good,” bringing guests to their fashionably shod feet. Dancing lasted until midnight, when guests, who paid $75 each, headed out to the parking lot, past two shiny red helium balloons shaped like hearts.