Rep Theatre Stages a Sizzling Cinco de Mayo

Some supporters of the San Diego Repertory Theatre have claimed that they would go to any lengths for a party, but even so, many found themselves going a good bit farther than they had expected when they headed out Saturday to the Rep’s Cinco de Mayo bash.

The roads that lead to the party site, Dr. Michael Flynn’s sweeping hilltop estate, may not really be uncharted, although some guests said that they at times felt they were driving into wilderness regions never previously explored. The maps issued to party-goers included an ominous-looking dotted line that did, indeed, prove to be a lengthy stretch of rutted dirt road more suited to Land Rovers than to the European sedans in which most guests drove out from town.

Clenched teeth loosened a bit when the road climbed a final hill and the estate came into view, its towering palms dramatically lit against the black sky in electric shades of red, yellow and green. They relaxed even further when greeters handed out small cups made of Mexican earthenware--hung on ribbons and meant to be slung around the neck--along with tickets redeemable for a free shot of tequila.

Tequila was, in fact, a rather popular topic that evening. The band, Dr. Feelgood and the Interns of Love, played a brassy rendition of “Tequila” before inviting the guests to “Twist and Shout”--and the one seemed to segue quite naturally into the other.

The dance floor and party area spread out on lawns adjacent to the stables, a portion of which were turned over to the Cafe Design Center caterers to set out a buffet of burritos and flan and other typical Cinco de Mayo fare.

Event chair Joy Miller deserted the dance floor long enough to suggest that the Rep’s major spring party was the beneficiary of inevitable success.

“We have everything tonight that you need for a really great party,” she said. “We’ve got 600 people who are all beautiful people, a gorgeous night and lots of energy--you couldn’t ask for much more for Cinco de Mayo.” Miller added that she expected the proceeds, which will benefit ongoing Rep projects, to approach $20,000.

The goings on also included an exhibition of lambada dancing and a late appearance by the cast of “Latins Anonymous” (the show opens at the Lyceum Theatre on June 1), who performed a few of what they called “gringo songs.” These and other details prompted Rep managing producer Sam Woodhouse to confess himself particularly impressed by the proceedings.

“By the end of the night, this party is going to be just as infamous as all the other Rep parties,” Woodhouse said as he took an enthusiastic bite out of a crisp burrito. “I think our ability to host great fund-raisers has grown commensurately with our ability to produce great art on the stage,” he continued. “We do both with style.”

Mary Swanby co-chaired a committee that included Rep board President Dottie Georgens; Marsha Lee; Deni Vilaplana; Lisa Lessing; Kirsten Brandt; Bob MacNamara; Rich Gulley; Jack Berkman; Roz Odmark; Sunny Swartz; Linda Shohet; Roz Odmark, and Linda Siptroth Porter.

SAN DIEGO--The unofficial Cinco de Mayo holiday seemed to hold a particular fascination for the theatrical world this year. In addition to the San Diego Rep party given in Rancho Santa Fe, the Old Globe Theatre played host to “Fiesta,” the 1990 version of its annual Founder’s Gala, at John Gardiner’s extravagant Rancho Valencia Resort in Fairbanks Ranch.

The party was given for just 80 guests, since only the most major donors are invited to this special soiree, and the site chosen was the private pool-side terrace of the new resort’s grandest suite, a free-standing adobe villa that looks as if its architect planned it with the possibility of an appearance on “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” in mind. Guests dined, under lemon-colored marquees hung with pinatas in the shapes of bulls and parrots, on a menu of salmon carpaccio, chicken and creme brulee prepared by French super-star chef Claude Segal.

The guest list included such Globe stalwarts as Jeannie and Art Rivkin, Darlene and Don Shiley and Bobbie and Blaine Quick, as well as the theater’s executive producer, Craig Noel and artistic director Jack O’Brien. Among others were El Paso Natural Gas CEO Bill Wise and his wife, Marie; the Texas firm underwrote both the gala and the theater’s just-opened production of “And a Nightingale Sang.”

Globe managing director Tom Hall was absent with leave because theater business had taken him to Leningrad and a meeting with principals of the Maly Theatre to discuss that company’s next appearance in San Diego. O’Brien said that the Maly’s return may be scheduled for as soon as the fall of 1991.

“I hope Tom and the Russians are drinking tequila tonight,” O’Brien added. He explained his own presence at the gala in rather teasing terms. “The Irish are very big on Cinco de Mayo, you know. We’ll take any excuse for a party,” he said, adding, in reference to the pinatas, “and we love to hit things with sticks.”

Cool jazz accompanied the dinner, but the tone heated up later when a pair of lambada dancers--evidently all the rage at the moment--performed a sultry number and then invited guests to show off their own prowess on stage. The evening closed with a somewhat more sedate style of dancing to Steve Dillard’s Wild Game Orchestra.

The guest list included Rita and Joe Neeper, Sally and John Thornton, Rita and Dan Grady, Mary Adams, Ginger and Robert Evans, Evelyn Truitt, Cheryl and Ron Kendrick, Mary and Mike Nush, Sandy and Dave Whitson, Don McVay, Lorraine and Monty Osborne, Nina and Bob Doede and Lyn and Stephen Krant.

Perhaps the only benefit given Saturday that did not have a Cinco de Mayo theme was “Pure Magic,” hosted by the Assn. for Retarded Citizens-San Diego for about 325 guests.

Guests dined on beef Wellington and chocolate top hats between a pair of silent and live auctions that offered all the usual things as well as a number of trips, including one to the Berlin Wall that seemed quite tailored to the moment.

Though the “Pure Magic” theme seemed inspired primarily by the benefits the $50,000 in proceeds are expected to bring ARC clients, the event’s organizers did add a touch of magic to the proceedings by inviting Channel 10 newsman Jack White, a magician of some accomplishment. White worked the crowd during the silent auction, whipping a deck of cards from his pocket whenever asked and astonishing gullible guests with such sleights of hand as the transformation of the seven of clubs into the three-and-one-half.

Event co-chair Arthur Neumann said that “Pure Magic” had built considerably on the success of previous annual fund-raisers.

“We’ve got more people and more to auction than ever before, and for a simple reason--the money goes to help a really great group of people.” Guests were reminded of the beneficiaries by the party favors, boxes of chocolates prepared by Archer’s Confectionary, a Carlsbad candy shop operated by ARC and staffed by its clients.

The committee included co-chairs Tracey Menninger and Ginger Owens; Denise Nordell; Richard Shea; Lori Stein; Craig Wagner; Leslie Autry; Debbie Carlson; Ron Keith; Pat McGraw; Donna Dingwall; Judy Fivecoat; Charlie Shacochis and Suart Karasik.