Old Globe’s Noel Gets Surprise Bash

When the Old Globe Theatre gives a party, even Mother Nature seems eager to assist with the props.

The other day, Globe executive producer Craig Noel stood looking out to sea from the terrace of the stunningly remodeled Neil Kjos residence, where the glass cube of a living room juts toward the waves. Halfway to the horizon and very near the sinking sun, a lone sailboat had dropped its sheets so that it bobbed restfully on swells whose rounded crests were tinted the pinkish, fleshy shade of Polish, or perhaps Danish, boiled ham. The tableau looked not unlike something brushed by an exceedingly decent landscape artist, and was almost enough to make one hum a snatch of “Red Sails in the Sunset.”

Noel nodded toward the sun, boat and waves and said: “The simplicity of that scene is gorgeous, like something you might see in China. I wonder if they arranged it specially for tonight?”

In truth, “they”--which is to say hosts Neil and Barbara Kjos and the committee of the upcoming Old Globe Gala--may have put some effort into creating this perfect moment, because the evening doubled as a reception for principal gala sponsors and as a surprise 75th birthday party for Noel.

The gala itself will serve a dual purpose; “A Birthday Fantasy” to be given Oct. 13 will honor Noel’s natal day while raising what is expected to be a significant sum for the theater. In Noel’s case, the honor will arrive somewhat tardily, since his birthday was Aug. 25.

The Sept. 4 reception did take Noel by surprise, however. “They just told me I was coming to a pre-gala party,” he said. “I had no idea it was for me , even when they started chortling and chuckling.”

In the spirit of Moliere, he seemed somewhat the birthday boy despite himself (Globe artistic director Jack O’Brien said Noel never has allowed staff members to wish him a happy birthday), but he acquiesced cheerfully when the cake arrived in a blaze of candlelight and the guests proceeded to sing the birthday song--twice. The dessert made its appearance after a lavish hors d’oeuvres buffet had vanished along with the sun; both disappearing acts took place to the accompaniment of Caribbean rhythms strummed by a harp-guitar duo.

O’Brien arrived early and in good humor, and said, “Now that I’ve been sprung from Elsinore, I can relax.” The reference was to the Globe’s current production of “Hamlet,” which O’Brien directed.

Major Globe patrons Darlene and Donald Shiley arrived with Noel and shared the news that, because of the Persian Gulf crisis, they have canceled reservations for a vacation in Egypt that had been scheduled for November. They have booked and canceled the trip twice before--on the occasions of the TWA hijacking and the bombing of Libya. While explaining the situation, Darlene assumed a Sphinx-like expression and said, “We’re starting to get a message from this.”

Bea Epsten and Martha Gafford will co-chair the gala. At Noel’s surprise party, they hinted that there may be a surprise entertainer on the scene and, in any case, promised a rare degree of frivolity.

“It will be the most spectacular fantasy birthday party ever held,” said Epsten; one part of the fantasy will be determined by the number of guests who show up wearing the gala invitations, which, with the aid of an adhesive strip, turn into cone-shaped party hats.

“How better to have a fund-raiser for the Old Globe than to honor Craig?” asked Gafford, adding, “This will be the biggest gala ever put on at the theater, a most special party for a most special man.”

The gala will take place on the tented greensward of the Balboa Park theater, and will begin with an open-air reception on the Lowell Davies Festival Stage. The Sheraton Harbor Island hotel will cater, and a pair of bands, the Aubrey Fay jazz group and the First Class Band from Los Angeles, will play for dancing. Tickets cost $300 and $500 per person and are available through the Old Globe.

Among those attending the Noel reception were Marilyn and Sam Young, Katy and Michael Dessent, Alice and Terry Churchill, George Gafford, Bob Epsten, Veryl Mortenson, Alice and Richard Cramer, Elizabeth and Bill Zongker, Craig McClellan, Junko and Larry Cushman, Audrey Geisel, Peggy and Peter Preuss, Nina and Robert Doede, Luba Johnston, Jill and Tom Hall, Dolly and Jim Poet, Dixie and Ken Unruh, Bridget Cantu Wear and Sandra and Jeff Schafer.

The city’s fund-raising machine shut down for scheduled maintenance during Labor Day week but is now geared up to run nonstop through the holidays. The calendar is jammed as usual, but not with just the usual events.

On Saturday, Oct. 13, the same evening as the Globe gala, the San Diego Museum of Man’s Klee Wyk Society is offering a spiritual experience of sorts at the historic Whaley House in Old Town.

According to a press release, guests are invited to dine with Miss Corinne Lillian Whaley, who died in 1953 at the age of 87. Other shades expected to attend this Macbeth-like banquet include Miss Whaley’s pet dog; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Whaley, and one Jim Robinson, a horse thief who met his end at the end of a rope on the Whaley property.

The Klee Wyk group does not necessarily claim there will be genuine ghostly presences at the event--the roles of the deceased will be performed by volunteers with pulses--but it notes that the house is one of 30 residences in the country designated “haunted” by the United States Department of Commerce.

The event, which will begin with no-host cocktails at 5:30 p.m. and will include dinner and light musical entertainment, will be given in anticipation of the annual Haunted Museum fund-raiser during Halloween Week at the Balboa Park museum. Tickets to the Whaley dinner are $35 per person; for further information, call the Museum of Man.

Nearer to the present date, the Mary Birch Women’s Hospital of Sharp Memorial Hospital is offering all comers the opportunity to sample hospital cuisine outside the usual setting, at Gourmet Summit 1990, “Escapades in Creating Romantic Cuisine,” to be given Sept. 21 at the Marriott Mission Valley hotel.

Marriott Food Services, which provides food service management for Sharp and 600 other U.S. hospitals, will both cater and demonstrate how to prepare a dinner of stuffed veal loin with lobster sauce perigourdine . During the cocktail reception that will precede the meal, guests will be offered instructions in creating meals with romantic overtones, and will be taught various culinary and garnishing techniques. After the dinner, at which senior vice presidents of Sharp HealthCare will serve as table captains, celebrated La Jolla chef Cindy Black will demonstrate and serve her version of chocolate hazelnut torte.

The event will benefit construction of the Infant Resuscitation Unit at the Mary Birch Hospital. The cocktail reception and gourmet instructions will commence at 6:30 p.m., and the cost is $75 per person. For further information, call 541-3000.