SCR Gala Marked by International Flavor

What do party watchers call a gala that has everything? A Perfect 10, of course. The points added up on Saturday night when South Coast Repertory staged its glittering “Theatre Internationale” at the Westin South Coast Plaza hotel.

For starters, guests were serenaded by the International Children’s Peace Choir as they stepped from their sleek automobiles. (The adorable children--dressed to represent the countries of the world--looked like singing Hummel dolls.)

Then it was time to trot down a tree-lined path in Town Center Park to an elegant “marketplace” offering food and entertainment. Up for sampling: a Russian station brimming with caviar blinis, potatoes topped with sour cream and salmon roe, and steak tartare on toast. (And shooters of Stolichnaya vodka, but of course.)

SCR artistic director Martin Benson started rattling off Russian when he sidled up to the table, which was dressed to impress with onion-dome ice sculptures. The Soviet Union was represented at the affair, Benson explained, because SCR is staging the American premiere of Alexander Buravsky’s “The Russian Teacher” beginning March 15.

Also up for pre-dinner sampling: fare served up at Spanish and Pacific Rim stations. Benson explained that SCR was celebrating its Hispanic Playwrights Project (which seeks out writers from the Latino community) and its increasing connection with the Pacific Rim, especially its appearance this year at the Singapore Arts Festival.

A Chinese lion festival dance troupe led guests back down the lantern-lit path and across the street to the Westin ballroom, on this night the pride of gala chairwoman Kathleen Allen and her husband, Frederick.

Ballroom walls became windows on the world as international scenes were projected during dinner, which included veal loin and chocolate bourbon terrine. “Fred and I were at the ballroom last night until midnight making sure the effect would be perfect,” said Kathleen, stunning in strapless silk brocade. “We had our own private light show.”

The ballroom’s rich, gold-and-cream decor was created to imitate a luxurious British setting, a scene fit for royals. The British-like atmosphere, said Benson, was the perfect tribute to SCR’s “Man and Superman” (currently onstage) and “The Secret Rapture” (beginning Oct. 26)--by Brit playwrights George Bernard Shaw and David Hare, respectively.

Proceeds from the $350-per-person gala were estimated at $140,000.

Also on the scene: SCR producing artistic director David Emmes; Al and Deeann Baldwin; Jim and Nancy Baldwin; Gary and Kasia Johnson; Roger and Janice Johnson; Donald and Dorothy Kennedy; Bill Lane; William and Romy McFarland; John and Trish O’Donnell; Daniel and Wendy Wheeler; Thomas Rogers; Charles and Katie Wheeler; and Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom.