A Fund-Raiser in Disguise: ‘Masked Ball’
Party Like It’s 1799
Four hundred and fifty grown-ups paid $175-per to play dress-up at the Hyatt Regency Irvine on Saturday night. The eighth annual Opera Ball--an 18th-Century-themed masked affair--brought Opera Pacific supporters out in their bustle-bottomed, powdered-wig, lacy-bodice glory. Party planners called it “A Masked Ball,” after the Verdi opera (“Un ballo in maschera”), which will be produced by Opera Pacific in February. Guest Richard Engel called it “better than Halloween.”
Sights
Remember the dressing scene at the beginning of “Dangerous Liaisons,” when Glenn Close and John Malkovich got trussed-up like turkeys? Something like that must have taken place in the homes of local opera buffs. Costumed, perfumed, made up and bejeweled--guests spent the cocktail hour gawking at each other and snapping more souvenir photos than were taken by all the press put together.
Newport Beach clothing designer Gildas, who made six of the gowns worn to the party and 11 of the masks, made his own red-and-gold harlequin’s outfit, which he topped with a black floor-length cape. Gildas’ date, Joan Conceicao, wore a violet-hued costume with paint-on-fabric trompe l’oeil jewels and gold trim. The two costumes took about 150 hours to make, Gildas said.
More Sights
Candice Schnapp wore a Gildas-crafted neon-colored gown that would have ruffled a few tail feathers two centuries ago. Of her hot pink, yellow, orange and green eye-popper, Schnapp said with a giggle: “I was a little worried about wearing these colors, but (Gildas) said, ‘Go for it!’ So I thought, why not?”
Party co-chairs Kasia Johnson and Kathleen Rhynerson chose a more traditional look--Johnson in a sage green silk taffeta gown and Rhynerson in an outfit made from Italian tapestry and lace. “This is about as authentic as it gets,” said Rhynerson, waving her feathered mask.
Jolene and Richard Engel donned matching outfits custom made in what Jolene called “our signature colors, blue and cream.” (Richard’s business and the couple’s 12 cars are also blue-and-cream hued, Jolene said.)
Shiny Baubles
Added to guests’ personal jewelry displays were some $4 million in diamonds and other precious stones on loan from Troy & Company, a Costa Mesa jewelry shop. Cinderella-like, 12 committee members wore sparkly necklace-and-earring sets for the night. (Richard Engel flashed a 48-carat sapphire ring from Troy, the only man on hand wearing a borrowed gem.) Troy & Company owner Robert Evans explained the loan magnanimously: “We are very interested in all community activities, and of course opera is one of our favorites.”
“Do you have some kind of layaway plan?” Roger Johnson was heard asking Evans. Johnson, the husband of party co-chair Kasia Johnson, laughed as he asked about buying the Troy jewels his wife was wearing. “How about 10 bucks a week--have you got a plan like that?”
Schedule
After an hour of champagne sipping, air kissing and cocktail chatter, guests sashayed into the ballroom to the tune of “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” played by Murray Korda’s big band. Once seated, the unmasked partiers were treated to a costume display led by the Engels and the Schnapps. Twenty-five couples, including the major underwriters and some of the committee members, promenaded around the room and across the dance floor, pausing for one brief glittery moment in the spotlight before taking their seats. After dinner, tenor Jonathan Welch sang three arias.
Seen
Opera Pacific General Director David DeChiera, in a simple little decoupage mask his wife made for him 20 years ago. (“It actually won first place at a masked ball,” DeChiera said, “which seems funny now, when you look around. It wouldn’t even make a dent here--this is serious .”)
Also seen: Laila and Bill Conlin, Bonnie and Robert McLean, Gayle and Robert Anderson, Donna and Douglas Bunce, Felicia Bukaty and Stephen Hemstreet, Lillie Hinde and George Weston, Maria del Carmen Calvo and Walter Henry, Georgene and Ralph Smith, and Julia and Irving Rappaport.
Quote
Asked what kind of feathers were in his feathered mask, Irving Rappaport said: “I don’t know and I don’t care--as long as it doesn’t have fleas!”
