Delilas Cut Loose at Opera Pacific Ball

Just as in the Old Testament, Samson didn’t stand a chance against the bevy of tempting Dalilas who showed up in lavish costumes at the Opera Pacific’s ninth annual Opera Ball on Saturday.

About 450 guests attended the “Bacchanalia” at the Hyatt Regency Irvine’s International Ballroom, which had been transformed into an exotic oasis for the evening. The ball, hosted by the Opera Pacific Guild Alliance, raised about $105,000 for the Costa Mesa-based opera company.

“It’s a Bacchanalia--a celebration of wine derived from the opera,” said Anne Key, co-chairwoman of the ball.

Dueling Dalilas

In honor of the opera company’s upcoming production of “Samson et Dalila,” committee members dressed as Dalilas, many sporting wreaths of grapevines in their hair.

“They wore these in biblical times when they had these parties, but then the wreaths were made of laurel leaves,” Key explained.

The ball invitations, which pictured Samson and Dalila at the moment the deceiving Dalila snips off the legendary locks that give Samson his strength, also encouraged guests to wear “theme attire.”

Those few men who dressed as Samsons soon found themselves outnumbered by Dalilas, who competed for their attention and perhaps a lock of their hair.

Opera Pacific President Richard Engel reveled in his role as Samson.

“Bow to me,” he joked to a trio of Dalilas, waving his gold scepter.

“Ever since I was a small boy I wanted to be a king,” he said. “I love theme parties. The problem is I get carried away.”

His wife, Jolene, came as Samson’s first wife, Sarah, in a sheer white and gold harem-style costume reminiscent of “I Dream of Jeannie.” Both costumes were the work of Mitra’s in Costa Mesa.

Snippy exchange

Some Dalilas and Sarahs took to quarreling over their man.

“He truly loves you, but I got him,” said Karen Hardin, a guild member decked out as a stunning Dalila.

“You stole him away,” countered Milli Wieseneck, playing the role of Sarah.

Their lavish costumes by Gilda’s in Newport Beach had heads turning and some men looking to see if they concealed scissors. Hardin, in a dramatic shimmery black cape and a massive gold and mirrored headdress, looked every inch the naughty temptress. Wieseneck sported a gold snake wrapped around her head, huge bracelets and beads draped around her arms and shoulders.

“I’m his true love,” Wieseneck explained. “She’s the one who seduced him and cut off his hair.”

Elegant oasis

Party organizers conjured up a fitting backdrop for their modern-day Dalilas.

After walking through a tent set up at the entrance of the ballroom, guests were seated at tables dominated by cherubs bearing huge arrangements of grapes, pepperberry, delphinium, honeysuckle vines and other greenery that cascaded onto tables. William Roberts, chairman of the Opera Pacific board of directors, gave the official welcome:

“Ladies, if you snip somebody’s lock of hair tonight, make sure it’s your escort’s,” he warned. A harem of belly dancers followed, gyrating to an ethnic beat and dancing around the tables.

Epic portions

Ball-goers then enjoyed a four-course feast that would have found favor with the original Samson.

The Hyatt’s executive chef, Steve Tresnick, prepared exotic delicacies, starting with an appetizer of grape clusters, feta cheese and lahvash, an unleavened bread.

A Mediterranean salad of marinated seafood followed, and the “royal repast” included “Philistine pheasant” with sun-dried fruits and filet mignon with a roasted celery sauce. Dessert, dubbed Samson’s Temptation, was a plate of almond twist cookies, fresh raspberries and Camembert cheese.

Music of the night

In between courses, guests danced beneath a canopy to big band music performed by Clark Keen and his orchestra. For the evening’s finale, mezzo soprano Jennifer Jones sang highlights from “Samson et Dalila,” offering a preview of the opera’s production.

“ ‘Samson et Dalila’ has magnificent music and a lot of spectacle,” said David DiChiera, general director of Opera Pacific.

“It deserves to have more exposure. It probably hasn’t been done in California for 10 or 15 years.” The opera will open Feb. 26 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Other guests attending the opera ball: Rams owner Georgia Frontiere; Myril Kreuder; Prince Laurent of Belgium, a guest of Pamela Harrington; Barbara Roberts, co-chairwoman of the ball; Pilar Wayne, and Gayle Widyolar, hospitality chairwoman.