Gala Guests Stay Put for a ‘Gypsy Evening’

Gypsies performed magic tricks, told fortunes and danced under a full moon Saturday at Opera Pacific South Coast Guild’s second annual dinner dance.

The guild chose the Marbella Golf and Country Club in San Juan Capistrano to stage its “Noche Gitana en Marbella” (Gypsy Evening in Marbella). About 60 guests, most sporting Gypsy bangles, earrings and scarves, showed up for the $75-per-person gala, raising about $4,000 for Opera Pacific.

Gypsy Night

The Gypsy theme was inspired by Opera Pacific’s scheduled presentation of “Il Travatore” for next January. Verdi’s opera features a band of medieval Gypsies, according to Liz Sliepka, chairwoman of the South Coast Guild and the gala.

“The opera takes place in Spain, so the Marbella club is perfect,” said Sliepka, wearing a black shawl, lots of beads and a pink flower behind her ear.

The club features Spanish-style architecture in keeping with its namesake, a picturesque town on Spain’s Costa del Sol.

Almost all of the women--and a few of the men--wore Gypsy attire.

“Some of the men are getting brave. They’re wearing rings in their ears,” said Lee Buser, gala committee member. “My husband, who is very conservative, is even wearing an earring.” Indeed Bob Buser donned a small gold hoop with his traditional gray suit.

“Dressing like a Gypsy is fun--you can wear all the junk you want,” said Adele Alexander, who wore a white peasant blouse, blue skirt and gold brocade vest. Alexander had an advantage--she owns a costume shop. Her date Alex Ambruso was also in Gypsy garb complete with a satin sash, bright red shirt and gold earring.

Eye on the Future

Guild members Dorothy Ellis Hopper and Violet Lorenzen posed as fortunetellers and read guests’ palms.

“I’m not supposed to say anything bad,” said Hopper, a gala committee member who called herself “Madame LaSagne” and looked every inch the part.

Laila Conlin, president of the guild alliance, had a prediction of her own for the South Coast Guild:

“They all start little and grow. This one is blossoming into the big time,” said Conlin, in a flowing yellow and black dress of hand-painted silk chiffon. Conlin is working to expand the membership of the 20 guilds, which currently stands at about 900.

“Maybe madame will tell me we’ll get our thousandth member,” Conlin said. “As an organization, we hope to raise $500,000 for the Opera Pacific this year. It puts people on stage and gives them a job.”

That’s Entertainment

Tables glittered with Gypsy treasure--gold coins, rings and sparkling confetti.

In the center of each table stood miniature wagons of red flowers, a tribute to Gypsies’ wandering lifestyle.

Guests enjoyed a dinner that was far more elaborate than standard Gypsy fare: ensalada gitana with feta cheese, roasted pork loin with herb crust in a paprika sauce, saffron rice with pine nuts and for dessert zitronen roulade with raspberry sorbet and chopped pistachios.

After the meal Gypsy entertainer Christina Garner performed magic tricks and told stories while husband James accompanied on violin.

Among the guests were gala committee members Kitty Amato, Shirley Eichstaedt, Juin Foresman and Reta Hawkins, director of guilds Richard Deary, Howard and Lucy Clark, Lawrence and Helen Forwick, Maurice and Marlys Goodban, Anne and Tom Key, Don and Irene Mazza and Ron and Pat Nyborg.