Carol Burnett and Daughter Back Out of Benefit for Interval House

Where is a fairy godmother when you need one?

It was supposed to be Carol and company. But now it will only be company at Le Bal des Papillons on Saturday night at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Dana Point.

Carol Burnett has told organizers of the benefit for Interval House--a shelter for female victims of domestic violence--that she and her daughter, Carrie Hamilton, cannot attend. The reason: The Big Apple beckons with opportunity for the mother-daughter team, says Carol Williams, Interval House director.

“Right up to the end of last week I was sure they would come,” a weeping Williams said during a telephone interview on Tuesday. In fact, the buzz surrounding the ball has been that Hamilton would perform, maybe even compose a song to honor the graduates of Interval House. (On the party invitations, however, Burnett and Hamilton are listed only as the event’s honorary chairwomen.)

Is this beginning to sound familiar? Last Saturday--after months of speculation that he would attend a local performance of his “Liverpool Oratorio”--Paul McCartney was a “nowhere man” at the production and the post-performance party in his honor.

Where does this leave party chairwomen who have built an entire event around an appearance of a celebrity? And where does it leave the trusting folks who have written out fat checks to attend because the star’s supposed appearance sucked them in?

Holding the bag, that’s where. Maybe it’s time for party chairwomen to put disclaimers on their invitations: Paul McCartney will attend if something more important doesn’t come up. Carol Burnett will be there if business is slow.

Meanwhile, star-filled galas will continue to be games of Russian roulette for all involved.

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Michael Bolton to appear: The date has been set for pop singer Michael Bolton’s (“Soul Provider,” “When a Man Loves a Woman”) performance at the Disneyland Hotel on behalf of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Orange County. On Nov. 24, Bolton and saxophonist Kenny G will appear in the hotel’s Grand Ballroom. One thousand tickets at $250 per person are available, says event organizer Sue Hook. For information, telephone: (714) 938-1393.

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Memories in the Making: For her mother, Evelyn Testman, 85, an Alzheimer’s patient, the chance to paint is the one thing “that gives her a sense of self-worth,” Sharon Testman says.

The fact that her mother’s art was represented on Sunday at an annual brunch at Mr. Stox restaurant in Anaheim “made me proud,” Testman says.

The event, which showcased art from the Alzheimer Assn. of Orange County’s annual “Memories in the Making” exhibit, was sponsored by Mr. Stox owners Chick Marshall, his brother, Ron, and Ron’s wife, Debbie.

“My mother used to paint, in oils and watercolors, and though it hurts a lot to see how her ability has deteriorated, it makes me feel good that she is still trying,” Testman says.

More than 225 guests dined on a groaning board of fruits, seafood, beef, breads and desserts at the affair, which netted about $9,000. Debbi Coffman was chairwoman. Committee members included Joyce Weiss, Selly Jenny, Deborah Carney-Kipers, Judy Dickinson and Asta Gasper.