They All Danced Happily Ever After . . .

About 175 costumed guests played with toys and in general acted like children at the Pacific Chorale’s fourth annual Storybook Ball.

“Tales of Mardi Gras” was the theme for the New Orleans-style gala Friday night at Le Meridien in Newport Beach. The $125-per-person benefit raised $30,000 for the chorale.

Storybook Characters

Guests turned up sporting lavish costumes or wearing Mardi Gras masks with their black-tie attire.

“We love to dress up,” said Ann Benjamin, gala co-chairwoman, with Sheryl Gerrie. “Our balls always have a costume theme because of the chorale members--they’re dramatic.”

Chorale President Rita Major and husband Norm dressed as Antony and Cleopatra.

“Oops, I dropped the keys to my horse,” Norm Major joked as he fished around on the floor for his car keys. He wielded a sword while she mischievously offered guests a basket of figs that held a fake snake.

Chorale member Charlotte Sinclair explained why guests act silly at this affair:

“The alter ego comes out and we just play.”

Bluebloods

Guests joined in a colorful Mardi Gras parade led by the gala’s new king and queen, Kent and Carol Wilken. Each year the chorale chooses a royal couple based on involvement in the community.

“We just wanted to take someone from the community who was really involved, who has great pizazz and who would enjoy this,” said Mary Lyons, chorale board member.

The Wilkens took their newfound status with good humor.

“There are a lot of things that go along with being king,” Kent Wilken said, describing the pressures of the job. “When you’re a king you want to be a gypsy, and when you’re a gypsy you want to be king. No matter who you are, you want to be somebody else.”

The Wilkens had sartorial competition from chorale member Mary Lodwick and her husband, Michael, who wore regal-looking costumes of gold lame and green and purple satin that Mary made. The Lodwicks won the gala’s glass slipper award for best costume.

“We’re in-laws of the king and queen,” Mary joked. For his part, Michael didn’t seem to mind wandering around in a royal cape:

“I grew up in New Orleans. I’ve been doing this since I was 4 years old.”

Gas Lamp Quarter

The hotel ballroom was decked out like a Mardi Gras street scene, complete with bouquets of multicolored balloons and old-fashioned street lamps. Tables were decorated with gas lamps, feathered masks and an assortment of wind-up toys.

“We included the chattering teeth because we’re singers and our mouths are always going,” quipped Sharon Fair, a member of the choir and chorale board. She sported an elaborate headdress adorned with feathers, miniature instruments and a stuffed parrot.

When guests weren’t teasing one another with horns and snapping plastic crocodiles, they were enjoying a French Quarter feast that included rice and shrimp in Cajun sauce, breast of chicken bearnaise and strawberry Charlotte with mint mousse.

Other guests were John Alexander, artistic director of the chorale; Catherine and Bob Break, Mark and Shari Cole; Sharon Fair; Randy and Carole Johnson; Paul Marx; Bonnie McClain, executive director; Maurice and Marcy Mulville; Jay and Kate St. Clair; John and Elizabeth Stahr; Steve Vegh and Lenora Meister; Joseph Wheelock and Ann Blake.