On the Town: Fezziwig’s Festive Holiday Tea at A Noise Within, Pasadena Museum of California Art celebrates the holidays

The invitation was titled Fezziwig’s Festive Holiday Tea at A Noise Within. In smaller type was the announcement of a post-tea, matinee performance of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Both events could be had for $300, representing one of the Pasadena classical theater’s largest fundraisers of the year.

The annual holiday gala on Sunday (Dec. 16), sponsored by Wells Fargo, was “hosted by” Christmas Carol’s jolly character, “Fezziwig.” Besides steaming pots of British tea, also available were scones, miniature beef Wellingtons, smoked salmon blini puffs and finger sandwiches. A favorite was the crab mousse and steamed shrimp with chevre filling. All was upstaged, however, by miniature trifle cakes of Marsala-soaked pound cake and strawberries in martini glasses.

But enough about the food. Greeting guests at the front of the theater were characters from the performance in full wardrobe. “Mrs. Fezziwig,” herself, was the jolliest of cast members played by Abigail Marks. James Ferrero, playing “William,” was also a greeter, as was Megan Farber as “Miss Fezziwig.” Holding up the rear was Kevin Angulo playing “Christmas Future.”

A Noise Within Board President Terry Kay, joined by daughter Charlotte Kay, welcomed the 150 revelers present. The Kays’ audience sat sipping and supping around dozens of round tables draped with crisp white linen cloths and napkins. Each table was named after a Christmas Carol character. An especially festive group of Pasadena guests was found at the “Jacob Marley” table. They were theater board member Sheila Lamson, her husband Alan Lamson and their guest Dru Emm. The three are season ticket holders and never miss a production.

Theater Co-Founder Julia Rodriguez-Elliott was accompanied by son Jack Elliott, 10, who plays “Turkey Boy” in the show. Daughter Alison Elliott, 24, looked relaxed just before getting into her character, “Belle.” Husband and Co-Founder Geoff Elliott was not present at the tea. He was backstage putting on makeup and costume for his performance as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Just before the show, Rodriguez-Elliott addressed tea guests. She described the theater company’s Classics Live! education outreach program, the beneficiary of the tea-fundraiser. Classics Live! serves more than 10,000 students a year from more than 130 schools from five counties. So far, 1,700 students have seen the current production.

Rodriguez-Elliott also announced that 140 students came to “A Christmas Carol” from Nimitz Middle School in Huntington Park. “One-hundred percent who came had never attended theater before,” Rodriguez-Elliott said.

Event proceeds of $60,000 will help provide school buses for transportation to the theater, play tickets, study guides and post-show discussions for students. Even Scrooge has to smile at that largesse, thanks to the generosity of classical theater fans.

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The 10-year-old Pasadena Museum of California Art, with 8,000 square feet of gallery space is like the little engine that could. It keeps chugging along, attracting members, visitors and donors in spite of competition from larger and more well endowed museums in the community.

One reason for the museum’s success is its annual holiday party for members — ”a thank you for their support,” according to executive director and board member Jenkins Shannon. On Saturday (Dec. 15), 60 loyal members showed up to party.

A tour of the museum’s current exhibits in the Founder’s Gallery began in the evening. Pasadena residents on tour included Denice Waters and husband Timothy Sales. They admired a three-paneled folding screen from the Greta Magnusson Grossman Estate. Reiko Nikaido preferred to pop into the museum gift store.

Pasadena VIPs present included Board Members Bob Oltman and Penny Lusche with husband Dr. Jay Lusche. Fortuitously, Dr. Jay won a door prize of several free meals at Pasadena’s newest, Slater’s 50/50.

The museum’s upcoming program is an exhibition walk-through on Jan. 19. Curator Gordon McClelland will give a tour of “White on Black: The Modernist Prints of Paul Landacre.”

RUTH SOWBY may be reached at ruthasowby@gmail.com.