Charleston Ballet Theatre Gala and SEWE
Who knew global warming could be so erotic?
On Thursday night, the Charleston Ballet Theatre (CBT) hosted its second annual Charlie Awards— a dance spoof of Academy Award-nominated films that was then spoofed by The Have Nots comedy improv trio. Got it? If you are confused, don’t worry. I’d never seen anything quite like it! Read on.
Ball gown attired guests sashayed down the red carpet at CBT’s black box performance space on King Street, and I nabbed some of the glitterati for awards show style interviews that will be broadcast on Charleston magazine television. Many of the women opted to wear red in support of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign, which is educating women about their unique risks for heart disease, making the sea of attendees look like a very timely extension of Valentine’s Day.
Resident choreographer Jill Eathorne Bahr selected five of her favorite movies from 2006 as inspiration for dance interpretation: Pan’s Labyrinth, Little Miss Sunshine, The Queen, An Inconvenient Truth, and The Devil Wears Prada.
The last selection featured a dancer who channeled Miranda Priestley (the film’s version of fur-slinging Vogue editor Anna Wintour) as she haughtily tossed a mink jacket on Dr. Ray Greenberg, an unsuspecting victim seated in the front row. That act received almost as much laughter as the Little Miss Sunshine romp through indie-film nirvana, which had a slew of dancers pushing a yellow “bus” around the stage. It was the sensual performance by Melody Staples and David McAllister, inspired by An Inconvenient Truth, that ultimately took top prize, and it illustrated the far-reaching effects of global warming. (I assume that’s why he had to dance without a shirt. Ahem.)
Guests then made their way across the street to the William Aiken House, where Fish restaurant supplied a three-course seated dinner. Tables of all shapes and sizes were spread across two floors, and each table came with its own theme and decor. In all, 14 different designers leant their talents to creating decorations inspired by the nominated films. Denise Barto’s dramatic interpretation of The Devil Wears Prada, complete with devil horns and smoking goblets, received the most gasps. Luke Wilson Special Events really went over the top at my table with an enormous “tree” of creamy-colored roses that towered over us and evoked old Hollywood glamour. Every gentleman at the table received a boutonnière, and the ladies were encouraged to take home one of the nosegays placed at every seat. Delicate crystals on thin wire stems were tucked into the arrangements, and it didn’t take long for Celeste Patrick, Melinda Nicholson, and me to fashion them into hair ornaments. Each of the ladies at the table also received a lovely champagne colored satin clutch adorned with a vintage brooch. No two brooches were the same, and Carol Perkins Rawle and I quickly swapped ours like giddy school girls.
The evening wound down at the neighboring American Theatre, where the Have Nots! performed their laugh-out-loud interpretation of the dance interpretations of the nominated movies. Whew! During the dance rendition of Pan’s Labyrinth, a male dancer dressed as a wood sprite flitted around the stage in a shocking green unitard that bore but one sleeve. When comic Timmy Finch took to the stage in the same green unitard, the laughter brought the house down.
Incidentally, Charles Patrick (CBT board president) is my running muse, and I made the cheeky suggestion that he don the green unitard— did I mention it is covered in glitter and fake leaves?— for the upcoming Cooper River Bridge Run. He challenged that for $100,000 in donations to the ballet, he would gladly run the race in the aforementioned unitard. Charleston: get out your checkbooks! Would you like to see Charles dash across the bridge wearing this?
On the other end of the fashion spectrum, the Southeastern Wildlife Expo laid siege to the Charleston peninsula over the weekend. Ladies and gents in all shades of camoflague, leather, and feathers participated in the multi-day event that featured art, cuisine, and wildlife. I took in the Jack Hanna show at the Gaillard Auditorium on Saturday and loved seeing footage from his recent trip to Rwanda, where he and his entire family had the rare opportunity to see the majestic mountain gorillas in person.
By Saturday night, attendees were bundled up for the SEWE Soiree at the bus shed. The fragrant scent of fresh oysters hung low in the night air while the shriek of a duck call signaled for guests to move aside so that a fresh tray of pulled pork could replenish the picked-over remains on the table. Shannon Odom gave the catfish stew a rave review, and we both enjoyed the hot boiled peanuts. Tammy and Coleman Bowles looked cozy in nearly matching jackets, while Rhetta Mendelsohn, Eliza Buxton, Terri Henning, and Lisa Rice were decked out in fur.
Marion Square was abuzz with activity throughout the weekend. The climbing wall and camel rides were especially popular during my visit on Sunday, and I was thankful for the cold weather on behalf of the yaks at the petting zoo.
I’ve been musing about adding some additional features to the Fête Set round-up, and Leigh Handal cinched it for me. She dazzled at the CBT gala in a cape that I hear has a storied past. Kudos to Leigh for being named the Fête Set Pick for Chic of the Week!
Also, we’ve been fielding a few last minute requests for Fête Set coverage. Please remember that we are no longer accepting photographs. Organizations will now need to contact me three months prior to an event and send two tickets to cover the event (these tickets are considered separate from any included in a magazine sponsorship). Inclusion in Fête Set or the blog is not guaranteed. I can be contacted at ida@charlestonmag.com.
Caritas.
Ida
