It's not difficult to predict the ending of a three-course meal assembled by cookbook author and renowned food editor Lucy Waverman—she's sure to serve a delectable dessert—but it is much harder to figure out how three Canadian playwrights will finish their scripts after starting out with the same opening line. The 220 guests attending the Necessary Angel Theatre Company fund-raiser, called "One Day: Three Plays," held Monday at the Capitol Event Theatre, had the chance to find out.
With only four hours to write a 20-minute play, Morwyn Brebner, Claudia Dey, and Daniel MacIvor were given their first line: "Don't anybody move—there was an asp in that basket of figs and the little bastard is somewhere in this room!" from playwright and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Sir Tom Stoppard. The plays were then performed during a gala dinner at the theatre. "Today there are so many events that in order to intrigue people, you have to do something different," said Waverman, who also served as the gala chair.
While each of the performances had its own director and cast, it was Waverman who directed the menu. The meal had to be timed around the performances as executive chef Richard Andino and catering chef Andrew Edney sent out a forest-mushroom soup with truffle cream to start, braised-beef short rib and Arctic water black cod for the main course, and a cheese plate with mini pastries for the final act.
Designer Karen Cole of ColeDuron Interior Design transformed the theatre into a garden scene. The dining area in front of the stage featured square tables topped with garden pails filled with yellow daffodils and bottles of wine, and Cole and her team planted daisies and candles in the front foyer. A tower of 100 champagne and martini glasses provided a focal point. The glasses appeared empty, but each one held a small pouch with a pair of pearl studs inside. For a charitable donation, guests received a martini, the earrings, and a raffle ticket for a chance to win a three-strand baroque pearl necklace designed by Myles Mindham.
Event sponsors included BMO Financial, The Globe and Mail, Salah Bachir, and Searchlight Canada.
With only four hours to write a 20-minute play, Morwyn Brebner, Claudia Dey, and Daniel MacIvor were given their first line: "Don't anybody move—there was an asp in that basket of figs and the little bastard is somewhere in this room!" from playwright and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Sir Tom Stoppard. The plays were then performed during a gala dinner at the theatre. "Today there are so many events that in order to intrigue people, you have to do something different," said Waverman, who also served as the gala chair.
While each of the performances had its own director and cast, it was Waverman who directed the menu. The meal had to be timed around the performances as executive chef Richard Andino and catering chef Andrew Edney sent out a forest-mushroom soup with truffle cream to start, braised-beef short rib and Arctic water black cod for the main course, and a cheese plate with mini pastries for the final act.
Designer Karen Cole of ColeDuron Interior Design transformed the theatre into a garden scene. The dining area in front of the stage featured square tables topped with garden pails filled with yellow daffodils and bottles of wine, and Cole and her team planted daisies and candles in the front foyer. A tower of 100 champagne and martini glasses provided a focal point. The glasses appeared empty, but each one held a small pouch with a pair of pearl studs inside. For a charitable donation, guests received a martini, the earrings, and a raffle ticket for a chance to win a three-strand baroque pearl necklace designed by Myles Mindham.
Event sponsors included BMO Financial, The Globe and Mail, Salah Bachir, and Searchlight Canada.
The Capitol Event Theatre marquee
Photo: Andreasphoto.ca
The marquee at the Capitol Event Theatre announced the "One Day: Three Plays" benefit.
Photo: Andreasphoto.ca
The event also included a silent auction.
Photo: Andreasphoto.ca
The dining area was set in front of the stage.
Photo: Andreasphoto.ca
Designer Karen Cole topped tables with potted daffodils to create a spring feel.
Photo: Andreasphoto.ca
Garden-pail centrepieces held yellow daffodils and bottles of riesling.
Photo: Andreasphoto.ca
Framed cards displayed table numbers.
Photo: Andreasphoto.ca
Small sachets containing a pair of pearl earrings filled 100 champagne and martini glasses.
Photo: Andreasphoto.ca
For a charitable donation, guests received a martini, a raffle ticket, and a chance to win a three-strand baroque pearl necklace designed by Myles Mindham.
Photo: Andreasphoto.ca
