Red Hatters do dinner theatre

By Susan Douglas
RR Red Hat Society

Bedecked in togas, eighteen red hat ladies made their ceremonial way to the CN Hotel dining room, Tues. Mar. 24th, for a “Julia” Caesar Dinner Theatre. The play began with Marvella, (Helen Kellner) and Florella, (Jessie Bodnarchuk), demanding the trade of the commoners present, who in turn declared that they were “fine women, old biddies, who are healers of sorrowful souls, and who bring merriment and pleasure to all.” The angered tribunes asked, “where are your cane to run along the railings, and why aren’t you wearing terrible shirts, and eating three pounds of sausage at a go?”
The dining hall was delightfully decorated with linen swags and flowers atop the walls symbolizing Rome, and a large banner declaring “Welcome Friends, Romans, and Red Hatters”. Tables were adorned with wine bottle candle holders, and red goblets overflowing with grapes. The home of Beatrice, (Brutus played by Linda Budreau), was set up in one area while Caesar’s house appeared across the room, next to Caesar’s statue, (a large red hat lady cut-out) bedecked in ceremonies. Marvella and Florella continued their part by criticizing Caesar to the crowd and stripped her red hat statue of necklaces, feathers and wreaths!
Julia Caesar, (Susan Douglas) made her triumphal entry into the city of “Hatquarters” (a.k.a. Rome), accompanied by her entourage including Marj Antonia (Elsie Gerula), and Cecilia, (Elsie Morrison). Friendly (and fickle) commoners waved flags (of Italy), cheered and blew kazoos, while the opposed free-born people booed and tossed paper. Caesar then rose to the occasion of prayer, ending with tossing in a bit of Irish humour saying, “May God turn the hearts of people who dislike us, and if he cannot turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles so that we may know them by their limp.” (Gasps!)
After pronouncing that Caesar “must dine on bread and butter for a week”, the entire party enjoyed a fabulous roast beef dinner to die for, (by Patti Diebel and assistants), followed with heavenly banana cream pie, (created by Bob Johnston). The staff genuinely pleased their customers. Thanks again everyone involved!
En route to the purple satin sandal toss Caesar was warned by soothsayer Artemidorus, (Bev Langner) to “Beware the Ides of March”.The wily Cassia (Lou Ricci) attempting to enlist Beatrice in the conspiracy against Caesar, told her that she once saved Caesar from drowning on the Rainy River as they attempted to swim to Oak Grove Camp, and now Caesar acts as though she is above her. Cassia goes on to ever so slyly say that Caesar has “chocolate fits...but, yet she is a friend.” While they were conspiring the other ladies enjoyed the toss game with “Marvella” , (Helen), taking home 1st prize, along with “Abby” (Casca aka Dawn Jarvis) who were both pot shots with sandals.
As Julia Caesar returned she voiced her distrust of skinny Cassia, declaring she preferred to be around “fat” women since “thin women cannot be trusted”. The play continued to the eve of the Ides of March, when a fearful storm was raging. (The ladies all made howling wind sounds.) Abby entered declaring she ‘d “seen strange sights; that the commoners have been making up for the sobriety of their youth” and “wearing slippers in the rain, and picking flowers from other people’s gardens.” She stated the “ senators have been spitting for nere a reason,” and she has seen “women eating pickles, while hoarding pens and pencils, and beer mats, and things in boxes.” Cinna, (played by Ruth Bynkoski), was spooked by “seeing women in the bar wearing sheets,” to which Cassia replied she’s “pressing too many alarm bells”. As the theatrical production continued Beatrice was bribed with a “new red lipstick” in order to win her over against Caesar. The next day as Caesar and her followers gathered on Pompey’s Porch the bloody assassination was carried out, thus ending our comedy, more than tragedy.
The evening concluded with many draws and each lady being a winner. Grape vine mini wreaths filled with peppermints were our party favours. A big thank you to hostesses, Linda Budreau (creative talents), Susan Douglas (play writer), and to Ruth Bynkoski (decorations).