The GASLIGHT GALA 2007

Elaine Coppola

The first Gaslight Gala was held at the Manhattan Club on Friday, January 12, 2007. Eighty-three guests attended this successor to the Baskerville Bash. The theme of the Gala was “The Villains in the Canon,” and co-chairpersons Carol Fish and Laurie Fraser Manifold masterminded an evening full of toasts, songs, and other Sherlockian pursuits.

After checking in and receiving their packet of “goodies,” attendees spent a pleasant social hour chatting with friends new and old and enjoying plentiful hors d’oeuvre. The formal program began with a welcome and introductions followed by the ever-popular Sherlettes performing “The Gala Debut Song” written by Warren Randall. The Sherlettes (Maribeau Briggs, Carol Fish, Marilyn Klatt, Elyse Locurto, Laurie Fraser Manifold, Drew Thomas, and Cynthia Wein) were accompanied for this and all later tunes by Audrey Epstein on the piano.

Cynthia Wein and Drew Thomas were the Masters of Ceremonies. Toasts were offered by Cynthia Wein (Charles Augustus Milverton) and Sandy Kozinn (Professor Moriarty toasting Sherlock Holmes). Following the delicious buffet dinner, Drew Thomas toasted The Engineer’s Thumb, while Becky Robare raised a glass to The Cardboard Box. Next, Ron Fish read the Roll of the Societies with members present at the Gala. Thirty-seven scions or societies, including five “national” societies (BSI, ASH, Bootmakers of Toronto, Japan Sherlock Holmes Club, and the Sherlock Holmes Society of London), were represented. Then, toasts from Will Walsh (Colonel Sebastian Moran) and Joanne Zahorsky-Reeves (Irene Adler) entertained guests who gladly drained their glasses.

Theater was next on the agenda as Joanne Zahorsky-Reeves and actor-husband Robert Reeves performed “Feeling Skittish—Holmes’ & Moriarty’s First Date,” written by Ron Fish and Warren Randall. This slightly non-canonical and most amusing performance left attendees in an even merrier mood.

After the Sherlettes’ second performance (singing those old favorites “Leprosy,” “Don’t Mess with Mr. Milverton,” and “Hello Selden”), came another highlight—Sherlockian Squares, a game by Carol and Ron Fish. Attendees were divided into two groups, with the “X” team, captained by Robert Reeves, completing the square before the “O” team, headed by Jay Pearlman. The irrepressible Billy Fields held court in the center square while other squares were populated by Drew Thomas, Don Hobbs, Greg Darak, Jim Hawkins, Sandy Kozinn, Frank Ferry, Will Walsh, and Don Zaldin.

During dessert and coffee, Laurie Manifold acknowledged and presented awards to several members of the Baskerville Bash Committee and others for their contributions to this weekend event during the previous ten years.

When attendees were well fortified by sugar and caffeine, it was raffle time. Cynthia Wein’s hand-painted sweatshirt was won by Cynthia Wein (!!) who kindly demurred and the re-drawing was won by Margie Beck. Laurie Fraser Manifold’s hand-painted tote bag was won by Jim Cox.

In the Sherlettes’ third appearance, they performed “It’s Been a Long, Long Time” and “Get Me to the Court on Time.” This was followed by Elyse Locurto’s moving solo on “The Men I Hate,” a song especially relevant to the evening’s theme.

With Carol Fish as assistant, Billy Fields exuberantly auctioned off five items to great success. Doré Nash claimed Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler teddy bears, dressed in handmade Victorian outfits (outfits sewn and bears donated by Joanne Zahorsky-Reeves). An original Basil of Baker Street figure (donated by Al Gregory) went to Jim Cox. Two original paintings—“Foggy Night on Baker Street” and “Foggy Night on the Strand”—by Laurie Fraser Manifold (and donated by Laurie) were won by Don Zaldin. Will Walsh was the successful bidder on a “Gala” wood box (made and donated by Joe Coppola). An original February 1902 Strand Magazine cover (donated by Ted Friedman) was obtained by John Knud-Hansen.

Then, it was time for a participatory sing-a-long to two original Warren Randall songs. Under Elyse Locurto’s leadership, the attendees sang “Bar-i-tsu” (to the tune of “Tea for Two”) and “I Want a Falls” (to the tune of “I Want a Girl”). The festive evening of Sherlockian fun and camaraderie ended with remarks by Laurie Fraser Manifold and the singing of the traditional closing song, Jane Hinckley’s “Holmes and Watson’s Time.”