It wasnโt exactly champagne wishes and caviar dreams at last nightโs dual party for The Medium and Corella Ballet Castilla Y Leรณn, but it was close. Walking amongst the pedestrian masses of King Street, it felt like any other Saturday night. Until I stumbled upon this.
Enter my Brigadoon moment. As that little old lady drummed her way into my heart, I was teleported into a world in which I donโt belong, high society. I entered the gates of the Presidentโs house at the College of Charleston, not sure if I could ever return to normal life again.
There, the grassy courtyard so many undergrads walk past every day had been transformed into a dreamy, candlelit cocktail party. Low hanging rustic candelabra gave it a Spanish feel, while the dimly lit environment hinted at a sรฉance in honor of The Medium. Whether that was the designerโs intention, credit goes to All Occasions. When planning your childโs next sรฉance themed birthday party โ think All Occasions.
Incidentally, Gian Carlo Menottiโs The Medium and the aforementioned Brigadoon both had their Broadway debut the same year, in 1947. It must be a sign. That said, neither host David Savard nor Spoleto General Director, Nigel Redden, was entirely confident what year The Medium debuted in Charleston. I still contend it was 1979.
The specialty cocktail, โSouthsideโ featuring Mount Gay rum, lime-flavored simple syrup, and mint, was just going to my head when the crowd began to cheer as mezzo-soprano Barbara Dever entered the room. Dever, The Mediumโs Madame Flora, was followed by soprano Jennifer Aylmer who plays Monica and Gregory Mozgala, a.k.a. Toby the mute servant boy. For a mute, he had a lot to say. The super amiable Mozgala was more than happy to chat. โItโs an incredible feeling to have the curtain come up and see 500 people applauding, and thatโs before the show has even started!โ Wearing a fedora, I followed the tiny Toby around the crowd in search of Director John Pascoe.
- Kinsey Gidick
- The charming Gregg Mozgala of The Medium.
โJohn! John, this lady would like to meet you,โ Mozgala called out. The ascoted Pascoe turned around, shook my hand, and said,โ Iโm sorry I canโt talk. Iโm starving,โ then abruptly about-faced and made way for the carving station. Canโt blame him. Who can turn down a juicy cut of meat? Few, I tell you, few.
No one needed meat more, however, then the crowd of twig-wristed ballet dancers who next came through the gate. Like a herd of wood nymphs they entered, whispering in their Spanish tongue, overwhelming the party goers.
- Kinsey Gidick
- The tiny dancers arrive.
- Kinsey Gidick
- The beautiful dancers of Corella Ballet
Just as I overheard one guest saying, โWhere is รngel, I hear he is one hot โ oh!โ There he was, the Corella Ballet man himself, รngel Corella, in a summer tan jacket and a smile. His adoring fans swept him into their circle and I could only stand on the sidelines and snap a photo. Shame really, we could have had such beautiful children โ my 6 foot frame, his sculpted torso…
- Kinsey Gidick
- รยngel Corella has entered the room.
Queue the bagpipes; ’twas time for me to go home.
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.
