‘Heart Strings’ Is the Star of 3-Act Gala

SAN DIEGO —  The scene Saturday at Plaza Hall in the San Diego Concourse--concrete-floored, designed in the spirit of one-size-fits-all utilitarianism and rarely cheerful in mien--looked something like a rehearsal for a vast Valentine’s Day celebration.

A carnival of hearts paraded around the room in various media, from images projected on walls to balloons floating over tables to an immense, stylized construction on the stage that, while crimson and vibrant, looked a little broken. Such is the heart motif that serves as logo and symbol for “Heart Strings,” the lavish musical production for the benefit of numerous AIDS organizations that premiered at Copley Symphony Hall on Saturday evening and will continue with a tour of most major American cities.

Plaza Hall served as the site for the gala-in-three-acts that had the “Heart Strings” performance as its centerpiece. The evening started early and on a decidedly sedate note with a black-tie reception and dinner for the 550 patrons who attended in the top-ticket, “VIP” category, and then stepped high and wide at a post-performance cast party, given for an even larger group and headlined by pop diva Thelma Houston.

The three-part gala was itself part of a larger happening titled “An Event in Three Acts,” which included the display of a portion of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and, in its third “act,” invited public participation in efforts against the disease. The evolution of the quilt, a vast collection of commemorative squares contributed by individuals, may have inspired the organization of the party, which relied primarily on some 500 volunteers and donated catering and decoration services. Volunteer committees are, of course, a standard fixture at charity events, but at this one even the staff that poured the wine and cleared the plates worked on a volunteer basis.

Jeanne Jones, chairwoman of the sizable host committee list--it included Al and Betty DeBakcsy, Larry and Junko Cushman, Veryl Mortenson, Tom and Ellen Payzant, architect Larry Case, Audrey Geisel and vintners John and Martha Culbertson--said the volunteer organization made the gala unique. “I’ve never seen an event orchestrated like this; everyone did three times the usual work,” she said. “It feels so good when you’re really happy that you said, ‘Yes, I’ll participate.’ ”

Ten teams of chefs, florists and designers created a series of food stations along two walls of the enormous room, and guests had plenty of time to admire the often elaborate results as they waited, politely, in the slow-moving buffet lines. Several top hotels and caterers sent their executive chefs, which gave patrons the rare opportunity to sample a smorgasbord of offerings from some of the area’s top culinary names. Jeff Tunks of Loews Coronado Bay Resort served Thai beef salad and grilled quail; Bob Brody of the Sheraton Harbor Island offered roast lamb with tiny polenta hearts, and the Grant Grill’s Bernard Guillas dared diners with trout carpaccio served from an amusing milieu decorated like a Wisconsin (the home of the trout) ice-fishing camp. All the while, a gentle cabaret performed at the center of the room gradually built momentum toward the “Heart Strings” performance.

Bill Beck, co-chair of the local “Heart Strings” board, projected earnings from the gala and the weekend’s performances at about $200,000. “We had hoped for much more, but given the economy, this is an impressive amount to be able to earmark for direct services to AIDS sufferers,” he said. “But raising the consciousness level in San Diego about AIDS certainly was a goal every bit as important to us as raising funds. We want this show to reflect our concern about every group that is at risk from AIDS, and to raise awareness as high as it can go.”

“We’ve multiplied the impact of the first ‘Heart Strings’ gala in 1990,” said local event administrator Ron Ferrero. “We’ve doubled the size of our VIP attendance, and I’m thrilled almost to tears by that kind of response. We’re definitely reaching a broader community, because I think more people are realizing that AIDS is a disease we all have to respond to.” Following the performance, guests returned to Plaza Hall to find dessert stations in the foyer and another cabaret on stage. The performers (and the pastries) filled the time smoothly enough until the arrival of the cast--including co-narrator Denise Yamada and her opposite number, actor Christopher Reeve--brought Thelma Houston bursting into the spotlights. Her opening number, the classic “Nowhere to Run,” brought out a larger crowd than the dance floor could handle, which troubled no one. The party ran late.

Honorary chairs Marilyn and Kim Fletcher and Mayor Maureen O’Connor reprised roles played in the 1990 “Heart Strings” events. Among other major patrons and committee members were Neil and Sharron Derrough, Debbie and Larry Case, Doug Helms, Jeannie and Tom Hess, Carolyn and Dave Zeiger, Janine Thierry Brown, Richard Kaleh, Carol Hallstrom, Deborah Helm, Richard Sager, Anthony White, Cynthia Stalheim, Michael Howard, Benta Hansen and Dode Shaw Anderson.

The San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art is unlikely to display an Ogden among the Kapoors and de Koonings, but the institution did take a step Friday toward broadening the definition of contemporary art (and broadening some of its supporters, as well) by placing the mantle of artist upon the shoulders of super-chef Bradley Ogden.

Ogden, in his role as consulting chef to the Rancho Valencia Resort near Rancho Santa Fe, flew down from his Wine Country restaurant to whip up a snazzy little meal for 100 museum patrons that turned out to be a neat feat of performance art. After sampling one of the caviar-on-potato chip canapes, museum associate director Charles Castle happily concluded that cooking is “the best tasting of all the arts. It certainly is the most accessible and the best digestible,” he continued, adding that the proceeds from the cozy supper would amount to $5,000. “In this day and age, $5,000 is a great deal of money. Events like this are critical in helping us to do what we do.”

While guests helped themselves to shredded duck confit on toast and salmon tart, Ogden developed writer’s cramp autographing copies of his new “Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner” cookbook. Not content merely to sign his name, he added witty comments and homely advice, including the wish to a betrothed couple, “May your cooking be warm and your marriage hot!”

Dinner, served by candlelight under the heavy beams of the dining room, proceeded to the subtle music of soup--shrimp and lobster chowder, to be precise--followed by roasted salmon and a cheerfully ghoulish-looking compote of blood oranges and custard. Conversations dwindled with the arrival of each plate.

Guests included Harry and Judy Collins, Dirk and Doris Broekema, Ivor and Colette Royston, Claude Rouas, Jaime and Rebecca Brambils, Connie Hucko, Bill and Stephanie Tribolet, Richard and Faye Russell, David and Phoebe Sackett, Robert and Mary Knight, Steve and Yvonne Maloney, and Lamar and Barbara Majure.