B.W. Cook -- The Crowd

The Newport Beach Library Foundation welcomed author Calvin Trillin to

a sold-out event at the Newport Beach Central Library last week. Some 200

literary enthusiasts came to meet and greet the modern-day master of dead

pan humor.

Trillin was in town to promote his latest book, “Tepper Isn’t Going

Out.” The work of fiction, from the man who has written pointed social

commentary for the New Yorker for the past four decades, is a fiction

about a man named Murray Tepper, and his adventures parking his car in

Manhattan. Trillin told the crowd that the book, his 21st, is not a

driving novel, but rather a parking novel.

Waves of laughter punctuated Trillin’s address. Reading two passages

from his novel, the author shared with the Newport-Mesa community the dry

wit that is intrinsic to the Trillin signature.

Sharing anecdotes about his normal childhood upbringing in Kansas

City, Mo., Trillin told the audience that he inherited both his poetic

license and his penchant for brevity from his father. Abe Trillin was a

restaurateur.

His son said, “Dad was a poet too. His shortest poem published in the

lunch menu of his restaurant was: ‘Don’t Sigh. Eat Pie.”’

The appearance by Trillin, followed by a lively question-and-answer

session that touched on everything from the author’s motivation and

purpose to the state of life in New York City today, was organized by the

Newport Beach Public Library Foundation.

This latest in a series of presentations by distinguished literary

figures was produced by an event committee that included Tracy Keys,

Jacquelyn Dillman, Carolyn Klein, Pat Neisser, Susan Porter Hart and

Lizanne Witte. In the crowd were library trustees Harry and Mary

Hamilton, city librarian LaDonna Klenitz, Library Foundation President

Larry Spitz and wife Barbara, Ed and Leslea Miller, Nancy Phelps, Pacific

Life executive and Library Foundation board member David Carmichael and

wife Beverly, library trustee Karen Clark and husband Bruce, society band

leader Barry Cole, Elaine and Martin Weinberg, and Library Foundation

founders John Stahr and wife Elizabeth.

* * *

The unofficial queen of the live stage in Orange County and producer

of the annual Children’s Hospital Follies, Gloria Zigner reports that

auditions for the 2002 show are set for Feb. 23 and March 3 at the Sutton

Place Hotel in Newport Beach.

This year’s production is being called “The Slipper and the Surfer --

An Orange County Cinderella Story.” Cast members must be at least 21

years of age, and a minimum donation to the hospital of $500 is required,

along with plenty of singing and dancing talent.

The sixth annual CHOC Follies, under the direction of Zigner and

staff, will be presented this year on May 17, May 18 and May 19. Zigner

has secured a new location for the event, reporting that the show will

debut in a giant tent erected adjacent to the Orange County Performing

Arts Center in Costa Mesa. This community program has raised more than $1

million for Children’s Hospital of Orange County and CHOC at Mission.

For further information, call Lois Augustine at the CHOC Foundation

for Children at (714) 532-8690.

* * *

In the grand theatrical tradition of Broadway, a splendid late night

after-theater party was thrown Tuesday evening at Maggiano’s Little Italy

Restaurant at South Coast Plaza following the opening night production of

the revived American musical “The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas.”

Star Ann-Margret and her husband, Roger Smith, joined the Maggiano’s

crowd for late dinner, preferring to stay out of the local crush and

dining in a private side room. The remainder of the performers, including

co-star Gary Sandy (who played the sheriff in the show) and the large

cast of singing and dancing young men and women, mingled with the local

patrons, enjoying the fabulous and generous spread provided by

Maggiano’s.

In the crowd were Center boss Jerry Mandel, patrons Pat and Jean

Hancock, Shari and Harry Esayian, and Ruth and Arnold Feurstein.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.