Puttin’ on the ritz to raise some cash

It’s always a hoot to help an organization raise money, but it’s even better to have a fun-filled event at which to do it.

The Ross Creek Centre for the Arts and Two Planks and a Passion Theatre Company are waist-deep right now preparing for their landmark summer production, The Odyssey.

If you haven’t heard, this drama is set on the 186-acre farm at Ross Creek and will feature live, outdoor performances unlike anything we’ve ever seen around here. It’s a cool concept, with animals, boats, battles and myriad theatrical elements too numerous to outline here.

But stuff like this is costly. You have to pay actors, build sets, promote the product in print, radio and TV, and then pay staff to ensure that all guests are comfortable and involved when the show begins.

As always, you need cash to cover the details, so Ken Schwartz and Chris O’Neill, co-artistic directors of Two Planks and the Arts Centre, hosted a soiree Saturday that featured an auction of one-of-a-kind art items and a grand prize of an exclusive, pre-public performance of The Odyssey for you and 100 of your friends, family, co-workers or clients. There was only one requirement. You had to dress in either black or white or a combination thereof to get in. That, and buy a ticket, of course.

And although I’m a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy, it’s good every now and then to doll yourself up and pretend you can still paint the town the way you did back when.

It worked, too, because there were plenty of fine-looking people on display. The men were dapper, the ladies dazzling and our group representing Transcontinental cut an impressive swath.

In addition, old black and white movies played during dinner and each guest was given a questionnaire to fill out that related to the films. At evening’s end, whoever had the most correct answers won a prize.

The food from On the Verge restaurant was outstanding and Schwartz, who’s no stranger to performance himself, was masterful as auctioneer, working the room with humour and verbal dexterity.

Almost every item up for bids went for more than its value and that’s fantastic. It was easy to be swept up in the excitement, and interesting as well to see folks hooting and hollering as the bidding intensified.

There were cheers and occasional jeers (as Ken prodded the audience to up the ante), but nobody went away unhappy. I think people understood what’s at stake and were delighted to be part of something that could be very big.

I think The Odyssey will be a major tourist attraction and all of us stand to benefit. New money will be spent not just for the show, but at hotels, motels, B&Bs, restaurants, corner stores, grocery stores, liquor commissions. You name it.

If we as a community do our best to support the production, Two Planks will embrace that and look to reprise any success next summer and the summer after that, and so on. It boggles the mind to consider the possibilities.

Who knew that one night of fun and fundraising could mean so much? Want more? Go to www.artscentre.ca and fill your boots. You won’t be disappointed.