Moulin Rouge regalia, dance turn hospital benefit into ball
HOT SPRINGS — At the Baron’s Ball, it’s all about getting in line with the theme … which means getting one’s self a worthy costume.
And this year’s ball — called “An Evening at Moulin Rouge” and held Nov. 4 in Horner Hall of the Hot Springs Convention Center — gave guests numerous sartorial possibilities. According to suggestions on the event website, they could simply go black-tie or cocktail, which some did. They could wear attire spanning the 1890s to the Roaring ’20s in accordance with the heyday of the Moulin Rouge, the famed Paris nightspot … and some did. There were those who opted for can-can dancer attire. Some chose the looks reminiscent of the cabaret actress/courtesan Satine, as portrayed by Nicole Kidman, in the 2001 movie Moulin Rouge! … her glitzy corsets as well as her black-accented red “temptress” dress.
At the dinner-and-a-show event, a benefit for Levi Hospital, guests sipped cocktails and shopped silent auction items in the lobby. (A Disney World vacation package, sold with the aid of ol’ “Mickey Mouse” himself, was the sole item sold later, via live auction.) Dinner featured royal crown of chicken bourguignon in burgundy sauce and Moulin Rouge chocolate Bundt cake, shaped like an upside-down can-can dancer, legs in the air. Souvenir wine glasses commemorated the event.
The Baron d’Abila — the event visionary also known as Davis Tillman — served as the master of ceremonies (in the character of Moulin Rouge co-founder Charles Zidler) for a variety show worthy of a night at the real Moulin Rouge: singers, a ventriloquist puppet, a dancing “Diva of Darkness” (complete with lighted butterfly cape), a contortionist, some fancy bubble-blowing, a mild strip tease, a saxophone solo, a tango performance, a sassy Lady Marmalade and can-can dancers. And yes, “Henri de Toulouse Lautrec” was in the house, as a live prop for an elaborate set.
Closing out the evening was dancing to tunes by Doc Bryce.