Skål International San Francisco, Inc.

"BILLY ELLIOTT' THRILLS SKALLEAGUES
Story by Don Langley, Photos by Ralph Lee

As Skål summer outings go, it was a small affair and participants didn’t stray far. But as far as quality and memory-worthiness are concerned, it was at the top of the chart.

   The event was the brilliant, award-winning musical Billy Elliot, which has been wowing audiences at San Francisco’s Orpheum Theater.

   The evening began with dinner across the street at Skåleague Ralph Lee’s Whitcomb Hotel. Ralph sent out the menu so everybody could order in advance. Before magically bringing out the appetizers and main courses and unerringly putting them in front of the people who had ordered them, the chef surprised everybody with a starter that included ahi tuna – sashimi quality, he noted – over an avocado puree.

   By that time we were all sipping red and white wines which Ralph graciously provided. The waiter made sure nobody went thirsty through dinner. Everybody lingered so long over the three delicious dishes that we had to leave before the chef could bring out a special dessert he said he had prepared.

   Melita Thorpe had been the original instigator. “I wanted to see Billy Elliot and asked Ralph about it at the Fairmont reception,” Melita said. “Ralph said he could get discounted tickets but we needed ten people.” Melita gathered a dozen. As dinner ended, she doled out the tickets for the tenth and eleventh row of the orchestra center.

   As for the show, if you haven’t seen it, you should attempt to get tickets in the next few weeks. Set against the background of the 1984 coal miners’ strike that crippled the British labor movement, it weaves the moving story of a lad who decides he prefers ballet to boxing. Several parts, including the title character, have been cast with multiple actors. The reason becomes abundantly clear. Aside from the fact that the youngsters – Billy is supposed to be 12 – have to contend with other things such as school, there is no way that any single person could handle this role eight performances per week. He dances energetically in many scenes as the story unfolds, but the high points of the evening are long, dazzling, exhausting tours de force that involve everything – ballet, tap, jazz and acrobatics. In show biz terms, they’re classic showstoppers.

   As noted above, it was a memorable evening.

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     On Monday, May 23, during the Annual USTOA Pow Wow held this year in San Francisco, club president Tom Klein, V.P and General Manager of the Fairmont Hotel invited visiting Skalleagues to a reception held in the beautiful Le Cirque Room at the Fairmont. 

       Skalleagues from Orlando, New York, Albany,           SF President Tom Klein with 
            Toronto, San Jose & San Francisco                  NYC President Carolyn Feimster

We would like to thank those Skalleagues for attending, giving all an opportunity for a bit of additional B2B and R&R, and we thank Tom for hosting this delightful evening. The hors d'ouvres and drink were most appreciated, and the room and staff were supurb. 
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Jim and Claudette Main, Melita Thorpe, Homer Laird, & Chris

After a delicious breakfast the following morning, we gathered our three cars together, took advantage of good weather and the scenic route across State128 past Lake Berryessa into the Napa Valley. Thanks to the generosity of our member Skalleague Ed Curry, we were offered complimentary tasting at Hall Wines in their beautiful new tasting room in St. Helena.

Same as above with Sandy Sobie (2nd from left)

 We then crossed the street to V. Sattui where we enjoyed a picnic lunch before bidding farewell to half of our group who had to rush home. Those remaining continued on to The Hess Collection in Napa before adjourning to the Embassy Suites as guests of former Skalleague Reynaldo Zertuchi, watching the Giants suffer their only loss in an otherwise spectacular World Series.  To end the fun weekend on a gloriously beautiful Sunday morning, Le Rêve champagne and smoked salmon complemented the menu at the magnificent Domaine Carneros by Taittinger.  We had so much fun, we will plan this again next year, and perhaps more of our club and Region III can join in.  It was a true experience of Skal amicale.