Merle who is short, created and chaired “The Big Bang”, a celebration to benefit the La Jolla stage Company in its new home, the La Jolla Firehouse YMCA on Herschel.

That’s where the party Sunday night was held.

The chairwoman recruited the entertainers–pianist Peter Robberecht and drummer Steve Marino–and their new Las Vegas act.

She even designed and made the table centerpieces. Each was a 14-inch high hurricane chimney topped with a red plastic fire chief’s hat. They were finished with red sequin bow ties and placed on silver doilies on black tablecloths.

Some of those attending were Sally and John Thornton, Louarn Fleet and Bill Beamish, Joan Bowes Gilmore and Larry Davis (it was Joan’s birthday suitable celebrated), Lou and Leon Campbell, Karin and Lud Camp, Rita and Marvin Crouch, Marcy Goldstone and Stanley Kelts, Dean Gist, Joyce Brown, and Paula Pierson and her husband Tim Heitman (he’s artistic director of the Stage Company).
Rhoddie Ludwig was there, and so were Len Merson (a Stage Company board member and a volunteer bartender that night), Charlotte Perry and Dr. Bill Bristow, Mary and Bob Porter, Judy and Mark Sander, and Toni Ann Cafaro and her husband Kevin Miller, with their 8-year-old daughter, Katie Miller.

(Stage Company productions in 2004 will include “Berlin’s Best/Porter’s Picks” in January and into March, “Chess” in April and May, and “Annie” in June.)

Julie and Jay Sarno were at “The Big Bang,” along with RoseMary Taylor, Mary Wayne, Noel Stuart, Rita Schnedar, Julie Taylor, Dan Edwards, Deborah Gortler ( a board member who baked a cheesecake for the party), Rick Hernandez (he’s the Stage Company’s executive director), Dr. James Kratochvil, Deborah Krause, John Pauter, Faith Mc
Farland, Jean Rodin, Olivia Rotert and Bonnie Sarnes.

Party fare–catered by Tim Jefferson and his Jefferson & Associates Event Planning–included tray-passed Stilton tartlets with currants, jumbo shrimp brochettes and Portobello crisps. Grazing stations offered stuffed grape leaves; brie with almonds and raisins; a pesto terrine; chicken piccata tartlets with lemon caper sauce; apricot pork tenderloin mini sandwiches; and vegetable and beef empanadas.

Two sheet cakes –one chocolate, one carrot–were provided as desserts, along with the white chocolate/raspberry cheesecake made by Deborah Gortler.

La Jolla Stage Company president Cameron Campbell had to miss “The Big Bang”. He and his wife Nanette, had had a baby girl at 5 o’clock that morning–a reasonable excuse for his absence.

They named the baby Liselle Meneses.