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IN `BATEAU DE MORT,' THE REAL MYSTERY WAS SEPARATING THE ACTORS FROM GUESTS
Oregonian, The (Portland, OR)
November 8, 1987
Author: BEVERLY BUTTERWORTH - of The Oregonian Staff
Estimated printed pages: 5


Murder, mystery and mirth rode the waves of the Willamette River Oct. 27, when 75 guests attended a black-tie party to open a six-night run of ``Bateau de Mort,'' or ``Revenge on the River'' aboard the stern-wheeler Columbia Gorge.

The Musical Company had asked playwright Charles Deemer to pen another mystery that would be a sequel to last year's ``Chateau de Mort'' or ``Murder at the Pittock Mansion.'' Like last year, action was simultaneous.

This year's play continued the same Brody family characters. Chairwoman Alyce Cheatham's invitation this year was to an on-board wedding of daughter Trudy Brody. To set the mood, prenuptial operatic music floated across the river while guests sipped champagne before dinner.

The evening was a dramatic charade. Figuring out who was a guest and who was an actor wasn't easy. However, even the least suspicious, had decided Alyson Osborn and Gaynor Sterchi must be actors when they boarded from a small boat during the cruise.

``The logistics were a nightmare,'' said Jutta Visnick, of the Music Company.

Robert Reed and Holly Wright, who attended last year's party at the Pittock, felt like seasoned spectators as they raced up and down the decks trying to keep up with the play. They were determined to find one who had ``dunit'' this time.

Guests along the way included Dr. Lendon and Julie Smith, Stefan and Edith Minde, Jack and Virginia Horner, Dick and Mabel Gearhart, Jim and Si Barron, Dorothea Lensch, Dorothy Westlund, Florence Findlay and Mitzi Ellis.

Everyone had a grand time. By the end of the run Oct. 31, the Musical Company had a short, terse message for the playwright: Do it again next year.

FREED AT 90: To celebrate Elise Freed's 90th birthday, children and grandchildren gave a cocktail-dinner gala Oct. 31 in the Crystal Room of the Westin Benson Hotel.

Elise sat with seven men, because, as daughter Henrietta Schlanger said, ``All her life, my mother has delighted in -- and, frankly, preferred -- the company of men.''

``I was married to the best of them -- Edgar Freed -- for 57 years,'' Elise was quick to add.

While other guests were served champagne and did little smoking, Elise did what she always does at parties: drank Scotch and chain-smoked.

A ``roast'' was part of the festivities and everyone wanted to get into the act. One child, four grandchildren, a son-in-law, a grandson-in-law and friends joined in the teasing and toasting. Four grandchilden couldn't make the party.

Guests included longtime friend Edna Holmes; Fred Edmunds, who developed the Elise Rose in her honor; and Strayker and Iris Carryer of Oakland, Calif., who were West Hills neighbors in the '60s.

Other guests jetted in from Billings, Mont.; Atlanta, Ga.; Daly City, Calif.; San Francisco and New York.

MARYLHURST COLLEGE: Members of Marylhurst Circle, major donors to Marylhurst College for Lifelong Learning, trustees and friends were honored by the college Oct. 27 at Portland Center for the Performing Arts.

Some 70 circle members, representing individual donors, charitable foundations and corporations, attended. College President Nancy Wilgenbusch and board chairman Robert Murray welcomed them. During the evening, guests enjoyed a catered buffet on the first balcony level while listening to Gershwin tunes played by pianist Sister Rosemary Antonich, a Marylhurst alumna who is a professional pianist and organist. DOERNBECHER CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: Amy Ryan, Caitlan O'Brien, Trista and Erika Hendron, one-time patients at Doernbecher Memorial Hospital for Children, charmed designer Victor Costa when they presented him with flowers following his fashion show at the Portland Hilton ballroom Oct. 29. Doernbecher was beneficiary of the show underwriteen by Nordstrom.

The girls weren't interested in champagne and and hors d'oeuvres served before the show, but they loved the clothes. They were not alone, judging from the murmurimgs about fashion afterwards. Alyce Cheatham served as chairwoman.

MOUNT HOOD MEDICAL CENTER: Friends of Mount Hood Medical Center turned historic Columbia River Gorge Hotel into a casino Oct. 23.

The evening opened with Columbia River salmon dinner. Then it was either the lure of the casino or dance music by The Love Handles that kept them moving.

This year Gwenda McCall and Dr. Gary Delorit planned the evening. Guests included Ross and Bertha Fanning, Larry and Leslie Walker, Mark Folger, Fred and Karen Eaton, Nick Welsh, Dr. Alan and Jane Fischer, Dr. Kenneth and Janoff, Dr. Ernest and Stephanie Talley, and Dr. Patrick and oria Dr. Glen Milligan and Barbara Welsh won big at the casino. (In real dollars, their winnings wouldn't have taken them out of the parking lot).

KBOO BALL: After the last train pulled out of Union Station about 5:30 p.m. Halloween night, Linda Shirley, started pulling things together for a 9 p.m. costume party, the KBOO Ball.

As special events director for KBOO 90.7FM, Portland's only listener supported community radio station, Linda was so rushed she never got in costume.

That made her a standout in the crowd of 1,500 creative talents dressed fit to kill. Those who made the best-dressed list at the sixth annual Halloween party included: Wayne and Jan Bingham as Moldy Oldies were best couple; Mark Friedman as the St. John's Landfill was funniest; Jim Olding as Economics 101 was best single.

MYSTERY WEEKEND: Twenty-two mystery buffs paid $219 each for a Murder Mystery Weekend at the Heathman Hotel Oct. 30-Nov. 1.

Hollywood actor Garrett Pearson, best known for his role as the reporter who constantly harassed Capt. Furillo on ``Hill Street Blues,'' played the detective. It was not an easy role, as only 20 percent of the script was written. The rest was impromptu.

The weekend included a seance and murder in the Symphony Room. ``Not your usual weekend at the Heathman,'' said Marian Massey.

THE FOUR HUNDRED: Art and Janet Riedel greeted 400 guests -- some from as far away as Philadelphia -- at a soiree at the Waverley Country Club Oct. 30. The lively party celebrated the Sept. 18 wedding of Art and the former Janet Coatney.

Guests included the bride's daughter, Lesley Milhem, Jim Riedel, the bridegroom's son, and his recent bride, the former Marjorie Scott.

It was a party for all ages. A dance band changed the beat often enough to get everyone on the dance floor.

DUNTHORPE AUXILIARY: Dr. Robert and Shirley Berselli, who regularly open their Dunthorpe home for charity functions, lent it to the Dunthorpe Auxiliary of the Oregon Symphony for its annual dinner Oct. 23.

Fun -- not fund-raising -- is emphasized at this neighborhood event, which Jane Hoffman-O'Brien and Norma Harper headed this year.

Jane's only concern was whether husband Jerry O'Brien would make it home from Minneapolis by dinner time, as he had had a luncheon date with former vice president Walter Mondale. He made it.

IKEBANA ARTISTS: In late October, the Nippon Cultural Academy celebrated the 50th anniversary of the arrival in Portland of Bishop Daiyu and Kuzuko Henjyoji, who introduced the Saga School of Ikebana flower arranging here.

For the anniversary celebration, Bishop Henjyoji came from Koyasan, Kuzuko came from Munich, Germany, where she had attended a Tri-Sister City festival with Sapporo and Munich.

The Ikebana exhibit was arranged by Eleanor Zurcher, Ruby Shiomi, Maxyne Davis, Alisa Bloodworth, Elsa Wasser, Claire Fulton and Zepherine Murphy.

Photos by ROSS HAMILTON of The Oregonian Staff. ALYCE and
JULIAN NORTH CHEATHAM - Bateau de Mort ROLV SCHILLIOS, DOROTHY WESTLUND -
STEFAN and EDITH MINDE - JUTTA VISNICK, RICHARD and MABEL GEARHART - JAN and
ROBERT MURRAY, SALLY BOLLINGER - Marylhurst College GAYLE VEBER, NANCY
WILGENBUSCH - SISTER ROSEMARY ANTONICH - IMELDA JOHN CONDON - G. WEB and
ELLA LEE ROSS - LISA STONE - WAYNE and JAN BINGHAM - KBOO Ball LINDA SHIRLEY,
SYLVIA DANIELSON - CAROL WOOD, DENISE HILDEBRANDT, DAWN PEARSON - MOTO, REED
DARMON, KELLY AGRIMSON - GEOFF and GAIL PARK, LINDA CAMPILLO - MARIA
SCHLANGER, KAYCE and LISA FREED - Freed at 90 HENRIETTA SCHLANGER, BOB and
JOAN CURTIS -
Edition: Fourth
Section: Living
Page: B02
Column: IN ONE EAR
Copyright (c) 1987 Oregonian Publishing Co.
Record Number: 8711060049

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