‘Mikado’ Party Is Two-Part Tale of Two Cities

Parties in two parts are hot.

Last weekend, the Pacific Symphony showed party architects how to do it: arrange an elegant little cocktail reception before a concert, a scrumptious supper afterward.

The D’Oyly Carte Opera Company of London and the Center’s board of directors staged their own version on Tuesday night. Before the company’s North American premiere of “The Mikado” by Gilbert and Sullivan, the mayor of Birmingham (soon to be the home of the opera company) hosted an intimate bash in the Center Room.

Guests--including Henry and Renee Segerstrom, Jane and Peter Hemmings (of the Music Center in Los Angeles) and Sonia and Gordon Tindale (cultural attache at the British Embassy in Washington)--sipped bubbly and watched as two city mayors exchanged gifts.

Birmingham Mayor Bernard Zissman, weighed down with a 1838 gold “chain of office,” presented Costa Mesa Mayor Peter Buffa with a footed crystal bowl etched with his city’s coat of arms. (Gorgeous.)

Buffa blushed a little when he offered his tokens: a sterling silver key chain and a money clip engraved with the Costa Mesa logo. (So-so gorgeous.)

No matter. It was the premiere performance of “The Mikado” that had guests oohing and ahhing on Tuesday night. Center President Thomas Kendrick said the engagement was “two years in the making.”

“Getting an entire opera company here from London is no easy task,” he said. “It’s great to see the curtain go up.”

After the curtain went down, party-goers--including British Consul General Reg Holloway-- made a beeline for Birraporetti’s, site of the post-concert splash staged by the Center board. The Irish-American themed restaurant had been spruced up with clusters of red-white-and-blue balloons. Cardboard cutouts of the Union Jack dotted the walls.

“Aren’t these decorations gorgeous?” Henry Segerstrom said. Segerstrom and his wife, Renee, rarely attend post-theater bashes, preferring to kick up their heels in the pre-concert hours.

But the D’Oyly Carte engagement--a centerpiece of the Festival of Britain--brought them out. And they stayed late. “This is our first time seeing Gilbert and Sullivan,” Henry said. “But, I remembering hearing those wonderful songs when I was young.”

Renee was still glowing over receiving Princess Alexandra into her Balboa Peninsula home during the royal’s six-day stay in Orange County. “She was the most gracious guest,” said Renee, ultramodern in a black leather suit. “The princess loved Orange County. People were so nice to her.”

Social Scoop: Irvine heiress Joan Irvine Smith will bring along her ex-husband Gordon “Cappy” Smith when she is honored at a ceremony that kicks off UC Irvine’s 25th anniversary on Friday night. Smith, a UCI founder, championed the donation of 1,000 acres to build the university. Other founders receiving recognition at the on-campus affair are David Gardner, president of the University of California and Roy Brophy, chairman of the UC Board of Regents.

Silver Medallions: Seven Orange County women will receive silver medallion awards from the North Orange County YMCA today at the Disneyland Hotel. Being honored for achievement in the area of arts and culture is Catherine Michaels, executive director of the Children’s Museum of La Habra. Receiving an award in the area of professions is author and woman’s health consultant, Dr. Barbara Best North. Alma Elaine Rail will receive the education award for her work with Native Americans; Clarice Blamer will receive the public affairs nod for her work with the city of Brea; and Gloria Schlaepfer will receive the volunteer community service award. Cheryl Byrne--vice president and director of corporate planning for Bergen Brunswig--will be recognized with the business/corporate medallion. The judges’ special award will go to Dr. Aleen Agranowitz, founder of the Speech and Language Development Center in Buena Park.