BY SANDRA A. BERRY
The ladies’ social and networking organization created a Boho-inspired, mythical musical revue around an enchanting Gypsy theme for its 20th annual “Fabulous Follies” held March 21 at Rumbar, a large open-air night club facility owned by Moises and Georgina Sanchez located on Carranza street in Cabo San Lucas.
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Preparations for the production began six months in advance to create an illusion of a Gypsy Festival with music, entertainment, and food. Spirits were summoned for the magical night with hand-crafted invitations depicting colorfully decorated Gypsy wagons. Guests were encouraged to dress in Boho/Gypsy attire. Most complied with a mix of eclectic garb of bangles, beads and flowing skirts. Entering through a multi-colored eight-by-ten-foot curtain made out of rags created by Lyn Spicer, guests were greeted with Gypsy-style music by DJ Ruben Toscano and treated to a Gypsy camp with tables covered in multi-colored cloths, a mixture of whimsical colored and decorated bottles, some faded by the sun, and mini-bottles of Elixir Pills, in the form of chocolate candies as favors for guests to take home. Each place setting had a hand-fashioned, creative Playbill with the program details. The stage was wrapped in a black stage skirt with multi-hued fringe adorned with coins, and a backdrop banner with the words, Gypsy Soul. A hand-painted Gypsy wagon made of cardboard, designed and created by Donna Gray, stood off to one side of the stage complete with a door, window, steps, wheels, and decorative brik-a-brac. A fake fire pit and bales of hay fronted the stage apron, where a delightfully dressed, crafty-eyed fortune teller, Marilyn Plank, sat with a lighted crystal ball and promised good fortune to all with her tarot cards.
Los Cabos Tomatoes was formed in 1991 and has been active as a social and networking organization ever since. The idea of having a costume party came about in 2004. A different theme is selected each year such as African Safari, Carnival in Venice, and Arabian Nights, to name a few. As the years passed, the event evolved into an amateur musical theatrical production of songs with members performing lip-syncing, moving their lips silently in synchronization with a prerecorded soundtrack, with dancing as required in the performance. This year’s production was based on the song made popular by Cher, “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves” and was the opening number performed artfully by Cindy Thiessen.
Donna Gray, the MC for the show, dressed in a garish green plaid man’s suit complete with vest, introduced herself as Dr. Good, the seller of an elixir that would cure all that ails one. She belted out “Love Potion #9” with three lovely harem-dressed chorus girls, Connie Lenau, Monica Markeset and Joni Ross. The cop depicted in the song was performed by Donna Timmons, along with the fortune teller. A short skit, The Unfortunate Teller, performed by Marilyn Plank, had the audience laughing. In keeping with the theme, Julie Anderson, who has performed in every Follies since its inception, gave a rousing performance of “The Lady Is a Tramp” followed by a sensual dance by Noreen Steinke to the music of “Black Magic Woman”. Another Cher song, “Dark Lady”, was performed by Cindy Thiessen, dressed in black feathers. The first act ended with a seductive rendition of “Devil Woman” lip-synced by Wendy Knapp.
During the intermission, a Gypsy feast of culinary traditions of the Romany people created by Chef David Mendoza Romero was served buffet-style to 130 guests, while professional singer, Daline Jones sang live, “You Put a Spell on Me”. The menu consisted of Chicken Paprikash, Hungarian Beef Goulash, Rag Noodles, Pierogis with caramelized onions, peasant salad, and Hungarian Apple Strudel.
The second act started with lights out and backstage voices of the famous Cher and the late Raquel Welch, then eased into the number “I Am a Woman” enacted by Cindy Thiessen and Wendy Knapp, who were dressed in matching gowns and stiletto heels. Julie Anderson once again took to the stage dressed in a top hat, black sequined jacket, short shorts, and black net stockings, holding a cigarette holder (all signature attire of Marlene Dietrich) while lip-syncing the words to “Illusions”. A newcomer to the group this year was Linda Walker who rocked the stage with “Son of a Preacher Man”. Since Gypsies are known to have migrated from India many years ago, Noreen Steinke performed a Bollywood Hindi dance. A group of dancers all costumed alike followed by a dance number to Fleetwood Mac’s “Gypsy”. The dancers were Leslie Lampi, Cindy Dahl, Julie DeGraffenreid, Barbara Fridland, Joan MacPhail, Karen Wilkinson, and Christine Wood. The show ended with Donna Gray’s rendition of “I Am What I Am” with the entire cast taking a bow for the finale.
The production committee consisted of Julie Anderson, Sandra Berry, Production Coordinator, Donna Gray, Decorations Coordinator, Marilyn Plank, in charge of ticket sales, and Lyn Spicer, decorations. Catering services were supplied by Gabriel Valladares for tables, chairs, cutlery, and related food requirements.
Los Cabos Tomatoes has 600 members on the membership roster. Monthly luncheons are held at various Los Cabos restaurants. For information, contact loscabostomatoes@gmail.com.
