On October 22nd, an audience of community members and friends of Rotary Santa Maria South arrived at the Addamo Estate Winery for a gourmet dinner and a little mystery. Dressed in 1920s attire representing characters they had selected from a list of famous "Roaring 20s" personalities, audience members wore costumes and accessories that hinted at who was in attendance. Guests included the likes of Cocoa Chanel, Geroge Gershwin, William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies, Mae West, Ernest Hemingway,  English Channel swimmer Gertrude Ederle, architect Frank Lloyd Wright, golfer Bobby Jones and others "invited" by the Conte Marcello de la Vino and the Contessa for a very special dinner party.

"Death in Tuscany", a murder mystery fundraiser written and directed by SM Rotary South club member Diane Balay, was performed by a cast of Rotary Santa Maria South club members and friends who played either estate owners, staff or other guests invited to the dinner party:  Conte Marcello de la Vino - Bob McIntire; Contessa Elena de la Vino - Jane Kokkinakis; Anna Freud - Nancy Amidon; Her Royal Highness Anastasia of Russia - Victoria Conner; Lord Sherringham ("Sherry") - Bob Ogden; Lady Sherringham - Georgia Shore; Nurse Maude - Pat Haley; The Honorable Harriet Markham - Libby Kelly; Chef Francois Vichysoisse - Ryan Miller; Chef Bice - Liz Addamo; Merriweather the Butler - David Bixby; Inspector Antonio Addagio - Robert Burns; International Detective Reginald North, and Hollywood star Vanessa Summers - Roxanne Ventriglia. Sound was handled by Davd Genge, lighting by Ken Parker, with the assistance of Giovanni Addamo. Diane Parker held book and Peter and Audrey Garcia assisted the director.

Special thanks to Liz and David Addamo for the use of their estate for the fundraiser! Liz is also much appreciated by the cast for feeding the perfomers every night for the week of rehearsals!

Kudo to Diane Balay, whose creativity and directing made the play such a pleasure to perform and to watch, and to Fundraising Chair Georgia Shore, who came up with the idea of the club doing another murder mystery similar to one done a few years ago as a fundraiser. A huge thank-you to Jane Kokkinakis for managing not only the reservations, but also for coordinating the names (and sometimes suggesting costumes!) fo attendees coming as famous 1920s personalities.

Much appreciation to the sound and lighting crew mentioned above, as well as the terrific actors (Roxanne Ventriglia, Nancy Amidon, Ryan Miller and Robert Burns) who, though not currently Rotarians, donated their time and talent to put on a great show and raise dollars for good causes!

Rotary Santa Maria South is proud to say that its fundraising goal for the event was achieved, and a good time was had by all!Image

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