Party raises funds for senior program

Last Sunday evening was like a large family get-together at Sisters Movie House. The community pulled together for a fund-raiser for this year's high school seniors.

In a long standing tradition, each year the community arranges a drug-and-alcohol-free party for the high school's graduating seniors. A packed theater and lobby Sunday night proved that the serious business of insuring a safe and successful graduation party can create a fun-filled event for the adults, as well.

This year's program was dinner and a movie.

"This year we were talking about it, and we thought it seems like it would be fun to do it at the movie theater," said Susan Bird, one of the organizers. "I was thinking movie. So, I was talking about it with Lisa Clausen at Depot Deli. We were talking about having 'Big Night;' it is a movie about these Italian brothers who have this big meal, and I thought we could do an Italian buffet to tie in with it."

In the kind of serendipity that only seems to happen in a small community, Dennis McGregor was at the next table at Depot Deli and said, "Are you showing 'Big Night?' I want to see it."

"So, Dennis volunteered the Blue D'Arts to play so he could see the movie," said Bird.

"Big Night" is a modern classic about two brothers who have emigrated from Italy to open an Italian restaurant in America. Primo is the irascible and gifted chef; he is brilliant in his culinary genius but determined not to squander his talent on making the routine dishes that customers expect. Secondo is the smooth front-man, trying to keep the restaurant financially afloat, despite few patrons other than a poor artist who pays with his paintings.

The owner of the nearby Pascal's restaurant, enormously successful despite its mediocre fare, offers a solution. He will call his friend, a big-time jazz musician, to play a special benefit at the brothers' restaurant. So Primo begins to prepare his masterpiece, a feast of a lifetime.

In an interesting twist where life imitates art, Ron Glanville, of Sisters Movie House and a master chef, prepared a feast based upon the cuisine of the film.

"The timpano is featured in the movie 'Big Night,' and the idea of this whole feast comes from it," he said.

"Timpano means drum in Italian, and this whole thing looks like a drum. You tap it, and it sounds like a drum. Inside of this are layers of pasta, egg, salami, tomato sauce, parmesan, mozzarella and provolone cheese all layered to make this dish. It is a very traditional feasting dish, specifically from the south (of Italy)," said Glanville.

"It all ties together. Dennis McGregor is going to play some music inspired by the film. It is just a fun evening for a fund- raiser," Glanville said.

The Blue D'Arts provided the entertainment and were also supporting Monica Offield, who is battling medical problems.

"We are playing the kind of music that is featured in this film. When Susan (Bird) said that she wanted to pass the hat for Monica, I said I wrote a song specifically for her, and we are going to play that," said McGregor.

"This is like a Sisters living room, I almost want to say. It is a place were people can gather and have fun. They can eat and be entertained. We really want it to be that sort of place," said Glanville.