Cecile B. DeMille couldn’t have topped Laurie Harrison’s production for the Dallas Children Theater 35th anniversary fundraiser at her Volk Estate on Thursday, April 26. Sure, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton may have made scandalous headlines with their “Cleopatra” shenanigans back in the 1960s, but they didn’t have three-year-old Humperdinks lounging on the lawn making moon eyes with all guests. As husband Bob Schlegel snapped a couple of cellphotos of wife Myrna Schlegel with Humperdink, the camel almost seemed like his heart had been won. But soon the Schlegels were on their way into Laurie’s home and Humperdink sought comfort in the adoration of other arrivals … and there 300 of those… and the green grass of the lawn.
Speaking of arrivals, all comers — new and old — were suspect this wasn’t going your typical old Tut affair as they were greeted by chief valets in pharaoh headdress instead of their typical sponsor caps and a photo opp with a pharaoh and his posse.
As guests entered the home through a faux stone Egyptian entry, they were dazzled by hostess Laurie who was channeling Isis in a swath of glittery beading and headdress.
But within two seconds Laurie’s greeting, she was a typical mom talking about daughter Bailey Harrison’s new line of fashions and Hassie Harrison‘s acting career.
Another getting into the head-to-toe look of the night were Jimmy Wynne and Peggy Brignon. Husband Guy Brignon opted for the suited look.
In the living room Laurie’s mom, Caroline Rose Hunt, was settled tableside with Barbara Womble. Upon hearing about the ball python in the garden, Barbara dashed off to see if the rumor was true. And it was.
According to Daryl Sprout, the snake named “Right” was like a calm puppy dog. Why Daryl even slightly bumped Right on the nose to show that he was far from aggressive. While Myrna shied away and headed to the rest of the grounds, Al Harding didn’t hesitate to have Right wrap around his neck bonding like a necklace. DCT’s Founder/Executive Director Robyn Flatt looked downright thrilled upon hearing there was such a snake in attendance and made a bee line to compare her gold snake necklace with bowtied husband Will Tarver in tow.
Daryl got his start with snakes when he was seven year old. It was on a trip to his great grandmother’s home in Mississippi that he discovered a little speckled king snake in her backyard. “He was so gentle that when I put my hand in front of him, he crawled up into my hand. When I picked up my hand, he wrapped around my finger. And a few minutes later, he wrapped around my heart. But two hours later I killed him.” It was an accident. It seems that Daryl put the snake in a jar with holes in the top and put him/her in the car before heading home. Unfortunately, Daryl didn’t realize that the summer heat would destroy their relationship. As Daryl put it, “I’ve been spending the rest of my life trying to make up to that snake for what I did.” He now has 14 snakes… “and that may explain why I have no girlfriends.”
But back to the festivities. In the pool was an Egyptian boat that Ramses would have envied for cruising along the Nile. And speaking of the Nile, Keith Deaver lounged poolside and recalled his trip down the Nile with Laurie “about 15 to 20 years years ago.” As for his elegant black robe with gold and green embroidery, he admitted that he couldn’t fit in the things that he purchased on the trip but luckily the late Shannon Murchison had left the robe that fit perfectly with the evening’s theme.
Across the way was Patty Lowdon, who reported that she got her gold headdress years ago when she went to Burning Man. Digging through her attic, she rediscovered it. Where did she purchase it? “I might have gotten it on that place on Lower Greenville where all the hookers go and they have those mesh tights and costumes.” She added, It’s great because I don’t have to mess with my hair.”
For more pictures from the night of the costumed types, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.