Black And White Dinner Sparkles Despite A Damp Start In Newtown

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — It was a rainy start to Saturday night’s Black and White Dinner but luckily the rain didn’t stick around.

As light jazz music filled the air, guests sat down to dinner at two rows of tables that stretched up and down North State Street. After dinner, they socialized, enjoyed black and white-themed frozen water ice, lit sparklers, and then went inside the historic theatre to watch the movie, “His Girl Friday.”

“We sold 778 tickets and even with the rain we had more than 350 people show up,” said Andy Smith, the executive director of the Newtown Theatre which has staged the fundraiser for the past seven years. “Since the rain stopped it has been great.”

The tables stretched down North State Street.

This year’s proceeds will go toward phase two renovations at the theatre, including refurbishment of the balcony and the basement restrooms. That work is scheduled to take place next summer.

Among those who braved the earlier rain was Linda Brown and seven of her friends. They were there to support the theatre and to help celebrate Brown’s 75th birthday, which is coming up on Wednesday.

“We never thought it was going to go off,” said Brown, who had contingency plans in place if the rain had continued. “I’m glad it ended up stopping. It’s so nice to be with friends and the whole community.”

Among those who braved the earlier rain was Linda Brown and seven of her friends. They were there to support the theatre and to help celebrate Brown’s 75th birthday, which is coming up on Wednesday.

To add a touch of fun to the special evening out, Brown made black and white wrist corsages for each of the ladies and shared black and white nail extenders.

“I’m a proud supporter of the arts and the Newtown Theatre,” said Brown, a resident of Newtown Grant who taught in the Bensalem Public Schools for 38 years before retiring.

Seated nearby were Melvin, Marlene, and Kat Benson who were experiencing their first Black and White dinner in Newtown.

“We love the old black and white movies and ‘His Girl Friday’ happens to be one of our favorites,” said Marlene, who grew up on nearby Sterling Street and now lives in Southampton. “It’s a fun movie. It’s fast-paced. They really work off each other in the film.”

The 1940s movie starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell centers on a newspaper editor named Walter Burns who is about to lose his ace reporter and ex-wife, Hildy Johnson, newly engaged to another man.

Enjoying the Black and White dinner. (Photos by Jeff Werner)

To add to the experience, they brought a few movie props, including cigarettes “because they smoke all over the place” in the movie; a candlestick telephone; and a bottle of “Director’s Cut” wine.

“It’s wonderful that some of these private, historic theaters have special nights to show these classics,” said Melvin. “It’s also fun to dress up. And our props tonight are right out of the movie."

“I like the way they are making it more of an experience when you go to the theatre instead of just showing the movie,” adds Marlene.

Tim Andrews, who lives down the street from the theatre, brought 23 friends with him to the dinner, including some from town and some from out of town.

“We had a great dinner and a great time. We’re going to have a couple more drinks, enjoy some more dessert and have an awesome rest of the evening,” he said.

Calling the theatre “a jewel,” he said it “makes Newtown what it is.

"It fits in perfectly - the size of the theatre, the programming and the way that it’s managed. It’s an incredible asset to the community," said Andrews. "I’m really excited about their capital campaign to raise $600,000 to finish the balcony and to redo the restrooms downstairs. It’s a remarkable place for everyone in town.”