It takes more than a quick sentence to summarize the messages and nuances in “Ruined,” Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play that’s set in a complex civil war raging in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. So let’s just say that it has a spellbinding effect on all who see it, including members of the Denver chapter of the Links Inc.
At intermission — and again after the final curtain at the Ricketson Theatre in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts — words like “powerful” and “amazing” popped up in almost every conversation.
Member Tina Walls (her sister, Denver Realtor Carlotta LaNier, is one of the Little Rock Nine) is one of the production’s producing partners, and she was there for the evening that began with cocktails, a bite to eat and remarks by director Seret Scott in the theater lobby.
Kaarin Pigford organized this benefit for chapter philanthropies and with president Rhetta Shead welcomed a crowd that also included Wiley Daniel, chief judge of the U.S. District Court, and his wife, Ida; Denver’s former first lady, Wilma Webb; MaryAnn Franklin, president of the chapter’s White Rose Foundation; chapter vice president Christy Calvin; Arnold and Myrtle Roane; Wanda Pate Jones; Eula and Janet Adams; Glenda Barry; Beryl Phillips; and Pigford’s parents, Carl and Jane Pigford.
Coming right up.
On Tuesday, from 6-9 p.m., Tammi DeVille will be at Fluid Coffee Bar, 510 E. 19th Ave., to sign copies of her book about volunteerism, “Changing the World on a Tuesday Night.” She’s also donating $4 from each $24.95 sale to the nonprofit of the buyer’s choice: the Women’s Bean Project, SAME Cafe, Families First, Make-a-Wish or Art from Ashes. . . . Jim Garcia, one of the founders of Clinica Tepeyac, is now its executive director and on April 1 he will be meeting with board members, donors and others at a reception that runs from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Herschner Room at Wells Fargo Bank, 1750 Lincoln St. Those wishing to attend can RSVP to sreed@clinicatepeyac.org… . . The Cancer League of Colorado is having a ski day at Loveland on April 2; the $70 fee, payable at the door, includes a barbecue lunch and an apres-ski bash. . . . Vocalist Lori Rathbun, who lived at the Tennyson Center when she was 10 years old, will entertain at L’Amore di Vino, an April 4 wine and food tasting at Morton’s in Lower Downtown. Proceeds from the $150-a-ticket event go to Tennyson Center for its work on behalf of abused and neglected children. Register at . . . . Winners of the Denver Lyric Opera Guild’s 2011 Competition for Singers will perform at the DLOG’s next Opera on Tuesday luncheon. It’s at 11:30 a.m. April 5 at Pinehurst Country Club and the $35 tickets are available through member Dolores Bronowski of Lakewood.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
