Valentine’s Day Play & Dinner

Over the Tavern – Pheasant Run Resort

By Ken Bounds

 We had a great turnout of 27 V-8ers at our Valentine’s Day celebration at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles.  Joey Novak put together a relaxing afternoon of a play and dinner – it was a great treat for everyone’s Valentine.  This year, instead of the after-play buffet, we decided to try a meal served in the elegance of the resort’s most formal restaurant, Harvest.  It was a great decision! 

The festivities began around 1:00 p.m. on a sunny Sunday afternoon as our group gathered for cocktails.  We then proceeded to the Mainstage Theatre, where there are no bad seats, for a delightful presentation of the play Over the Tavern.  From the Playbill:

It's 1959 in Buffalo, New York - Elvis, drive-ins, and The Honeymooners made life fun and simple. Not for the Pazinski household though! Polish-Catholics Chet and Ellen live above their tavern with their four teenagers, each questioning family values in their own mischievous ways. And when wise-cracking 12-year-old Rudy questions the Roman Catholic Church to ruler-cracking Sister Clarissa before his confirmation, the outcome is a hilarious yet touching comedy that would even make the Cleavers at a loss for good advice!

The acting was superb and there were plenty of laughs.  But the play also had serious undertones, dealing with teenagers coming of age, challenging religious beliefs, raising and living with an autistic child, and family tensions generated from an overworked breadwinner.  Everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy the performance.  

After the play we returned to the adjacent Harvest Restaurant for a delicious gourmet meal.  The attentive staff served a tasty salad followed by the entrée choice of Horseradish Crusted Salmon, Buttermilk Seared Chicken Breast, Peppercorn Crusted Tournedos of Beef, or Penne Pasta & Roasted Vegetables.   

Those who had left a little room followed up with a dessert choice of Cappuccino Cheesecake with Fresh Berry Garnish or Flourless Chocolate Torte topped with White Chocolate Crème & Fresh Berries. 

After dinner there was plenty of time for sharing V-8 fellowship before everyone made their way home.  Enjoying this terrific outing were our host Joey Novak, Ken & Carolyn Bounds, Tom & Judy Buscaglia, George & Betty Cech, Joe & Marie Dispensa, Lloyd & Gladys Duzell, Ed & Roni Fontana, Earl & Gene Heintz, Joe & Nell Kozmic, Paul & Joanne Linzer, Jack & Jean Nikolich, Dan & Diane Pudelek, Joe & Delice Serritella, and John & Barbara Slobodnik.  Our thanks go out to Joey Novak for making all the arrangements for this event and for staying in touch with the Pheasant Run staff to ensure everything went smoothly.