Windmill Dinner Theatre?s St. Patrick?s Day party a successful ?baptism of fire?

By Grace King, Mt. Pleasant News

A sea of green hats nodded along to the Irish tunes Friday night at the Veteran?s Hall as a St. Patrick?s Day celebration kicked off for the first ever dinner theatre at Mt. Pleasant?s Veteran?s Center.

The majority of guests were connected as congregants at First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant. As St. Patrick?s Day approached, church leaders thought about planning their own party, but that changed when Richard Shaffer invited them to the Windmill Dinner Theatre.

Of the 50 people present, ?At least four tables are Presbyterian people,? said Sarah Hegar, Director of Congregational Ministries at First Presbyterian Church. ?We?re a pretty social church.?

Dressed head to toe in green, Mary King sat at the door taking tickets and inviting people in. Like most people present, Mary has Irish blood in her lineage. Unlike most people, she still is in touch with family in Ireland, who she has visited several times.

Mary said her family in Ireland always does a good job showing her and her husband Dean King around the island when they visit. ?We?ve done so many things, but it?s always fun to go up to Blarney Castle and kiss the Blarney stone,? she said.

While other partygoers present haven?t had the fortune of seeing Ireland, they all claimed some roots there. ?There?s some Irish heritage, but it?s a long way back,? Dwayne Wiley said.

As the food was lined up on the buffet table, Shaffer took the stage and thanked everyone for being a part of the first Windmill Dinner Theatre. He reminded guests that the theatre and the Veteran?s Center is for everyone, a one-stop-shop in the heart of downtown.

?It?s so close you can drive in and crawl home,? Shaffer joked.

Shaffer said that someone doesn?t have to be a member of the armed service to use the renovated space, which is available for anyone to rent out every Thursday in addition to the monthly dinner theatres that will be hosted there.

?Why not bring the old machines out of the closet that have been there for 30 years since college and have a jam session?? Shaffer encouraged.

Before inviting guests to take all they can eat at the buffet of corned beef and cabbage, Brian Katchay sang Amazing Grace.

Sitting down to the meal, Beki Boyer said she usually cooks her own corned beef and cabbage in a crock pot for St. Patrick?s Day every year, but when she heard about the dinner theatre, she knew she and her husband Craig Boyer had to check it out.

?I love the theatre, and if you?re going to feed me that?s even better,? Beki said.

As the food disappeared, it was time for the self-proclaimed ?Windmill Theatre Band? to take the stage, with Katchay inviting everyone to sing along. ?You guys are the other half of the act. We just make the noise,? he said.

Katchay was joined on stage by vocalist Bob Becker, Dean King on keyboard and Jeff Olson on base guitar.

Shaffer said that the band only had three nights to practice together, but that ?these guys are pros? and pulled it together.

All four performers are used to getting on stage for different events around Mt. Pleasant. Dean said that in a small town like this, musicians get recycled.

Katchay is always honored to be asked to perform at events like this, saying that the opportunities always come their way without them seeking out ways to perform.

?It?s a joyful experience when it comes to you,? Katchay said. ?It?s the joy of doing it. You respond and share it together.?

Olson said that he enjoys performing for the community spirit of it. Friday, he was looking forward to audience participation, adding that people will loosen up if they feel comfortable enough with their table mates to do some singing.

Looking at the audience before getting on stage, he was encouraged that they would join in too. ?It?s a good group. Quite a variety of generations,? Olson said.

Even Rep. Dave Heaton (R-Mt. Pleasant) showed his support for the new dinner theatre. ?(I) came here for some good time and good food with good friends,? he said.

At another table, Adam McLaughlin was dressed in a green blazer and voicing his appreciation for the food. His children, Bobby and Ellie McLaughlin, who were born on St. Patrick?s Day, were enjoying the food and the entertainment just as much as the grown-ups and were excited about turning 3-years-old.

Tara Beauchamp, who also had her kids in tow, said it was nice that there was room for the kids to play and run and dance to the music in the back of the theatre. ?The food was good, and the kids enjoyed it,? she said.

As the night came to a close, Shaffer was hopeful about the future of the dinner theatre. Going into the evening with no expectations, he said 50 guests showed up and many people confirmed they were coming back every month.

?It was a baptism of fire,? Shaffer said, adding that he was hopeful this planted the seed for people to keep coming back.

Carrie Brown summarized the night best when she said, ?Everyone?s Irish on St. Patrick?s Day.?

The next Windmill Dinner Theatre will be Spring Fling in April. For questions or to rent out the hall, contact Dean King at 319-385-8521.