Preservation Society's "Midsummer Night's Dream" was…Just That

Duncan & Barbara Chapman, Kate Hamilton, Mary van Pelt

& David Lowe

In the far pavilions of The Elms, Edward Julius Berwind's magnificent Newport, RI mansion, the elegantly-dressed patrons moved among living statues, garden elements, and waiters, and visited a fortune teller situated within who told them tales of their futures.

This was the beginning of a true "Midsummer Night's Dream", the Preservation Society of Newport County's lovely summer dinner dance, held in a gigantic tent on the mansion's spacious grounds.

Rather outrageous tent decorations

The Elms itself is the stuff of dreams: built in 1901 by the Pennsylvania coal magnate (whose great great nephew James Berwind attended the event,) its beautifully articulated, detailed spaces lend themselves it to formal parties, chamber music concerts, and soirées. This evening was a benefit for the restoration of the Elms Carriage House and The Elms' stables, to create a research center and residence for scholars of Newport's architectural and cultural history. And Newport's very social and philanthropic set was in attendance, as well as some fascinating New Yorkers who favor Newport: James Coleman, John R. Drexel IV, Alexandra Schlesinger, designer Mary McFadden, Victoria Leiter Miele, Nora Cushing, Maureen Donnell, Dorrance Hamilton, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, fashion's Kim Renk and Camilla Bradley, Captain Nicholas and Diane Brown. The New York Times' Bill Cunningham moved adroitly about in the grass, shooting images.

Inside the tent, the the centerpieces were outrageously large, the décor striking, and Bob Hardwick's orchestra played uptempo tunes. It was dancing out loud, and several couples showed off their wonderful ballroom technique. Noreen Drexel's table was distinguished, and Newport Seen caught up with the Preservation Society's Trudy Coxe, who gave a welcoming statement, and Donald O. Ross.

John & Jae French

The only odd element was the logistics of arrival and departure: guests were ferried by bus from the grounds of Chateau-sur-Mer, as there was no valet parking, and only certain guests were allowed to park on the Elms grounds. Fortunately, the incipient rain held off until just a few minutes after the last guest had departed the elegant event.

Co-Chairs for the evening were Mrs. Duncan A. (Barbara) Chapman, Ms. Pamela L. Fielder, Mrs. Michael S. (Kate) Hamilton, Mrs. Archbold D. (Helene) Van Beuren, Mrs. Alexander (Nancy) von Auersperg, and Mrs. Sheldon (Sandra)Whitehouse.

-- L.P.