The wine was flowing and the bids were rising as the 2008 Vancouver Playhouse International Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction raised a record $559,500 for the Playhouse Theatre Company on Wednesday, February 27 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The auction portion of the evening raised $437,000 (compared to $334,000 last year). Additional activities such as sponsorships, cash donations, and a raffle for a trip for two to Italy accounted for the rest of the evening’s grand total.

Academy Award-winning actor and Old Vic Artistic Director Kevin Spacey encouraged guests to bid on the exceptional items available by satellite feed, regretting that he wasn’t there in person to have a shot at the 1982 Château Pétrus or case of 1982 Château Mouton Rothschild, both of which went for record amounts – $46,000 and $37,500 respectively. A Champagne Dinner for 10 at the Bearfoot Bistro also sparked fierce bidding, with owner André St. Jacques and Executive Chef Melissa Craig – recent winner of the Canadian Culinary Championship – in attendance to encourage guests to compete for their package, resulting in another record bid of $37,000.