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Throwing a “Dinner for One” party on New Year’s Eve is a super cool idea! It’s a fun way to celebrate, and I’ll break down how simple it is to make happen. Let’s get into the details!
The awesome thing about a “Dinner for One” party is you won’t need much shopping for party stuff. The menu’s simple and yummy. Plus, if you pick a cool costume, like the classic Gatsby style, you might just wear it again later!
You can pick a cool way to dress, like how people dressed back in the 1920s when “Dinner for One” was first written by a British author, Lauri Wylie. That said, the famous funny show we see on TV was filmed in 1963. It could be a really cool way to dress up too!
By the way, “Dinner for One” features British comedians Freddie Frinton and May Warden and was recorded in a single take in 1963 by German television station Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR).
As far as the dress code goes, my favorite is the 1920s fashion, less formal but classy and super stylish! It works like a charm with the festive New Year’s Eve vibe!
Imagine recreating the classic scenes, from the elaborate dinner setup to the humorous mishaps. It’s a unique and amusing way to ring in the new year with a touch of retro fun!
Print copies of the script well ahead of the party. Show the ten-minute film to set the mood and get everyone excited! After that, do lucky draws to decide who gets to be James and who plays Miss Sophie. It’s a fun way to dive into the story and act it out together!
“Dinner for One” starts with a large table in the dining salon, set for five people. At the back to the right, is a staircase, and on the opposite side, a serving bar. Between the table and the serving bar is a tiger rug, complete with its head, like the ultimate trophy rug from an African hunting trip. The conversation starts when Miss Sophie comes down the stairs and is greeted by her butler, James.
James: Good evening, Miss Sophie, good evening.
Miss Sophie: Good evening, James.
James: You are looking very well this evening, Miss Sophie.
Miss Sophie: Well, I am feeling very much better, thank you, James.
James: Good, good…
Miss Sophie: Well, I must say that everything looks nice.
James: Thank you very much, Miss Sophie, thank you.
Miss Sophie: Is everybody here?
James: Indeed, they are, yeah. Yes… They are all here for your anniversary, Miss Sophie.
Miss Sophie: All five places are laid out?
James: All laid out as usual.
Miss Sophie: Sir Toby?
James: Sir Toby, yes, he’s sitting here this year, Miss Sophie.
(The fun starts here because the guests are invisible; none of them are there in person! They’ve long gone passed on.)
Miss Sophie: Admiral von Schneider?
James: Admiral von Schneider is sitting here, Miss Sophie.
Miss Sophie: Mr. Pommeroy?
James: Mr. Pommeroy I put round here for you.
Miss Sophie: And my very dear friend, Mr. Winterbottom?
James: On your right, as you requested, Miss Sophie!
Miss Sophie: Thank you, James. You may now serve the soup.
James: The soup, thank you very much, Miss Sophie, thank you. They are all waiting for you. Little drop of mulligatawny soup, Miss Sophie?
Miss Sophie: I am particularly fond of mulligatawny soup, James.
James: Yes, I know you are.
Mulligatawny soup is a flavorful, spiced soup that originates from the Indian subcontinent. Its name is derived from the Tamil words “millagu” (pepper) and “tanni” (water), reflecting its spicy and watery consistency.
Miss Sophie: I think we’ll have sherry with the soup.
James: Sherry with the soup, yes… Oh, by the way, the same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?
Miss Sophie: Same procedure as every year, James. Is that a dry sherry, James?
James: Yes, a very dry sherry, Miss Sophie… very dry. Straight out of the cellar, this morning, Miss Sophie.
James moves around the table, pouring sherry for each guest. Walking to the serving bar, he carries the sherry bottle but stumbles over the tiger rug’s head. Placing the bottle down, he returns to the table, standing behind Sir Toby’s chair. With a lifted glass, he toasts towards Miss Sophie, who mirrors the gesture with her glass in hand.
Miss Sophie: Sir Toby!
James: Cheerio, Miss Sophie!
And now James stands in for Sir Toby, and takes a drink on his behalf.
Miss Sophie: Admiral von Schneider!
James: Ad… Must I say it this year, Miss Sophie?
Miss Sophie: Just to please me, James.
James: Just to please you. Very good, yes, yes… Skol!
After taking a sip on behalf of Admiral von Schneider, James cheerfully exclaims, “Skol!” and attempts to click his heels, but winces in pain.
Miss Sophie: Mr. Pommeroy!
James: (in a falsetto voice and this time acting as Mr. Pommeroy) Happy New Year, Sophie!
James swiftly finishes the entire glass meant for Mr. Pommeroy.
Miss Sophie: And dear Mr. Winterbottom!
James: (in a deep voice emulating Mr. Winterbottom) Well, here we are again, old lovely…
Miss Sophie: You may now serve the fish.
James: Fish. Very good, Miss Sophie. Did you enjoy the soup?
Miss Sophie: Delicious, James.
James: Thank you, Miss Sophie, glad you enjoyed it.
Hobbling to the serving bar, James stumbles over the tiger’s head again. He then carries the fish over to Miss Sophie.
James: Little bit of North Sea haddock, Miss Sophie.
Ingredients:
This recipe keeps the flavors simple, allowing the natural taste of the haddock to shine through. Adjust the seasoning or add herbs according to your preference. Enjoy your North Sea-inspired haddock!
Miss Sophie: I think we’ll have white wine with the fish.
James: White wine with the fish? The same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?
Miss Sophie: The same procedure as every year, James!
James: Yea!
James walks to get the white wine but trips over the tiger’s head again. He pours wine for everyone, pretending to talk to Sir Toby and adding more wine for him. Carrying the bottle back, he doesn’t trip over the tiger’s head this time, making the audience laugh. But as he goes back to the table, he trips over the tiger’s head once more!
Miss Sophie: Sir Toby!
James: Cheerio, Miss Sophie, me gal.
And so James once again stands in for each invisible guest and graciously, although it is getting more difficult by the minute, makes toasts on behalf of the guest, recognizing Miss Sophie as the guest of honor.
Miss Sophie: Admiral von Schneider!
James: Oh, must I, Miss Sophie?
Miss Sophie: James, please!
James: Skol!
James tries to click his heels together once more but winces in pain again.
Miss Sophie: Mr. Pommeroy!
James: Happy New Year, Sophie gal!
Miss Sophie: Mr. Winterbottom!
James: You look younger than ever, love! By gum, you look younger than ever, luv, younger than ever! Ha, ha, ha…
Miss Sophie: Please serve the chicken!
James: Ya…
James clumsily heads to the serving bar, stumbling over the tiger’s head again. He brings the chicken to Miss Sophie, wobbling as he goes.
Miss Sophie: That looks like a very fine bird!
James: That’s a lovely chu… chuk… chicken, that I’ll tell you, a lovely…
Ingredients:
This easy roasted chicken recipe delivers a deliciously juicy and flavorful bird. Serve it with your choice of sides, such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a fresh salad for a satisfying meal.
Miss Sophie: I think we’ll have champagne with the bird!
James: Champagne, ya… Same, same prosheeed-ure as last year, Miss Sophie?
Miss Sophie: The same procedure as every year, James!
The short trip to the serving bar gets more difficult by the minute as James again stumbles over the tiger’s head. And he starts pouring the champagne…
James: Sophie, me gal…
Miss Sophie: Admiral von Schneider!
James: Must I, Miss Sophie?
Miss Sophie: James!
James: Schkol!
It’s becoming more difficult to be Admiral von Schneider because this time James attempts to click his heels but misses, causing him to dance around for a moment.
Miss Sophie: Mr. Pommeroy!
James: Happy New Year, Sophie, gal…
Miss Sophie: Mr. Winterbottom!
James: It’s one of the nicest little women… hic… one of the nicest little women, that’s ever breathed, that’s ever breathed… I now declare this bazaar opened! So forth…
James burps loudly and grabs Miss Sophie’s chair, almost tipping her backward. He tries to take her plate of chicken to the bar but stumbles over the tiger’s head, causing the plate to fly up in the air.
James: Would you like some fruit?
Always the devoted butler, James rushes over to Miss Sophie with a fruit plate, zooming past her and halfway up the stairs before hurrying back down to her side.
Mix It Up: Use a variety of colorful fruits—like berries, oranges, melons, grapes, and kiwi—for a pretty and tasty mix.
Freshness Matters: Pick ripe and fresh fruits. Clean them well and dry them before putting them on the platter.
Make It Look Good: Arrange the fruits neatly. You can slice or cut them into easy-to-eat pieces. Think about how they look together.
Mix Sweet and Tangy: Include both sweet and tangy fruits for a good balance. Also, mix different colors and textures to make it more interesting.
Add a Touch: Make it look fancy with a little mint leaf, sprinkle some sugar on top, or drizzle honey to make it extra tasty.
Keep It Cool: Most fruits taste better a bit cold, so chill them before serving. But some tropical fruits are better at room temperature.
Serve Fresh: Make the platter just before serving to keep it fresh. If you must make it earlier, cover and keep it in the fridge.
Have a Sauce: Offer something to dip the fruit in, like yogurt, honey, or a fruity sauce, to make it more exciting.
Use a Nice Plate: Use a good-looking plate or platter to make the fruit look even better.
Easy to Grab: Provide small tongs or toothpicks so guests can easily pick up the fruits.
Miss Sophie: I think we’ll have port with the fruit!
James: Oh, no! Sa… same procedure, sa… same procedure as last…
Miss Sophie: Yes, the same procedure as every year, James!
James fetches the bottle of port and shakily heads back to the table. Pouring the port becomes a challenge, spilling it everywhere as he tries to serve Miss Sophie and her guests. Finally, he takes a swig from the bottle, hopping over the tiger’s head. He then unsteadily returns to the table.
Miss Sophie: Sir Toby!
James: Sugar in the morning, sugar…
Miss Sophie: Admiral von Schneider!
James: Schkol!
Miss Sophie: Mr. Pommeroy!
James: (Spills glass) I’m sorry, Madam, sorry. (He quickly scoops the spilled port off the tablecloth into his glass and takes a sip.)
Miss Sophie: Mr. Winterbottom!
He mistakenly picks up a flower vase, removes the flowers, and takes a drink from the vase.
James: Huuhh, I’ll kill that cat!
Miss Sophie: Well, James, it’s been a wonderful party!
James: Well, it’s been most enjoyable.
Miss Sophie: And I, I think I’ll retire.
James: You’re going to bed? Sit down, I’ll give you a hand up, Madam.
James walks with Miss Sophie to the bottom of the stairs.
Miss Sophie: As I was saying, I think I’ll retire.
James: Ya… ya, ya. By the way, the same procedure as last year, Miss Sophie?
Miss Sophie: The same procedure as every year James!
James: Well, I’ll do my very best!
James and Miss Sophie go up the stairs, disappearing from view as it is the end of the movie.
Get ready to ring in the New Year in style with a “Dinner for One” themed party! With easy-to-find party accessories, a delicious yet simple menu, and the chance to dress up in timeless fashion, it’s a celebration that promises laughter, great memories, and a touch of vintage glam. So, gather your friends, enjoy the festivities, and toast to a fantastic year ahead! Cheers to an unforgettable evening filled with fun and nostalgia.
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