FIRST OFF . . .

A “Summer Sorcery” benefit scheduled for Monday by the Laguna Playhouse has been called off in the face of charges by a local minister that the event would be an occasion “to mix alcohol and the practice of the occult.” Invitations to the fund-raiser promised a “Magical Evening Under the Stars” that would include “Divine Dancing, Enchanting Edibles, Decadent Desserts, Liberal Libation . . . Prediction and Prognostications by Professional Astrologers, Palmists, Crystal Gazers, Numerologists, Psychics, Clairvoyants.” But the theme didn’t set well with the Rev. Jerry Tankersley of Laguna Presbyterian Church, who sent a flyer to his congregation saying that although “it may well be that this gathering of occult professionals is nothing but entertainment, I am concerned about a major cultural institution of our city becoming identified with those who are representatives and voices of spiritual powers that at times have proven to be destructive of human life.” The Playhouse is in the midst of a campaign to raise funds for its expansion into the 17,000-square-foot General Telephone building in downtown Laguna Beach. In 1988, both the Playhouse and the church voiced interest in moving into the building. Tankersley said his letter had no connection with competition with the Playhouse for the building, and urged his congregants in the letter to “continue to support the Playhouse . . . but let it be known that this program is inappropriate for our city.”