OP_091417

26 | September 14, 2017 | The orland park prairie Life & Arts
opprairie.com
Orland Township auditions for October Senior Dating Game
Jason Maholy
Freelance Reporter
Cynthia is a “country
girl” who arrived in Chicago
when she was 22 years old
and not long after that got
married.
As she sat in a chair on a
podium, with a stage light
shining upon her and microphone
in hand, she described
herself to Orland Township
officials as a “friendly and
very generous” woman who
spends time sewing and socializing;
enjoys dining on
Italian and Chinese food;
and would like to meet a
man who is honest, sincere
and has character.
Cynthia, who is in her late
60s, has not dated in “quite
awhile,” but that could
change if she is one of several
women chosen to be a
contestant on Orland Township’s
Senior Dating Game.
The event, a take on the
classic television show,
scheduled to be held in front
of a live audience at 6 p.m.
Oct. 5 at Orland Chateau,
14500 S. LaGrange Road.
The evening is to feature allyou-can-eat
pizza, salad and
non-alcoholic beverages, as
well as a cash bar.
Orland Township Administrator
Mary Hastings said
the dating game is a way for
the Township to spice up its
efforts to provide social opportunities
for seniors. The
Township has for the past
five years offered speed dating,
which has been a huge
draw; however, women vastly
outnumber men at those
events, she said.
“So, we’re begging for
men,” she said. “We started
planning this six months
ago, just to get enough men,
and in the first two days [we
had enough women].”
The casting call through
which Cynthia and 20 other
women and at least two men
auditioned for the game was
held Aug. 29 at the Orland
Township Administration
Building. Orland Township
employees questioned candidates
about their interests
and rated them on appearance,
sense of humor, youthfulness
and sociability. The
panel of four women was to
choose enough contestants
to fill spots for at least three
and possibly four rounds for
the game. Each round is to
consist of one contestant and
three suitors.
Other candidates included
Angie, a 77-year-old improv
performer widowed
two years ago after 52 years
of marriage; and Donna, a
61-year-old divorcée from of
Tinley Park who acknowledged
some hesitancy about
stepping out of her comfort
zone and auditioning for the
show.
“I read about this in the paper
and I just thought, ‘Why
not,’” said Donna, who was
sitting in a room with the
other women while waiting
to audition. “I thought I’d
give it a shot. I don’t think
this is going to change my
life at all, I just thought it
would be something fun.
I don’t do online dating or
anything like that. So, this is
pretty unusual.”
Several of the women
waiting there have tried
speed dating, but none of
them had ever turned the introduction
into a date. Finding
a companion and friend,
or someone with whom to
laugh, spend time, have fun
and even travel were among
their reasons given for being
interested in the dating
game.
The consensus was there
is a man shortage — or at
least a shortage of men seeking
the same things they are.
“I think there are a lot
of bashful guys out there,”
said Carol, of Orland Park.
“I feel like men don’t reach
out like women, and that if
more men came out and tried
something like this they’d be
Donna, of Tinley Park, answers questions as she takes part in a casting call Aug. 29 for Orland Township’s Senior Dating
Game. Photos by Mary Compton/22nd Century Media
pleasantly surprised what
they’d find.”
One of the two men there
to audition was Corny, an
82-year-old Palos Heights
resident who enjoys dancing.
Corny has been a widower
for about one year and
is hopeful he can find some
companionship through the
dating game.
“The main thing for me
is getting out of the house,”
he said. “ I get sick of sitting
around there. Maybe I will
meet somebody I’m compatible
with, and we’d go to the
show and out to dinner; or,
maybe if it worked out, even
go on a cruise.”
Note: The last names of potential
Senior Dating Game candidates
have, at Orland Township
officials’ request, been withheld
from this story for the sake of
maintaining the integrity of the
contest.
Mary Hastings (left) and Susan Benson listen
to seniors who attended the casting call.
Marie Ryan interviews a senior for the
upcoming Orland Township Senior Dating
Game.