A night of Wonders

By Mark Shanahan & Paysha Rhone  |  March 27, 2009

Eugene Mirman and John Wesley Harding - a.k.a. Wes & Eugene's Cabinet of Wonders - performed their variety show at the Brattle Theatre last night. Celebs on the playbill included musician Tanya Donelly, singer-songwriter PT Walkley, writers Tom Perrotta and Rick Moody, poet David Daniel, and comedian Larry Murphy.

Dane Cook's half-brother was arraigned yesterday on charges of embezzling a bundle of dough from the wealthy wisecracker. Accused of stealing millions from Cook, Darryl McCauley is charged with eight counts of larceny over $250, forgery, and larceny by continuous scheme. If convicted on all charges, McCauley, who's 43, could serve up to 55 years in prison. For now, McCauley is being held at the Middlesex County Jail in Cambridge on $1 million bail. (Prosecutors wanted that upped to $3 million yesterday while McCauley's lawyer Robert Goldstein asked that it be reduced to $100,000.) Goldstein told us yesterday that his client continues to insist he's innocent, and characterized the case as "he said, she said." (Is Dane or Darryl the she?) The prosecutor claims that as Cook's bookkeeper, McCauley had a hand in keeping track of the comic's finances. Authorities allege McCauley transferred funds to his own accounts, and in one instance, forged a $3 million check. McCauley's scheduled to appear in Middlesex Superior Court again April 16. If he posts bail, he'll have to surrender his passport and stay in Massachusetts.

TMZ got its hot little hands on one of Tom Brady's and Gisele Bundchen's wedding invites and posted it online yesterday. The site was good enough to blur out the address, though the invite does show the ceremony will be held April 4 in Costa Rica. We're assuming the giant "TMZ" printed across the back was added by the site and not the couple, though we bet the online gossip publication would be only too happy to sponsor the bash (for exclusive photo rights, of course).

While Tom Brady continues to galavant around the globe - next stop: Costa Rica - his ex is living quietly in LA. The other night, actress Bridget Moynahan dropped by a fund-raiser for No Next, a nonprofit started by Holy Cross grad Justin Rubin dedicated to raising money for brain tumor research at Duke's Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center. Rubin, who lives in Santa Monica these days, lost a brother and sister to brain tumors. The evening, which raised $25,000, included a reception at Salute Wine Bar followed by a performance by Our Lady Peace founder Raine Maida and his wife, Chantal Kreviazuk. Other VIPs there included Santa Monica city councilor Bobby Shriver, Happy Madison Productions partner Doug Robinson, Joe's Jeans CEO Marc Crossman, and Steve Tompkins, producer of "Entourage" and "The Simpsons."

Stoughton private investigator Joe Moura (inset) will appear on "48 Hours Mystery" on CBS Saturday, digging into the strange 2003 death of Philip Shue in San Antonio. The 52-year-old Air Force colonel died in a car crash that was ruled a suicide, but the circumstances were highly unusual, Moura said. Shue's chest was gashed, his nipples were cut off, and duct tape was wrapped around his wrist and boots. His pinky finger had also been cut off, he said. "Clearly there was foul play in this case." Moura spent several weeks examining reports on the case and interviewing witnesses in San Antonio in January. He said it wasn't enough time to solve the mystery, but he feels he was able to cast doubt on the explanation presented by the local police and medical examiner. "There were questions about his life being threatened," he said. Moura, who owns National Investigation Bureau in Stoughton, is under contract with CBS to consult on the crime show, he said. He also helped investigate the high-profile kidnapping of Madeleine McCann in Portugal a few years ago.

Jamie Kennedy had to cancel his show at the Wilbur Theatre tonight - and at Hu Ke Lau in Chicopee tomorrow - after rushing to a Los Angeles hospital with kidney stones yesterday. We hear the comedian started to feel ill Tuesday in Mexico, where he was on vacation with "Ghost Whisperer" star Jennifer Love Hewitt. (The two were snapped flying into LA Wednesday evening, despite J. Love's best attempts to hide behind her gigantic Louis Vuitton purse.) Kennedy went to the hospital that night and had to return yesterday morning (accompanied by Love Hewitt) when he still wasn't feeling well. The actress was expected to accompany her beau to Boston, where he had a whole slew of radio interviews lined up before his stage show. No word on when he'll reschedule with the Wilbur.

On the eve of their game at TD Banknorth Garden, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and players Gerald Henderson, Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer, Greg Paulus, and several other members of the Blue Devils basketball team had dinner at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. . . . Villanova coach Jay Wright and his charges were given a proper pregame send-off at the Westin Boston Waterfront before last night's game. 'Nova cheerleaders, fans, and marching band were all there to wish the team well.

Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253.