#robert 'silk' mason

[rabnerd28]

The fact that PAC NYC recorded the Tuggoffelees kiss and posted it, but blurred it and placed a pic in front of it is hilarious to me.

via

[per-the-jellicle-magician]

Fragment of "Mr M" from Cats: the Jellicle Ball aka Cats PAC NYC

Robert “Silk” Mason as Mistoffelees, Sydney James Harcourt as Rum Tum Tugger, André De Shields as Old Deuteronomy and Antwayn Hopper as Macavity

x

[pinksilvace]

! PAC NYC CATS SPOILERS !

What I remember from the show, feat. some official photos

This is all going off of my note-less memories so there may be some minor inaccuracies to these recollections.

Welcoming Remarks/Overture

The crowd was welcomed by the voice of Junior LaBeija, who encouraged us to google him before shutting our phones down.

We were encouraged to make noise at any and all parts of the performance

Filming, even during bows, was strictly prohibited

This show is LOUD. I wore ear plugs the entire time, and I don't consider myself to be particularly sensitive to noise. It makes sense, considering that the audience is meant to yell and the music has to be heard over them.

The theater space itself was relatively small. All seats were good seats.

Mr. Mistoffelees (Robert "Silk" Mason) could be seen dancing through the window set pieces above the back of the stage.

Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats

(clip)

The cast began all around the theater, with spotlights illuminating them as they began to sing. They did not mount the stage until the "Mystical Divinity" portion of the song.

The crowd went WILD at the part that has had its choreography revealed already.

The Naming of Cats

The "Man over there" bit was done by Antwayn Hopper (Macavity). In general, he seemed to be having an absolute blast throughout the show.

During the parts where cats sharing the names in the poem were mentioned, spotlights illuminated them.

Munkustrap led this number and was the only one onstage for the duration of it.

The White Cat Solo

(clip)

Compared to how this is presented in replica productions, the dance moves were very fast.

I am uncertain as to whether this part was meant to characterize Victoria, or if it was just a great chance for BABY (Victoria) to show off her incredible dancing skills.

The Old Gumbie Cat

Jennyanydots (Xavier Reyes) began the number by pulling out a trophy, showing she'd won at balls in the past

During the day, it was implied (I think?) that Jennyanydots has lots of sex. Whether it's sex work, a sugar daddy situation, etc. was unclear. What I can say is that she did lots of bouncing - on other actors, on the edge of the stage, and on a chair.

At night, Jennyanydots is a very harried single Latina mother trying to keep her kids out of trouble.

Instead of Jenny competing in a category herself, Cassandra (Emma Sofia)(implied to be one of Jenny's children, either literally or metaphorically) competed while Jenny directed her choreography from the sidelines.

The Rum Tum Tugger

VERY laid back. This is definitely Jason Derulo's version of Tugger, but done so incredibly right. He was honestly a bit too effortless for how easily he won categories.

It's not shown in this photo, but he wore a gold and black striped fur coat throughout most of the show, sort of like Munkustrap's grey and black one (shown above, with Jenny)

There wasn't very much choreography in this number, save for a bit at the very end where he was facing off "Pretty Boy vs. Thug"

Grizabella the Glamour Cat

Grizabella ("Temptress" Chastity Moore) approached the side of the stage and killed the mood. Everyone kind of just avoided her. Munkustrap tried to talk her into going away, but she refused. He then tried to pay her actual cash to leave, but she stood her ground.

Sillabub (Teddy Wilson Jr.) approached her curiously and backed off at a very subtle warning from Demeter (Bebe Nicole Simpson). (I have to add on that Sillabub wore an orange t-shirt, short pink overalls, and orange converse shoes with a crown of sunflowers on their head. They were easily my favorite character.)

Grizabella showed off a trophy she had won in a previous ball and implored the interim judges to let her compete. They refused.

This Grizabella was almost frighteningly determined.

Bustopher Jones

For the performance I saw, Garnet Williams filled in for Nora Schell, with Tara Lashan Clinkscales filling in for Bombalurina.

Bustopher was referred to with they/them pronouns.

A large portion of this number was spent with Bustopher walking around the theater. When they mounted the stage, they pulled open their shirt to reveal a bustier emblazoned with the English flag.

Bustopher competed and won in the "Body" category. They continued to remain present throughout the rest of the show.

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer

(clip)

It is specified both in the program and during the number that these two are from Victoria Grove, New Jersey

Those New Jersey accents were aggressive

"one of the goyles suddenly misses her woolworth poyles"

Honestly, I wouldn't expect anything less from them

During the Macavity scare preceding this number, Macavity dropped off some trash bags filled with clothes for Bombalurina and Demeter. Mungojerrie (Jonathan Burke) and Rumpleteazer (Dava Huesca) attempted to steal these.

During the second verse, both changed costumes behind some costume racks on either side of the stage.

They competed in the "Tag Team" category against Victoria and Tumblebrutus (Primo) and lost. They then stole the trophy, which Victoria and Tumblebrutus stole back.

Anyway I just desperately need other US productions to give them New Jersey accents

Old Deuteronomy

Munkustrap (Dudney Joseph Jr.) was the only one onstage for the first part of this

Tugger (Sydney James Harcourt) approached the side of the stage and grasped Munkustrap's arm at the "numerous progeny" line

The stage was left empty for Old Deuteronomy (André De Shields) to walk out on

Before he walked out, Sillabub threw flower petals all over it

Mr. Mistoffelees (Robert "Silk" Mason) pulled out Old Deuteronomy's chair for him

There was a VERY long pause for applause when Old Deuteronomy reached his throne at the far end of the catwalk. He turned in a very slow circle. We made eye contact.

Song of the Jellicles/The Jellicle Ball

(clip)

During the Macavity scare, Macavity strides up to Old Deuteronomy. Old Deuteronomy waves him back out of the room in a way that honestly looked like magic. (It's worth noting at this point that the Macavity in this production is a goofy role.)

Because of how the stage is set up, most parts of the dance number were done with only 2-5 actors onstage at a time. When there was a larger group, the dancing remained mostly sedentary.

No mating dance

Grizabella appeared on one of the high balconies. Sillabub waved enthusiastically at her. Everybody else just stared at her.

Many categories were competed in during this part. One of them was sort of an "anything goes" (I forget the exact name) category, in which Munkustrap came out in a golden ensemble with giant wings. Old Deuteronomy didn't like it. Munkustrap gave him sass.

Memory (part 1)

Old Deuteronomy walked out of the room along with everybody else (I THINK.) Grizabella approached the side of the stage, took off the scarf covering her hair, and draped it over one of the railings.

Grizabella caressed the stage as she sang.

Sillabub approached the other side of the stage, watched her for a bit, and departed. They returned near the end of the number with a glittery dress, which they offered to her. Grizabella ran away.

At the end of the number, Sillabub climbs onstage to grab the scarf and look out at the audience. Cut to black.

Moments of Happiness/Moonlight

This part took place entirely between Old Deuteronomy and Sillabub. Sillabub was still onstage, almost got scared away when Old Deuteronomy returned, and knelt in front of him.

As Old Deuteronomy sang about happiness through many generations, he tied the scarf around Sillabub's neck.

While all of this happened, old photos and reports about old balls were being projected on a large screen at the back of the stage. There was then a listing of old house mothers. Most of these were real. The final name listed was Grizabella's.

The rest of the cast joins in for Moonlight, stationed all around the theater. Bombalurina and Demeter were right next to me on the lower balcony. Bombalurina smiled at me.

Gus the Theater Cat

Shereen Pimentel (Jellylorum) was AMAZING.

Gus (Junior LaBeija) was only present for this number and the bows. Most of his lines were performed like spoken word poetry rather than through song.

There was no show-within-a-show piece after this number, but Gus did say the "I once played Rumpus Cat" line. At the very end was Tumblebrutus (I THINK) re-enacting a young Gus a la Grizabella in Tecklenburg 2015.

Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat

(clip)

AGGRESSIVELY a New Yorker in the same way Mungo and Rumple were from New Jersey. Queen of the subways.

Skimbleshanks' (Emma Sofia's) hair had tiger stripes!!!

Lyrics were both English and Spanish (?), especially during the "it was very pleasant" part

She lost her category against Rumpleteazer. They embraced and continued to dance together for the rest of the song.

Macavity the Mystery Cat/"The Fight"

Macavity (with a comically evil cackle and some Hanna-Barbera-style running around) dropped off some more trash bags through one of the windows in the back, which Demeter unpacked. As it turned out, those bags were filled with designer products.

"Macavity wasn't there" was a line used to refer to the fact that Macavity was supposed to be competing but didn't show up on time

Oh yeah, Demeter and Bombalurina were members of the House of Macavity

After Macavity proved to Old Deuteronomy that all of the products were genuine, they all got dressed up and competed in "Labels". The House of Macavity won.

Members of the losing team found attached tags on the products, indicating that the items were shoplifted.

As police sirens blared and blue and white lights flew around the room, Old Deuteronomy ushered Macavity to leave the venue. The police officers entered, looked around the audience, and then looked on the stage, where Old Deuteronomy stood in front of the bags of stolen goods and gave himself up as the perpetrator of the crime.

Macavity returns looking downright distraught.

Magical Mr. Mistoffelees

(clip)

It was much more believable to see everybody turning their backs on Tugger in this production than any other I've seen

Mr. Mistoffelees was referred to with he/him pronouns, so that's what I'm using here

Mr. Mistoffelees is introduced as a ballroom dancer who meets success, in part, by magic-ing his opponents into having wardrobe and performance malfunctions.

He also steals their stuff but I'm unsure whether that has to do with saving Old Deut or if it's just enriching for him

Old Deuteronomy was magicked into a box and stood very still when the curtain was pulled off. When Macavity approached, Old Deuteronomy jumpscared him.

After the song was done, Tugger and Mistoffelees kissed. They were not, as I have seen others say, eating each other's faces; it was very chaste and tender and lasted for just a handful of seconds. The audience went wild, of course.

Memory (part 2)

Grizabella came out in the dress Sillabub had offered earlier

Maybe I was reading too much into it but it looked to me like Old Deuteronomy and Sillabub conspired together to make her reappearance happen

This song was sung in a lower key than usual to better suit Temptress' voice

She looked so uncertain the whole time

Journey to the Heaviside Layer

A big staircase hinged down to the stage, just like in replica productions

Grizabella left through a door at the top of the stairs. Through it, the sounds of New York City could be heard.

The Ad-dressing of Cats

This song makes WAY MORE SENSE in this production in OG Cats, in my opinion. There, it sometimes feels like a bit of a slog. Here, it reinforced the core message of the show about accepting people as they are. To me, the context made it much more powerful.

These last few numbers were loud even through my ear plugs and I don't know why.

The ensemble (Frank Viveros and Shelby Griswold) brought the cast flutes of champagne

Bows

Munkustrap announced each member of the cast as they did individual dances down the stage. This was one of the only songs unrelated to Cats music.

Tugger did a striptease.

After all of the actors, the conductor came out vogueing down the stage.

Afterward, the cast began singing the "practical cats, dramatical cats" portion of Jellicle Songs. I sang enthusiastically along, catching Bustopher's eye. They blew me a kiss.

Other thoughts

Electra (Kendall Grayson Stroud) EASILY had my favorite costume: a holographic top and little black skirt with a huge ruffled rainbow coat over it

Victoria's costume changes made her much less noticeable than usual, especially as she mostly served as a member of the ensemble (I don't think anything in particular about this choice; I just found it interesting)

Despite all of the changes, this very much felt like a production of cats. Even though the actors were staged to be humans, they did nothing else to emphasize it. All of the lyrics were true to replica cats productions.

Where ballroom beats were implemented, they never distracted from the songs they were placed into. They actually enhanced the songs very nicely.

Almost all of the changes made to the original story make sense in the context of this production. I.e., Alonzo's absence makes sense because his role is no longer necessitated. Same with Coricopat and Tantomile.

I am in LOVE with this Sillabub. I really cannot emphasize that enough. They had so much youthful whimsy and KILLED those high notes. They should have been frolicking but instead they were at the club smh

Understated Tugger was an interesting look, and I think it worked well, considering that this Mistoffelees was definitely the most eye-catching member of the cast.

It was actually really cool to see a production where Macavity is accepted as one of the tribe. I fully believe that Mungojerrie learned a few pointers from this one. Again, I have to emphasize that it looked like Antwayn Hopper had the time of his life in this role.

Speaking of, there may have been some Deut bros (Tugger+Munkustrap+Macavity) staging, but I don't remember clearly enough to say for sure.

Most of the transfer of the story made sense... except for the stuff surrounding Grizabella. I've seen the directors talk about ageism in the ballroom community, but with how much emphasis this production put on respect for elders via Old Deuteronomy and Gus and the lack of general contempt from the cast, I honestly don't know why she would have been outcast to begin with. I also have no idea why she ran away from Sillabub.

I kind of wish there had been more extreme makeup, but most of the cast switched between their characters and ensemble roles frequently, so it makes sense. It didn't make the show any worse.

Overall, this was an incredible production that deserves the praise it is given. Yes, I think a number of Cats fans are casting too much judgement on the creative decisions. Yes, I think too many reporters have dunked on the original Cats staging more than is warranted in order to prop this production up. Regardless of those two factors, it was clear that the cast and creative team had a real love for both Cats and ballroom, and I think they married the two concepts beautifully.

[bestmusicalworldcup]

The drag-ball reimagining of Cats (officially titled Cats: The Jellicle Ball) now has its full cast with the following newly announced cast members: Xavier Reyes as Jennyanydots, Bebe Nicole Simpson as Demeter, and Dava Huesca as Rumpleteazer, along with understudy Shelby Griswold.

Previously announced cast members from the world of ballroom include Baby as Victoria, Dudney Joseph Jr. as Munkustrap, Capital Kaos as DJ, Junior LaBeija as Gus, Robert "Silk" Mason as Mistoffelees, "Tempress" Chasity Moore as Grizabella, and Primo as Tumblebrutus, along with understudies Dominique Lee and Kendall G. Stroud.

Previously announced musical theatre and dance names in the company include Jonathan Burke as Mungojerrie, Emma Sofia Caymares as Skimbleshanks, André De Shields as Old Deuteronomy, Sydney James Harcourt as Rum Tum Tugger, Antwayn Hopper as Macavity, Shereen Pimentel as Jellylorum, Nora Schell as Bustopher Jones, Garnet Williams as Bombalurina, and Teddy Wilson Jr. as Sillabub. Rounding out the company will be ensemble members Tara Lashan Clinkscales and Frank Viveros.

The production is directed by Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch.

Performances begin June 13 at the Perelman Performing Arts Center, with opening night set for June 20. Closing night is July 14.

[morethanonepage]

i know it's easy to be cynical about Cats (and most people agree ALW is like. an awful person), but I saw this re-staging of the show a couple of weeks ago and loved it so much i cried:

Levingston and Rauch’s melding of “Cats” and the queer ballroom scene is so effortless that it seems to have required only the slightest alterations. The synthesizer groove has been juiced up with some new club beats by Trevor Holder, the directors have added a plotlet about the naughty thief Macavity (Antwayn Hopper) getting rumbled by the cops, and the entire number “Growltiger’s Last Stand,” in which the titular tom hates “cats of foreign name and race,” has been tastefully deleted. The true difference, though, lies in the piece’s shift from commercialized kitsch to camp sincerity. The performers here—among them the magnificent dancer Robert (Silk) Mason as Mistoffelees, with Cher hair swinging long, and the ultra-charismatic Hopper as Macavity, who can control the room just by dropping his hat—appear to be dancing for the love of it, and for one another. As the show goes on, a more mysterious literary synchrony emerges: how wonderful that Eliot, in 1939, placed such an emphasis on the power of names known only to those who understand you, and on a thriving community’s reverence for its elders.

[bikinibottomdayz]

SEPTEMBER 10, 2024 RELEASE

All my videos can be found here, full release under the read more! I am also offering the two Groundhog Day videos as a bundle for 20 USD! If interested, please contact me at bikinibottomtrading@gmail.com!

This release includes: Cats (closing), Without You, MJ, Groundhog Day x2

CATS September 8, 2024 (M) | Off-Broadway | 4K MP4 (10.54GB) | bikinibottomday’s master Cast: Baby (Victoria), Jonathan Burke (Mungojerrie), Tara Lashan Clinkscales (Booth Singer/Police Officer/Server), André De Shields (Old Deuteronomy), Sydney James Harcourt (Rum Tum Tugger), Rodrick Covington (Macavity), Dava Huesca (Rumpleteazer), Dudney Joseph Jr. (Munkustrap), Capital Kaos (DJ), Junior LaBeija (Gus), Robert "Silk" Mason (Mistoffelees), "Tempress" Chasity Moore (Grizabella), Bryce Faris (u/s Tumblebrutus), Xavier Reyes (Jennyanydots), Nora Schell ( Bustopher Jones), Bebe Nicole Simpson (Demeter), Emma Sofia (Cassandra/Skimbleshanks), Kendall Grayson Stroud (Electra), Phumzile Sojola (Booth Singer/Police Officer/Server), Garnet Williams (Bombalurina), Teddy Wilson Jr. (Sillabub) Notes: Great 4K capture of this production’s closing performance! Old Deutoronomy’s entrance sequence, which is approximately 8 minutes long, is blacked out due to the theatre-wide standing ovation. Some action on the balconies or in the audience couldn’t be captured, and because a lot of the staging uses the entire theatre, there are frequent wideshots. Some obstruction in the top right that blocks off a bit of action (mostly at the beginning). Some moments of wandering and unfocusing. The crowd is loud and enthusiastic, which is encouraged, but does mean some moments are difficult to hear and the audio is overwhelming. Curtain call is included (but mostly blindshot), audio is fed from external source. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBGUzF | ASKING $16 USD NOT FOR SHARING EXCEPT THROUGH ME UNTIL MARCH 2, 2025

GROUNDHOG DAY August 12, 2023 (E) | Off West End | 4K MP4 (9.9GB) | bikinibottomday’s master Cast: Andy Karl (Phil Connors), Tanisha Spring (Rita Hanson), Eve Norris (Nancy), Andrew Langtree (Ned Ryerson), Kamila Fernandes (Debbie), Aimee Fisher (Joelle), Nick Hayes (Ralph), Jacqueline Hughes (Piano Teacher), Ashlee Irish (Larry), Chris Jenkins (Gus), Billy Nevers (Fred), Mark Pearce (Sheriff), Ben Redfern (Buster), Durone Stokes (Deputy), Zack Guest (s/w Billy), Jez Unwin (Jenson), Annie Wensak (Mrs Lancaster) Notes: Great 4K capture of the run’s original closing date before the extension! There is a minor head obstruction on the bottom right that doesn’t block off much. There is also a pole obstruction on the far right that blocks off a little bit of action. Increased wandering / readjustment and unfocusing throughout leading to some wide shots and missed action. Includes curtain call, audio is fed from external source. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAQSpK | ASKING $15 USD NOT FOR SHARING EXCEPT THROUGH ME UNTIL MARCH 2, 2025

GROUNDHOG DAY August 8, 2023 | Off West End | 4K MP4 (9.88GB) | bikinibottomday’s master Cast: Andy Karl (Phil Connors), Tanisha Spring (Rita Hanson), Eve Norris (Nancy), Andrew Langtree (Ned Ryerson), Kamila Fernandes (Debbie), Aimee Fisher (Joelle), Nick Hayes (Ralph), Jacqueline Hughes (Piano Teacher), Ashlee Irish (Larry), Chris Jenkins (Gus), Billy Nevers (Fred), Mark Pearce (Sheriff), Ben Redfern (Buster), Durone Stokes (Deputy), Zack Guest (s/w Billy), Jez Unwin (Jenson), Annie Wensak (Mrs Lancaster) Notes: Great 4K capture! Generally less well filmed than other videos. Increased wandering and unfocusing throughout leading to some wide shots and missed action. Head is sometimes visible on the bottom but never blocks anything. Some washout on wider shots. Includes curtain call, audio is fed from external source. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAQt1j | ASKING $15 USD NOT FOR SHARING EXCEPT THROUGH ME UNTIL MARCH 2, 2025

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD October 16, 2022 (M) | Broadway | 4K MP4 (13.63GB) | bikinibottomday’s master Cast: James Romney (Albus Potter), Brady Dalton Richards (Scorpius Malfoy), Steve Haggard (Harry Potter), Rachel Leslie (u/s Ginny Potter), Jenny Jules (Hermione Granger), David Abeles (Ron Weasley), Tom Stephens (u/s Draco Malfoy), Lauren Nicole Cipoletti (Delphi), Nadia Brown (Rose Granger-Weasley), Michela Cannon (Moaning Myrtle / Polly Chapman), Edward James Hyland (Amos Diggory / Albus Dumbledore), Karen Janes Woditsch (Professor McGonagall / Dolores Umbridge), Ben Horner (Sorting Hat), Stephen Spinella (Severus Snape / Lord Voldemort), Kevin Matthew Reyes (Craig Bowker Jr), Jax Jackson (Yann Fredericks), Dan Piering (Karl Jenkins), Will Carlyon (Cedric Diggory / James Potters), Judith Lightfoot Clarke (Trolley Witch), Kevin Rico Angulo (Professor Mazoni), Oge Agulué (V World General), Ted Deasy (Station Master), Ebony Blake (Madam Hooch), Jack Koenig (Ministry Official), Chelsey Arce, Quinn Blades, Kira Fath, Stephanie Gomérez, Spencer LaRue, Sarita Amani Nash, Alexandra Peter, William Rhem Jr, Maya Thomas, Chris Jarman (Voice of Phone Box), Paul Thornley (voice of Ludo Bagman) Notes: Great 4K capture of Rachel and Tom as Ginny and Draco respectively! The filming is a little rough, especially in Act One, due to usher vigilance. Minor obstruction that is most prevalent in the first few minutes, and a few short blackouts. More moments of wandering and unfocusing than usual. Includes curtain call, audio is fed from external source. https://mega.nz/folder/phZW3RBD#VOsOBZLheENBiz9zeSyhHw | ASKING $18 USD NOT FOR SHARING EXCEPT THROUGH ME UNTIL MARCH 2, 2025

MJ June 11, 2024 | Broadway | 4K MP4 (10.05GB) | bikinibottomday’s master Cast: Elijah Rhea Johnson (MJ), Apollo Levine (Rob/Joseph Jackson), Whitney Bashor (Rachel), Ilario Grant (u/s Michael), Max Chambers (Little Michael), Jace Bently (Little Marlon), Tré Frazier (u/s Tour Singer/Tito Jackson/Quincy Jones/Jackie Wilson [Vocal]), Bre Jackson (u/s Kate/Katherine Jackson), Gabriel Ruiz (Alejandro), Antoine L. Smith (Nick/Berry Gordy/Don Cornelius/Doctor), Joey Sorge (Dave), Lloyd A. Boyd III (Tour Dancer/Randy Jackson/Jackie Wilson [Dancer]), John Edwards (Tour Singer/Jackie Jackson/James Brown [Vocal]), Kali May Grinder (Tour Dancer/Soul Train Dancer), Carine-Kay Louchiey (Tour Dancer/Suzanne de Passe/Isley Brother [Dancer]), Michelle Mercedes (Tour Dancer/Isley Brother [Dancer]/Nicholas Brother), D. Jerome (s/w Tour Dancer/Fred Astaire), Michael Harmon (s/w Tour Dancer/Bob Fosse/Newscaster), Nick T. Daly (Keith/Jermaine Jackson/Isley Brother [Vocal]), Zachary Downer (Tour Dancer/Marlon Jackson/James Brown [Dancer]/Nicholas Brother) Notes: Excellent 4K capture of this show. Some minor head obstruction on the right that cuts off a little action. Increased wandering / readjustment and unfocusing throughout. Includes curtain call, audio is fed from external source. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBuGSH | ASKING $20 USD NOT FOR SHARING EXCEPT THROUGH ME UNTIL MARCH 2, 2025

WITHOUT YOU May 15, 2023 | Off Broadway | 4K MP4 (6.4GB) | bikinibottomday’s master Cast: Anthony Rapp Notes: Okay 4K capture of this moving show in its final few weeks. There’s increased wandering and unfocusing throughout due to the small space and intense usher presence. Some action on the extreme sides were cut off. In general, framing is much worse than usual as the camera was often pointed too high. Parts of the show in the second half were filmed in blind wideshot. Washout is semi frequent on wider shots. One exchange, lasting about a minute, was missed and instead a wall was filmed. Overall though, not a bad capture of a fairly difficult show to film. Audio is fed from external source, curtain call is audio only. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjADZ4m | ASKING $15 USD NOT FOR SHARING EXCEPT THROUGH ME UNTIL MARCH 2, 2025

[gwenlen]

So I've just finally seen Downton Abbey II (which means I can finally unblock the Downton Abbey tag!) and here are my thoughts in case that is of interest to anyone:

That embroidered blue coat Lucy wears just after her wedding is gorgeous, I want the same (that was my first thought so sorry, this costume-y note comes first)

I liked the idea of the movie, but I didn't like the actors though. Myrna Dagleish's transformation from "spoilt and silly girl" to "shy and grateful woman" was too sudden, even if it helped enhance Cora's kindness. Guy's romance with Thomas was unnecessary and I wish they'd kept Richard as Thomas' love interest instead of throwing him away and coming up with another romance. And Jack Barber was... nice, I just wasn't sure why they wanted to draw this romance with Mary, it would have been nicer to have them just as co-workers I think. And Mary's line "it feels good to a married woman to see she still can attract men" was too much like Cora's pseudo-romance with Bricker, so... didn't like it.

The villa in the south of France. Glorious architecture, stunning landscape, incredible colours. Loved to see Edith's wardrobe perfectly matching the landscape (all those oranges and teals... Incredible).

Nathalie Baye seemed a bit off to me though? I'm French and I watched the movie in English but something in her lines disturbed me. I think the dialogues have been written in English and then translated into French and something wasn't natural with them.

Cobert Angst. Unnecessary to some extent, because the malignant anemia has already been used for Lord Merton and I already didn't like the "Deus ex machina" effect. But that scene in the garden? Robert breaking down thinking he's going to lose his wife? I loved it. The sweet scenes between them (when he took her hand in the boat!) were so beautiful. Loved them from start to finish. Robert's own interrogations about his origins were a good way to put him in an uncomfortable position and to give him and Cora new challenges to face.

Edith and Bertie, on the contrary, were so happy! Seeing Edith starting to write again was so cute. Also, wow, this girl can dance? She makes smooth moves at the party. She looked a bit like Duchess during the jazz scene in The Aristocats (I know, I know, my references are odd).

Mary and Edith. I've always been a Mary stan but I didn't like her evolution in season 6. I'm so glad to see they're at peace now, they confide in each other and it warmed my heart. They even joke and tease each other, but in a nice and harmless way. The way they cuddle just after Violet dies reminded me of Sybil's death, and I could see how both of them improved over the years. Mary and Edith's relationship is probably my favourite aspect of the movie.

Speaking of Violet's death, I loved the way it was built up during the whole movie. Giving everybody time to think about it, and finally having a peaceful death at Downton, was all we could wish for her. I'm glad she had time to speak to everyone before dying and even to have the last word with Denker. Loved this Oscar Wilde-like last sentence.

Oh, and Tom's and Violet's scene when she admits she wasn't fond of him in the beginning but she loves him and is glad they're friends? Made me tear up.

The funeral was so well-paced, too! Mary's and Carson's scene was so sweet and inevitably reminded me of their scene in S4E1.

Also, if anyone knows where I can find a brooch similar to the one Violet wears before passing it on to Mary? I want good Downton Abbey merch, I'm tired of seeing shirts and mugs to be honest.

Another costume-y note: the burgundy silk dressing-gown Mary wears for approximately 10 seconds in her bedroom was gorgeous, I need it.

Molesley and Baxter's arc. So cute. Their happy ending is definitely worth the wait. The proposal scene was both funny and sweet, just like them.

Loved the additional plot of Mrs Patmore and Mr Mason, and the part Daisy took in it. It was just a beginning, so it didn't add too much new details into the film but it was enough for us to hope and I'm here for it.

Also, Carson being Carson. Enough said. Flawless.

That's it I think. My inbox is open to chat if anyone fancies to!

[90363462]

Here’s the complete list of 2023 Grammy nominees

The 2023 Grammy nominations were revealed today, in 91 categories. Beyoncé leads the field with 9 nominations.

Here is the list of nominees for the 65th Grammy Awards. The contenders were announced live at 9 a.m. PT from the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles by Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., who was joined by artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Machine Gun Kelly, John Legend, Jimmie Allen, Luis Fonsi, Ledisi, Smokey Robinson and "CBS Mornings" co-anchors Nate Burleson and Gayle King. 

The ceremony will air live on Feb. 5 from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and will be broadcast on CBS while streaming on Paramount+.

Jon Batiste took home multiple awards last year, including album of the year. Wins in the “big four” categories, which were increased from eight to 10 nominees, also included the Bruno Mars-Anderson .Paak-led Silk Sonic group for record and song of the year and Olivia Rodrigo for best new artist.

MUSIC

Superstars Beyoncé, Adele and Kendrick Lamar top nominees for 65th Grammy Awards

Record of the Year

"Don't Shut Me Down" — ABBA"Easy On Me" — Adele"BREAK MY SOUL" — Beyoncé"Good Morning Gorgeous" — Mary J. Blige"You And Me On The Rock" — Brandi Carlile Featuring Lucius" Woman" — Doja Cat"Bad Habit" — Steve Lacy"The Heart Part 5" — Kendrick Lamar"About Damn Time" — Lizzo"As It Was" — Harry Styles

Album of the Year

"Voyage" — ABBA"30" — Adele"Un Verano Sin Ti" — Bad Bunny"RENAISSANCE" — Beyoncé"Good Morning Gorgeous (Deluxe)" — Mary J. Blige"In These Silent Days" — Brandi Carlile"Music Of The Spheres" — Coldplay"Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers" — Kendrick Lamar"Special" — Lizzo"Harry's House" — Harry Styles

Song of the Year

"abcdefu" — Sara Davis, GAYLE & Dave Pittenger, songwriters (GAYLE)"About Damn Time" — Melissa “Lizzo” Jefferson, Eric Frederic, Blake Slatkin & Theron Makiel Thomas, songwriters (Lizzo)"All Too Well" (10 Minute Version) (The Short Film) — Liz Rose & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)"As It Was" — Tyler Johnson, Kid Harpoon & Harry Styles, songwriters (Harry Styles)" Bad Habit" — Matthew Castellanos, Brittany Fousheé, Diana Gordon, John Carroll Kirby & Steve Lacy, songwriters (Steve Lacy)"BREAK MY SOUL" — Beyoncé, S. Carter, Terius "The-Dream" Gesteelde-Diamant & Christopher A. Stewart, songwriters (Beyoncé)"Easy On Me" — Adele Adkins & Greg Kurstin, songwriters (Adele)"GOD DID" — Tarik Azzouz, E. Blackmon, Khaled Khaled, F. LeBlanc, Shawn Carter, John Stephens, Dwayne Carter, William Roberts & Nicholas Warwar, songwriters (DJ Khaled Featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend &Fridayy)"The Heart Part 5" — Jake Kosich, Johnny Kosich, Kendrick Lamar & Matt Schaeffer, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar)"Just Like That" — Bonnie Raitt, songwriter (Bonnie Raitt)

New Artist

AnittaOmar ApolloDOMi & JD BeckMuni LongSamara JoyLattoMåneskinTobe NwigweMolly TuttleWet Leg

Pop Solo Performance

"Easy On Me" — Adele"Moscow Mule" — Bad Bunny"Woman" — Doja Cat"Bad Habit" — Steve Lacy"About Damn Time" — Lizzo"As It Was" — Harry Styles

Pop Duo/Group Performance

"Don't Shut Me Down" — ABBA"Bam Bam" — Camila Cabello Featuring Ed Sheeran"My Universe" — Coldplay & BTS"I Like You (A Happier Song)" — Post Malone & Doja Cat"Unholy" — Sam Smith & Kim Petras

Traditional Pop Vocal Album

"Higher" — Michael Bublé"When Christmas Comes Around..." — Kelly Clarkson"I Dream Of Christmas (Extended)" — Norah Jones"Evergreen" — Pentatonix"Thank You" — Diana Ros

Pop Vocal Album

"Voyage" — ABBA"2. 30" — Adele"Music Of The Spheres" — Coldplay"Special" — Lizzo"Harry's House" — Harry Styles

Dance/Electronic Recording

"BREAK MY SOUL" — Beyoncé"Rosewood" — Bonobo"Don't Forget My Love" — Diplo & Miguel"I'm Good (Blue)" — David Guetta & Bebe Rexha"Intimidated" — KAYTRANADA Featuring H.E.R."On My Knees" — RÜFÜS DU SOL

Best Dance/Electronic Music Album

"Renaissance" — Beyoncé"Fragments" — Bonobo"Diplo" — Diplo"The Last Goodbye" — ODESZA"Surrender" — RÜFÜS DU SOL

Contemporary Instrumental Album

"Between Dreaming And Joy" — Jeff Coffin"Not Tight" — DOMi & JD Beck"Blooz" — Grant Geissman"Jacob's Ladder" — Brad Mehldau"Empire Central" — Snarky Puppy

Rock Performance

"So Happy It Hurts" — Bryan Adams"Old Man" — Beck"Wild Child" — The Black Keys"Broken Horses" — Brandi Carlile"Crawl!" — Idles"Patient Number 9" — Ozzy Osbourne Featuring Jeff Beck"Holiday" — Turnstile

Metal Performance

"Call Me Little Sunshine" — Ghost"We'll Be Back" — Megadeth"Kill Or Be Killed" — Muse"Degradation Rules" — Ozzy Osbourne Featuring Tony Iommi"Blackout" — Turnstile

Rock Album

"Dropout Boogie" — The Black Keys"The Boy Named If" — Elvis Costello & The Imposters"Crawler" — Idles"Mainstream Sellout" — Machine Gun Kelly"Patient Number 9" — Ozzy Osbourne"Lucifer On The Sofa" — Spoon

Rock Song

"Black Summer" — Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis & Chad Smith, songwriters (Red Hot Chili Peppers)"Blackout" — Brady Ebert, Daniel Fang, Franz Lyons, Pat McCrory & Brendan Yates, songwriters (Turnstile)"Broken Horses" — Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile)"Harmonia's Dream" — Robbie Bennett & Adam Granduciel, songwriters (The War On Drugs)"Patient Number 9" — John Osbourne, Chad Smith, Ali Tamposi, Robert Trujillo & Andrew Wotman, songwriters (Ozzy Osbourne featuring Jeff Beck)

Alternative Music Performance

"There'd Better Be A Mirrorball" — Arctic Monkeys"Certainty" — Big Thief"King" — Florence + The Machine"Chaise Longue" — Wet Leg"Spitting Off The Edge Of The World" — Yeah Yeah Yeahs Featuring Perfume Genius

Alternative Music Album

"WE" — Arcade Fire"Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You" — Big Thief"Fossora" — Björk"Wet Leg" — Wet Leg"Cool It Down" — Yeah Yeah Yeahs

R&B Performance

"VIRGO’S GROOVE" — Beyoncé"Here With Me" — Mary J. Blige Featuring Anderson .Paak"Hrs & Hrs" — Muni Long"Over" — Lucky Daye"Hurt Me So Good" — Jazmine Sullivan

Traditional R&B Performance

"Do 4 Love" — Snoh Aalegra"Keeps On Fallin'" — Babyface Featuring Ella Mai"PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA" — Beyoncé"'Round Midnight" — Adam Blackstone Featuring Jazmine Sullivan"Good Morning Gorgeous" — Mary J. Blige

Progressive R&B Album

“New Light” — Eric Bellinger“Something to Say” — Cory Henry“Mood Valiant” — Hiatus Kaiyote“Table for Two” — Lucky Daye“Dinner Party: Dessert” — Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder & Kamasi Washington“Studying Abroad: Extended Stay” — Masego

R&B Song

"CUFF IT" — Denisia "Blu June" Andrews, Beyoncé, Mary Christine Brockert, Brittany "Chi" Coney, Terius "The-Dream" Gesteelde-Diamant, Morten Ristorp, Nile Rodgers & Raphael Saadiq, songwriters (Beyoncé)"Good Morning Gorgeous" — Mary J. Blige, David Brown, Dernst Emile II, Gabriella Wilson & Tiara Thomas, songwriters (Mary J. Blige)"Hrs & Hrs" — Hamadi Aaabi, Dylan Graham, Priscilla Renea, Thaddis "Kuk" Harrell, Brandon John-Baptiste, Isaac Wriston & Justin Nathaniel Zim, songwriters (Muni Long)"Hurt Me So Good" — Akeel Henry, Michael Holmes, Luca Mauti, Jazmine Sullivan & Elliott Trent, songwriters (Jazmine Sullivan)"Please Don't Walk Away" — PJ Morton, songwriter (PJ Morton)

Progressive R&B Album

"Operation Funk" — Cory Henry"Gemini Rights" — Steve Lacy"Drones" — Terrace Martin"Starfruit" — Moonchild"Red Balloon" — Tank And The Bangas

R&B Album

"Good Morning Gorgeous (Deluxe)" — Mary J. Blige"Breezy (Deluxe)" — Chris Brown"Black Radio III" — Robert Glasper"Candydrip" — Lucky Daye"Watch The Sun" — PJ Morton

Rap Performance

"GOD DID" — DJ Khaled Featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy"Vegas" — Doja Cat"pushin P" — Gunna & Future Featuring Young Thug"F.N.F. (Let's Go)" — Hitkidd & GloRilla"The Heart Part 5" — Kendrick Lamar

Melodic Rap Performance

"BEAUTIFUL" — DJ Khaled Featuring Future & SZA"WAIT FOR U" — Future Featuring Drake & Tems"First Class" — Jack Harlow"Die Hard" — Kendrick Lamar Featuring Blxst & Amanda Reifer"Big Energy (Live)" — Latto

Rap Album

"GOD DID" — DJ Khaled"I Never Liked You" — Future"Come Home The Kids Miss You" — Jack Harlow"Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers" — Kendrick Lamar"It's Almost Dry" — Pusha T

Rap Song

"Churchill Downs" — Ace G, BEDRM, Matthew Samuels, Tahrence Brown, Rogét Chahayed, Aubrey Graham, Jack Harlow & Jose Velazquez, songwriters (Jack Harlow featuring Drake)"GOD DID" — Tarik Azzouz, E. Blackmon, Khaled Khaled, F. LeBlanc, Shawn Carter, John Stephens, Dwayne Carter, William Roberts & Nicholas Warwar, songwriters (DJ Khaled featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy)"The Heart Part 5" — Jake Kosich, Johnny Kosich, Kendrick Lamar & Matt Schaeffer, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar)"pushin P" — Lucas Depante, Nayvadius Wilburn, Sergio Kitchens, Wesley Tyler Glass & Jeffery Lamar Williams, songwriters (Gunna & Future Featuring Young Thug)"WAIT FOR U" — Tejiri Akpoghene, Floyd E. Bentley III, Jacob Canady, Isaac De Boni, Aubrey Graham, Israel Ayomide Fowobaje, Nayvadius Wilburn, Michael Mule, Oluwatoroti Oke & Temilade Openiyi, songwriters (Future Featuring Drake & Tems)

Country Solo Performance

"Heartfirst" — Kelsea Ballerini"Something In The Orange" — Zach Bryan"In His Arms" — Miranda Lambert"Circles Around This Town" — Maren Morris"Live Forever" — Willie Nelson

Country Duo/Group Performance

"Wishful Drinking" — Ingrid Andress & Sam Hunt"Midnight Rider's Prayer" — Brothers Osborne"Outrunnin' Your Memory" — Luke Combs & Miranda Lambert"Does He Love You - Revisited" — Reba McEntire & Dolly Parton"Never Wanted To Be That Girl" — Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde"Going Where The Lonely Go" — Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Country Album

"Growin' Up" — Luke Combs"Palomino" — Miranda Lambert"Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville" — Ashley McBryde"Humble Quest" — Maren Morris"A Beautiful Time" — Willie Nelson

Country Song

"Circles Around This Town" — Ryan Hurd, Julia Michaels, Maren Morris & Jimmy Robbins, songwriters (Maren Morris)"Doin' This" — Luke Combs, Drew Parker & Robert Williford, songwriters (Luke Combs)" I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault)" — Lori McKenna & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)"If I Was A Cowboy" — Jesse Frasure & Miranda Lambert, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)"I'll Love You Till The Day I Die" — Rodney Crowell & Chris Stapleton, songwriters (Willie Nelson)"'Til You Can't" — Matt Rogers & Ben Stennis, songwriters (Cody Johnson)

Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album

"Positano Songs" — Will Ackerman"Joy" — Paul Avgerinos"Mantra Americana" — Madi Das & Dave Stringer With Bhakti Without Borders"The Passenger" — Cheryl B. Engelhardt"Mystic Mirror" — White Sun

Improvised Jazz Solo

"Rounds (Live)" — Ambrose Akinmusire, soloist; Track from: New Standards Vol. 1 (Terri Lyne Carrington, Kris Davis, Linda May Han Oh, Nicholas Payton & Matthew Stevens)"Keep Holding On" — Gerald Albright, soloist"Falling" — Melissa Aldana, soloist; Track from: 12 Stars"Call Of The Drum" — Marcus Baylor, soloist"Cherokee/Koko" — John Beasley, soloist; Track from: Bird Lives (John Beasley, Magnus Lindgren & SWR Big Band)"Endangered Species" — Wayne Shorter & Leo Genovese, soloist; Track from: Live At The Detroit Jazz Festival (Wayne Shorter, Terri Lyne Carrington, Leo Genovese & esperanza spalding

Jazz Vocal Album

"The Evening : Live At APPARATUS" — The Baylor Project"Linger Awhile" — Samara Joy"Fade To Black" — Carmen Lundy"Fifty" — The Manhattan Transfer With The WDR Funkhausorchester"Ghost Song" — Cécile McLorin Salvant

Jazz Instrumental Album

"New Standards Vol. 1" — Terri Lyne Carrington, Kris Davis, Linda May Han Oh, Nicholas Payton & Matthew Stevens"Live In Italy" — Peter Erskine Trio"LongGone" — Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride & Brian Blade"Live At The Detroit Jazz Festival" — Wayne Shorter, Terri Lyne Carrington, Leo Genovese & esperanza spalding"Parallel Motion" — Yellowjackets

Large Jazz Ensemble Album

"Bird Lives" — John Beasley, Magnus Lindgren & SWR Big Band"Remembering Bob Freedman" — Ron Carter & The Jazzaar Festival Big Band Directed by Christian Jacob"Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra" — Steven Feifke, Bijon Watson, Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra"Center Stage" — Steve Gadd, Eddie Gomez, Ronnie Cuber & WDR Big Band Conducted By Michael Abene"Architecture Of Storms" — Remy Le Boeuf's Assembly Of Shadows

Latin Jazz Album

"Fandango At The Wall In New York" — Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra Featuring The Congra Patria Son Jarocho Collective"Crisálida" — Danilo Pérez Featuring The Global Messengers"If You Will" — Flora Purim"Rhythm & Soul" — Arturo Sandoval"Música De Las Américas" — Miguel Zenón

Gospel Performance/Song

"Positive" — Erica Campbell; Erica Campbell, Warryn Campbell & Juan Winans, songwriters"When I Pray" — DOE; Dominique Jones & Dewitt Jones, songwriters"Kingdom" — Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin, Jonathan Jay, Chandler Moore & Jacob Poole, songwriters"The Better Benediction" — PJ Morton Featuring Zacardi Cortez, Gene Moore, Samoht, Tim Rogers & Darrel Walls; PJ Morton, songwriter"Get Up" — Tye Tribbett; Brandon Jones, Christopher Michael Stevens, Thaddaeus Tribbett & Tye Tribbett, songwriters

Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

"God Really Loves Us (Radio Version)" — Crowder Featuring Dante Bowe and Maverick City Music; Dante Bowe, David Crowder, Ben Glover & Jeff Sojka, songwriters"So Good" — DOE; Chuck Butler, Dominique Jones & Ethan Hulse, songwriters"For God Is With Us" — for KING & COUNTRY & Hillary Scott; Josh Kerr, Jordan Reynolds, Joel Smallbone & Luke Smallbone, songwriters"Fear Is Not My Future" — Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin, Nicole Hannel, Jonathan Jay, Brandon Lake & Hannah Shackelford, songwriters"Holy Forever" — Chris Tomlin; Jason Ingram, Brian Johnson, Jenn Johnson, Chris Tomlin & Phil Wickham, songwriters"Hymn Of Heaven (Radio Version)" — Phil Wickham; Chris Davenport, Bill Johnson, Brian Johnson & Phil Wickham, songwriters

Gospel Album

"Die To Live" — Maranda Curtis"Breakthrough: The Exodus (Live)" — Ricky Dillard"Clarity" — DOE"Kingdom Book One Deluxe" — Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin"All Things New" — Tye Tribbett

Contemporary Christian Music Album

"Lion" — Elevation Worship"Breathe" — Maverick City Music"Life After Death" — TobyMac"Always" — Chris Tomlin"My Jesus" — Anne Wilson

Roots Gospel Album

"Let's Just Praise The Lord" — Gaither Vocal Band"Confessio - Irish American Roots" — Keith & Kristyn Getty"The Willie Nelson Family" — Willie Nelson"2:22" — Karen Peck & New River"The Urban Hymnal" — Tennessee State University Marching Band

Latin Pop Album

"AGUILERA" — Christina Aguilera"Pasieros" — Rubén Blades & Boca Livre"De Adentro Pa Afuera" — Camilo"VIAJANTE" — Fonseca"Dharma +" — Sebastián Yatra

Música Urbana Album

"TRAP CAKE, VOL. 2" — Rauw Alejandro"Un Verano Sin Ti" — Bad Bunny"LEGENDADDY" — Daddy Yankee"La 167" — Farruko"The Love & Sex Tape" — Maluma

Latin Rock or Alternative Album

"El Alimento" — Cimafunk"Tinta y Tiempo" — Jorge Drexler"1940 Carmen" — Mon Laferte"Alegoría" — Gaby MorenoLos Años Salvajes" — Fito Paez"MOTOMAMI" — Rosalía

Regional Mexican Music Album (including Tejano)

"Abeja Reina" — Chiquis"Un Canto por México - El Musical" — Natalia Lafourcade"La Reunión (Deluxe)" — Los Tigres Del Norte"EP #1 Forajido" — Christian Nodal"Qué Ganas de Verte (Deluxe)" — Marco Antonio Solís

Tropical Latin Album

"Pa'lla Voy" — Marc Anthony" Quiero Verte Feliz" — a Santa Cecilia"Lado A Lado B" — Víctor Manuelle"Legendario" — Tito Nieves" Imágenes Latinas" — Spanish Harlem Orchestra"Cumbiana II" — Carlos Vives

American Roots Performance

"Someday It'll All Make Sense (Bluegrass Version)" — Bill Anderson Featuring Dolly Parton"Life According To Raechel" — Madison Cunningham"Oh Betty" — Fantastic Negrito"Stompin' Ground" — Aaron Neville With The Dirty Dozen Brass Band"Prodigal Daughter" — Aoife O'Donovan & Allison Russell

American Roots Song

"Bright Star" — Anaïs Mitchell, songwriter (Anaïs Mitchell)"Forever" — Sheryl Crow & Jeff Trott, songwriters (Sheryl Crow)"High And Lonesome" — T Bone Burnett & Robert Plant, songwriters (Robert Plant & Alison Krauss)"Just Like That" — Bonnie Raitt, songwriter (Bonnie Raitt)"Prodigal Daughter" — Tim O’Brien & Aoife O'Donovan, songwriters (Aoife O'Donovan & Allison Russell)"You And Me On The Rock" — Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile Featuring Lucius)

Americana Album

"In These Silent Days" — Brandi Carlile"Things Happen That Way" — Dr. John"Good To Be..." — Keb' Mo'"Raise The Roof" — Robert Plant & Alison Krauss"Just Like That..." — Bonnie Raitt

Americana Performance

"Silver Moon [A Tribute To Michael Nesmith]" — Eric Alexandrakis"There You Go Again" — Asleep At The Wheel Featuring Lyle Lovett"The Message" — Blind Boys Of Alabama Featuring Black Violin"You And Me On The Rock" — Brandi Carlile Featuring Lucius"Made Up Mind" — Bonnie Raitt

Bluegrass Album

"Toward The Fray" — The Infamous Stringdusters"Almost Proud" — The Del McCoury Band"Calling You From My Mountain" — Peter Rowan"Crooked Tree" — Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway"Get Yourself Outside" — Yonder Mountain String Band

Traditional Blues Album

"Heavy Load Blues" — Gov't Mule"The Blues Don’t Lie" — Buddy Guy"Get On Board" — Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder"The Sun Is Shining Down" — John Mayall"Mississippi Son" — Charlie Musselwhite

Contemporary Blues Album

"Done Come Too Far" — Shemekia Copeland"Crown" — Eric Gales"Bloodline Maintenance" — Ben Harper"Set Sail" — North Mississippi Allstars"Brother Johnny" — Edgar Winter

Folk Album

"Spellbound" — Judy Collins"Revealer" — Madison Cunningham"The Light At The End Of The Line" — Janis Ian"Age Of Apathy" — Aoife O'Donovan"Hell On Church Street" — Punch Brothers

Regional Roots Music Album

"Full Circle" — Sean Ardoin And Kreole Rock And Soul Featuring LSU Golden Band From Tigerland"Natalie Noelani" — Natalie Ai Kamauu"Halau Hula Keali'i O Nalani - Live At The Getty Center" — Halau Hula Keali'i O Nalani"Lucky Man" — Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas"Live At The 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival" — Ranky Tanky

Reggae Album

"The Kalling" — Kabaka Pyramid"Gifted" — Koffee"Scorcha" — Sean Paul"Third Time's The Charm" — Protoje"Com Fly Wid Mi" — Shaggy

Global Music Performance

"Udhero Na" — Arooj Aftab & Anoushka Shankar"Gimme Love" — Matt B & Eddy Kenzo"Last Last" — Burna Boy"Neva Bow Down" — Rocky Dawuni Featuring Blvk H3ro"Bayethe" — Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini & Nomcebo Zikode

Global Music Album

"Shuruaat" — Berklee Indian Ensemble"Love, Damini" — Burna Boy"Queen Of Sheba" — Angélique Kidjo & Ibrahim Maalouf"Between Us... (Live)" — Anoushka Shankar, Metropole Orkest & Jules Buckley Featuring Manu Delago"Sakura" — Masa Takumi

Children's Music Album

"Into The Little Blue House" — Wendy And DB"Los Fabulosos" — Lucky Diaz And The Family Jam Band"The Movement" — Alphabet Rockers"Ready Set Go!" — Divinity Roxx"Space Cadet" — Justin Roberts

Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording

"Act Like You Got Some Sense" — Jamie Foxx"All About Me!: My Remarkable Life In Show Business by Mel Brooks" — Mel Brooks"Aristotle And Dante Dive Into The Waters Of The World" — Lin-Manuel Miranda"Finding Me" — Viola Davis"Music Is History" — Questlove

Spoken Word Poetry Album

"Black Men Are Precious" — Ethelbert Miller"Call Us What We Carry: Poems" — Amanda Gorman"Hiding In Plain View" — Malcolm-Jamal Warner"The Poet Who Sat By The Door" — J. Ivy"You Will Be Someone's Ancestor. Act Accordingly." — Amir Sulaiman

Comedy Album

"The Closer" — Dave Chappelle"Comedy Monster" — Jim Gaffigan"A Little Brains, A Little Talent" — Randy Rainbow"Sorry" — Louis CK"We All Scream" — Patton Oswalt

Musical Theater Album

"Caroline, Or Change" — John Cariani, Sharon D Clarke, Caissie Levy & Samantha Williams, principal vocalists; Van Dean, Nigel Lilley, Lawrence Manchester, Elliot Scheiner & Jeanine Tesori, producers; Jeanine Tesori, composer; Tony Kushner, lyricist (New Broadway Cast)"Into The Woods (2022 Broadway Cast Recording)" — Sara Bareilles, Brian d'Arcy James, Patina Miller & Phillipa Soo, principal vocalists; Rob Berman & Sean Patrick Flahaven, producers (Stephen Sondheim, composer & lyricist) (2022 Broadway Cast)"MJ The Musical" — Myles Frost & Tavon Olds-Sample, principal vocalists; David Holcenberg, Derik Lee & Jason Michael Webb, producers (Original Broadway Cast)"Mr. Saturday Night" — Shoshana Bean, Billy Crystal, Randy Graff & David Paymer, principal vocalists; Jason Robert Brown, Sean Patrick Flahaven & Jeffrey Lesser, producers; Jason Robert Brown, composer; Amanda Green, lyricist (Original Broadway Cast)"Six: Live On Opening Night" — Joe Beighton, Tom Curran, Sam Featherstone, Paul Gatehouse, Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss, producers; Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast)" A Strange Loop" — Jaquel Spivey, principal vocalist; Michael Croiter, Michael R. Jackson, Charlie Rosen & Rona Siddiqui, producers; Michael R. Jackson, composer & lyricist (Original Broadway Cast)

Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

"ELVIS" — (Various Artists)"Encanto" — (Various Artists)"Stranger Things: Soundtrack from the Netflix Series, Season 4 (Vol 2)" — (Various Artists)"Top Gun: Maverick" — Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga, Hans Zimmer & Lorne Balfe"West Side Story"" — (Various Artists)

Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (includes film and television)

"The Batman" — Michael Giacchino, composer"Encanto" — Germaine Franco, composer"No Time To Die" — Hans Zimmer, composer"The Power Of The Dog" — Jonny Greenwood, composer"Succession: Season 3" — Nicholas Britell, composer

Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media

"Aliens: Fireteam Elite" — Austin Wintory, composer"Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn Of Ragnarok" — Stephanie Economou, composer"Call Of Duty®: Vanguard" — Bear McCreary, composer"Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy" — Richard Jacques, composer"Old World" — Christopher Tin, composer

Song Written for Visual Media

"Be Alive" [From "King Richard"] — Beyoncé & Darius Scott Dixson, songwriters (Beyoncé)"Carolina" [From "Where The Crawdads Sing"] — Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)"Hold My Hand" [From "Top Gun: Maverick"] — Bloodpop® & Stefani Germanotta, songwriters (Lady Gaga)"Keep Rising (The Woman King)" [From "The Woman King"] — Angelique Kidjo, Jeremy Lutito & Jessy Wilson, songwriters (Jessy Wilson Featuring Angelique Kidjo)"Nobody Like U" [From "Turning Red"] — Billie Eilish & Finneas O'Connell, songwriters (4*Town, Jordan Fisher, Finneas O'Connell, Josh Levi, Topher Ngo, Grayson Villanueva)"We Don't Talk About Bruno" [From "Encanto"] — Lin-Manuel Miranda, songwriter (Carolina Gaitán - La Gaita, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & "Encanto" Cast)

Instrumental Composition

"African Tales" — Paquito D'Rivera, composer (Tasha Warren & Dave Eggar)"El País Invisible" — Miguel Zenón, composer (Miguel Zenón, José Antonio Zayas Cabán, Ryan Smith & Casey Rafn)"Fronteras (Borders) Suite: Al-Musafir Blues" — Danilo Pérez, composer (Danilo Pérez Featuring The Global Messengers)" Refuge" — Geoffrey Keezer, composer (Geoffrey Keezer)"Snapshots" — Pascal Le Boeuf, composer (Tasha Warren & Dave Eggar)

Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

"As Days Go By" (an arrangement of "The Family Matters" theme song)" — Armand Hutton, arranger (Armand Hutton Featuring Terrell Hunt & Just 6)"How Deep Is Your Love" — Matt Cusson, arranger (Kings Return)"Main Titles (Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness)" — Danny Elfman, arranger (Danny Elfman)"Minnesota, WI" — Remy Le Boeuf, arranger (Remy Le Boeuf)"Scrapple From The Apple" — John Beasley, arranger (Magnus Lindgren, John Beasley & The SWR Big Band Featuring Martin Aeur)

Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

"Let It Happen" — Louis Cole, arranger (Louis Cole)"Never Gonna Be Alone" — Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier Featuring Lizzy McAlpine & John Mayer)"Optimistic Voices / No Love Dying" — Cécile McLorin Salvant, arranger (Cécile McLorin Salvant)"Songbird (Orchestral Version)" — Vince Mendoza, arranger (Christine McVie)"2 + 2 = 5 (Arr. Nathan Schram)" — Nathan Schram & Becca Stevens, arrangers (Becca Stevens & Attacca Quartet)

Recording Package

"Beginningless Beginning" — Chun-Tien Hsia & Qing-Yang Xiao, art directors (Tamsui-Kavalan Chinese Orchestra)"Divers" — William Stichter, art director (Soporus)"Everything Was Beautiful" — Mark Farrow, art director (Spiritualized)"Telos" — Ming Liu, art director (Fann)"Voyeurist" — Tnsn Dvsn, art director (Underoath)

Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

"Artists Inspired By Music: Interscope Reimagined" — Josh Abraham, Steve Berman, Jimmy Iovine, John Janick & Jason Sangerman, art directors (VariousArtists)"Big Mess" — Berit Gwendolyn Gilma, art director (Danny Elfman)"Black Pumas (Collector's Edition Box Set)" — Jenna Krackenberger, Anna McCaleb & Preacher, art directors (Black Pumas)"Book" — Paul Sahre, art director (They Might Be Giants)"In And Out Of The Garden: Madison Square Garden ’81 ’82 ’83" — Lisa Glines, Doran Tyson & Dave Van Patten, art directors (The Grateful Dead)

Album Notes

"The American Clavé Recordings" — Fernando González, album notes writer (Astor Piazzolla)"Andy Irvine & Paul Brady" — Gareth Murphy, album notes writer (Andy Irvine & Paul Brady)"Harry Partch, 1942" — John Schneider, album notes writer (Harry Partch)"Life's Work: A Retrospective" — Ted Olson, album notes writer (Doc Watson)"Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition)" — Bob Mehr, album notes writer (Wilco)

Historical Album

"Against The Odds: 1974-1982" — Tommy Manzi, Steve Rosenthal & Ken Shipley, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer; Tom Camuso, restoration engineer (Blondie)"The Goldberg Variations - The Complete Unreleased 1981 Studio Sessions" — Robert Russ, compilation producer; Martin Kistner, mastering engineer (Glenn Gould)"Life’s Work: A Retrospective" — Scott Billington, Ted Olson & Mason Williams, compilation producers; Paul Blakemore, mastering engineer (Doc Watson)"To Whom It May Concern..." — Jonathan Sklute, compilation producer; Kevin Marques Moo, mastering engineer (Freestyle Fellowship)"Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition)" — Cheryl Pawelski & Jeff Tweedy, compilation producers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Wilco)

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical

Amy AllenNija CharlesTobias Jesso Jr.The-DreamLaura Veltz

Engineered Album, Non-Classical

"Adolescence" — George Nicholas & Ryan Schwabe, engineers; Ryan Schwabe, mastering engineer (Baynk)"Black Radio III" — Daniel Farris, Tiffany Gouché, Keith Lewis, Musiq Soulchild, Reginald Nicholas, Q-Tip, Amir Sulaiman, Michael Law Thomas & Jon Zacks, engineers; Chris Athens, mastering engineer (Robert Glasper)"Chloë and the Next 20th Century" — Dave Cerminara & Jonathan Wilson, engineers; Adam Ayan, mastering engineer (Father John Misty)"Harry's House" — Jeremy Hatcher, Oli Jacobs, Nick Lobel, Mark "Spike" Stent & Sammy Witte, engineers; Randy Merrill, mastering engineer (Harry Styles)"Wet Leg" — Jon McMullen, Joshua Mobaraki, Alan Moulder & Alexis Smith, engineers; Matt Colton, mastering engineer (Wet Leg)

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Jack AntonoffDan AuerbachBoi-1daDahiDernst "D'mile" Emile II

Remixed Recording

"About Damn Time (Purple Disco Machine Remix)"" — Purple Disco Machine, remixer (Lizzo)"BREAK MY SOUL (Terry Hunter Remix)"" — Terry Hunter, remixer (Beyoncé)"Easy Lover (Four Tet Remix)" — Four Tet, remixer (Ellie Goulding)"Slow Song (Paul Woolford Remix)" — Paul Woolford, remixer (The Knocks & Dragonette)"Too Late Now (Soulwax Remix)" — Soulwax, remixers (Wet Leg)

Immersive Audio Album

"AGUILERA" — Jaycen Joshua, immersive mix engineer; Jaycen Joshua, immersive mastering engineer (Christina Aguilera)"Divine Tides" — Eric Schilling, immersive mix engineer; Stewart Copeland, Ricky Kej & Herbert Waltl, immersive producers (Stewart Copeland & Ricky Kej)"Memories...Do Not Open" — Mike Piacentini, immersive mix engineer; Mike Piacentini, immersive mastering engineer; Adam Alpert, Alex Pall, Jordan Stilwell & Andrew Taggart, immersive producers (The Chainsmokers)"Picturing The Invisible - Focus 1" — Jim Anderson, immersive mix engineer; Morten Lindberg & Ulrike Schwarz, immersive mastering engineers; Jane Ira Bloom & Ulrike Schwarz, immersive producers (Jane Ira Bloom)"Tuvayhun — Beatitudes For A Wounded World" — Morten Lindberg, immersive mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, immersive mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, immersive producer (Nidarosdomens Jentekor & Trondheimsolistene)

Engineered Album, Classical

"Bates: Philharmonia Fantastique - The Making Of The Orchestra" — Shawn Murphy, Charlie Post & Gary Rydstrom, engineers; Michael Romanowski, mastering engineer (Edwin Outwater & Chicago Symphony Orchestra)"Beethoven: Symphony No. 6; Stucky: Silent Spring" — Mark Donahue, engineer; Mark Donahue, mastering engineer (Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)"Perspectives" — Jonathan Lackey, Bill Maylone & Dan Nichols, engineers; Joe Lambert, mastering engineer (Third Coast Percussion)"Tuvayhun - Beatitudes For A Wounded World" — Morten Lindberg, engineer; Morten Lindberg, mastering engineer (Anita Brevik, Nidarosdomens Jentekor & Trondheimsolistene)"Williams: Violin Concerto No. 2 & Selected Film Themes" — Bernhard Güttler, Shawn Murphy & Nick Squire, engineers; Christoph Stickel, mastering engineer (Anne-Sophie Mutter, John Williams & Boston Symphony Orchestra)

Producer of the Year, Classical

Jonathan AllenChristoph FrankeJames GinsburgElaine MartoneJudith Sherman

Orchestral Performance

"Adams, John Luther: Sila - The Breath Of The World" — Doug Perkins, conductor (Musicians Of The University Of Michigan Department Of Chamber Music & University Of Michigan Percussion Ensemble)"Dvořák: Symphonies Nos. 7-9" — Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic)"Eastman: Stay On It" — Christopher Rountree, conductor (Wild Up)"John Williams - The Berlin Concert" — John Williams, conductor (Berliner Philharmoniker)"Works By Florence Price, Jessie Montgomery, Valerie Coleman" — Michael Repper, conductor (New York Youth Symphony)

Opera Recording

"Aucoin: Eurydice" — Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor; Barry Banks, Nathan Berg, Joshua Hopkins, Erin Morley & Jakub Józef Orliński; David Frost, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)"Blanchard: Fire Shut Up In My Bones" — Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor; Angel Blue, Will Liverman, Latonia Moore & Walter Russell III; David Frost, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)"Davis: X - The Life And Times Of Malcolm X" — Gil Rose, conductor; Ronnita Miller, Whitney Morrison, Victor Robertson & Davóne Tines; Gil Rose, producer (Boston Modern Orchestra Project; Odyssey Opera Chorus)

Choral Performance

"Bach: St. John Passion" — John Eliot Gardiner, conductor (English Baroque Soloists; Monteverdi Choir)"Born" — Donald Nally, conductor (Dominic German, Maren Montalbano, Rebecca Myers & James Reese; The Crossing)"Verdi: Requiem - The Met Remembers 9/11" — Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor; Donald Palumbo, chorus master (Michelle DeYoung, Eric Owens, Ailyn Pérez & Matthew Polenzani; The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)

Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

"Beethoven: Complete String Quartets, Volume 2 - The Middle Quartets" — Dover Quartet"Musical Remembrances" — Neave Trio"Perspectives" — Third Coast Percussion"Shaw: Evergreen" — Attacca Quartet"What Is American" — PUBLIQuartet

Classical Instrumental Solo

"Abels: Isolation Variation" — Hilary Hahn"Bach: The Art Of Life" — Daniil Trifonov"Beethoven: Diabelli Variations" — Mitsuko Uchida"Letters For The Future" — Time For Three; Xian Zhang, conductor (The Philadelphia Orchestra)"A Night In Upper Town - The Music Of Zoran Krajacic" — Mak Grgić

Classical Solo Vocal Album

"Eden" — Joyce DiDonato, soloist; Maxim Emelyanychev, conductor (Il Pomo D’Oro)"How Do I Find You" — Sasha Cooke, soloist; Kirill Kuzmin, pianist"Okpebholo: Lord, How Come Me Here?" — Will Liverman, soloist; Paul Sánchez, pianist (J’Nai Bridges & Caen Thomason-Redus)"Stranger - Works For Tenor By Nico Muhly" — Nicholas Phan, soloist (Eric Jacobson; Brooklyn Rider & The Knights; Reginald Mobley)"Voice Of Nature - The Anthropocene" — Renée Fleming, soloist; Yannick Nézet-Séguin, pianist

Best Classical Compendium

"An Adoption Story" — Starr Parodi & Kitt Wakeley; Jeff Fair, Starr Parodi & Kitt Wakeley, producers"Aspire" — JP Jofre & Seunghee Lee; Enrico Fagone, conductor; Jonathan Allen, producer"A Concert For Ukraine" — Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor; David Frost, producer"The Lost Birds" — Voces8; Barnaby Smith & Christopher Tin, conductors; Sean Patrick Flahaven & Christopher Tin, producers

Contemporary Classical Composition

"Akiho: Ligneous Suite" — Andy Akiho, composer (Ian Rosenbaum & Dover Quartet)"Bermel: Intonations" — Derek Bermel, composer (Jack Quartet)"Gubaidulina: The Wrath Of God" — Sofia Gubaidulina, composer (Andris Nelsons & Gewandhausorchester)"Puts: Contact" — Kevin Puts, composer (Xian Zhang, Time for Three & The Philadelphia Orchestra)"Simon: Requiem For The Enslaved" — Carlos Simon, composer (Carlos Simon, MK Zulu, Marco Pavé & Hub New Music)

Music Video

"Easy On Me" — Adele; Xavier Dolan, video director; Xavier Dolan & Nancy Grant, video producers"Yet To Come" — BTS; Yong Seok Choi, video director; Tiffany Suh, video producer"Woman" — Doja Cat; Child., video director; Missy Galanida, Sam Houston, Michelle Larkin & Isaac Rice, video producers"The Heart Part 5" — Kendrick Lamar; Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar, video directors; Jason Baum & Jamie Rabineau, video producers"As It Was" — Harry Styles; Tanu Muino, video director; Frank Borin, Ivanna Borin, Fred Bonham Carter & Alexa Haywood, video producers"All Too Well: The Short Film" — Taylor Swift; Taylor Swift, video director; Saul Germaine, video producer

Music Film

"Adele One Night Only" — Adele; Paul Dugdale, video director; Raj Kapoor & Ben Winston, video producers"Our World" — Justin Bieber; Michael D. Ratner, video director; Kfir Goldberg, Andy Mininger & Scott Ratner, video producers"Billie Eilish Live At The O2" — Billie Eilish; Sam Wrench, video director; Michelle An, Tom Colbourne, Chelsea Dodson & Billie Eilish, video producers"Motomami (Rosalía Tiktok Live Performance)" — Rosalía; Ferrán Echegaray, Rosalía Vila Tobella & Stillz, video directors"Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story" — (Various Artists); Frank Marshall & Ryan Suffern, video directors; Frank Marshall, Sean Stuart & Ryan Suffern, video producers"A Band A Brotherhood A Barn" — Neil Young & Crazy Horse; Dhlovelife, video director; Gary Ward, video producer

It's a date

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[whatdoesshedotothem]

: Thursday 20 April 1837

7 35

11 ½

Slept in K.C. as since the 11th A- much better her cousin come fine but morning but no sun and F41° now at 8 ¾ - cast off this morning my woollen sock (worn under my black worsted stockings) and one double black silk handkerchief from round my throat – now wearing 1 double black silk and 2 thicknesses of coarse flannel – went into the hall cellar for wine – no! called down to Thomas Pearson 1st who came like John Bottomley yesterday to buy hay – 11d. per stock – none to sell – then in the hall cellar – out about (after) 11 – with Booth the mason about 1 thing or other – he in his greatcoat – I came in again for my 2nd double silk handkerchief about my throat – at the meer – with Robert Mann + 4 puddling about the meer-clow stone pen-trough – Mr. Husband had ordered Booth to drill into the face of it on iron grating contrary to my orders to Mr. H- himself and to Booth – I had said it should be put 2 or 3ft. back into the pen-trough so as not to be seen from a boat on the meer – annoyed – said I would not have Mr. H- or anybody else contradicting my orders – came in about 1 – sat with A- at her luncheon and had 4 oranges I have been feverish ever since my taking Mr. Jubb’s pills – Mr. Harper about 2 – waited for Mr. Gray laid up with a putrid sore throat somewhere in the east riding and could not come – H- had luncheon – with him from about 2 ¾ to leaving him at the proposed new engine Platform at the top of the bank at 7 25 – talked over Mr. Husband – Mr. Harper behaved exceedingly well about him – he would not be wanted at Northgate after June, and the mill etc etc could go on quite well without him – could send me plenty more in his place but they would be a speculation like Mr. Husband and might or not answer better – Mr. Harper gave me a rough draft of advertisement of the hotel – I thought it could not be improved - I merely crossed out the 3 words (in the centre) of the populous town etc leaving the sentence in the town of etc etc H- at last agreed for the advertisement to appear immediately – we mentioned the following newspapers London Times, Morning Herald, ditto Post and Examiner Edinburgh North Britain advertiser – 1 Glasgow paper 1 Manchester –

1 Liverpool

1 Leeds

2 H-x

Galignani?

Mr. Husband had made 2 mistakes in the great room (Casino) the door from the kitchen part should have opened into the middle of an archway (9?in. out of the centre) and the room (9in.) shorter than marked on the plan – the kitchen fire-place (too) so low not room to set a good proper fireplace apparatus – But, on the whole, Mr. Harper never had [fewer] mistakes made in a building of that magnitude – Braithwaite of the George Inn York thought well of the hotel – if he wanted a place would be glad of it and to pay a very good rent – H- had had no time to think of the mechanics Institute – as to my plan of giving the ground conditionally, he agreed with me that an actuary (I mentioned Morgan) should be consulted – the mechanics Institute at York falling off – they probably all would bin 10 years – could not pay the salaries now – wanted to bring in the subscribers (H- gave £50) as answerable for these but H- resisted said I should merely say in answer that I should not like to run any risk of the building being appropriated to any purpose that I might not like in case of the failure of the Institution and that if this matter could not be settled to my satisfaction I should decline selling or letting any part of my ground for the projected building – shewed H- over the outbuildings – the laundry brewhouse coach house (laundry court – he approved my plan) all to be settled about tomorrow then explained my plan about the front of the house – no banking up according to Mr. Gray’s plan at the low end of the front – H- agreed with me when I shewed him the very pretty point of view down the valley we should narrow and spoil – then down to the meer-clow – thinks the stone pen-trough will not answer – the water will ooze thro’ the joints at the top – I proposed a drain on the top of the pen-trough – then to raise the present covers – then walked round the meer and thro’ the wood and pointed out the place for a Dutch barn – much approved – H- did not reckon quite 1 yard cube of space per ton of hay – I said this at least would be required – then climbed up the wood looked into the Lodge-well, and went to the top of the bank – H- could not so well carry off the smoke from Walsh land – recommended the other side of the road (in John Bottomley’s field) – had meant to propose a straight line of Incline – satisfied with the present plan – the engine would have had double work before – would not have answered – useless wheels in the plan – the engineer not quite knowing perhaps what he was about – now all would be simple and easy – Mr. H- to look at A-‘s water Lane mill and cottages and be here between 1 and 2 tomorrow – all the people to come here to meet him – left him about 7 35 – returned as fast as I could – dressed – dinner at 8 – Had Joseph Mann from 9 to 10 – then coffee – A- poorly and went to bed at 10 ½ - JM- had come about the Whiskum road (whether Nelson to cart down toll-free flags for the Northgate – no!) and about a turn for Listerwick pit – JM- to do all about the meer-drift clow (the remainder of the puddling and the passage down to it) and to begun to finish the Little field cistern immediately – Light rain showers frequently during the day F48° at 10 40 pm

[nomanwalksalone]

BASTARDIZATION

by Réginald-Jérôme de Mans

Today’s topic has everything to do with bastards, illegitimate marriages of heretical ideas that could make #menswear purists blanche. As with much of what’s viewed as heresy or blasphemy against classic menswear, the garment pictured springs forth from the 1960s, both directly and indirectly.  Bastardization, of course, is all about that indirectness, that genealogical “collateral” line. And yet mutts are sometimes the most beautiful and intelligent of animals… at least to this beholder.

I came to my #menswear cropper through a love for 1960s vividness, even recognizing that its Technicolor thrills were largely phenomena confined to a privileged middle and upper class. Still, the cinematic glories of Terence Stamp, Michael Caine, David Hemmings and others made an impression on my suburban adolescent self, as did David Bailey’s photographs. And, of course, Connery’s Bond. Today James Bond is trapped in a postmodern funhouse mirror of reboots and reimaginings, licensed more to retail brand names than to kill. The more stylish heir to Connery’s infamously politically incorrect Bond is the gloriously profane cartoon hero Sterling Archer, he who coined the portmanteau word “tactleneck”, the tactical turtleneck in the deepest black and the finest materials that accompanies him on all his most sensitive missions. In a review of Archer’s and Bond’s shirtmaker Turnbull & Asser, I noted that T&A are missing out on what could be a fruitful collaboration with Archer, being as they are the inventors of another glorious bastard turtleneck from my 1960s period of inspiration.

Warren Beatty and Hemmings, who famously sported searingly striped shirts (another T&A staple) as a fashion photographer in Blow-Up, modelled it, but it was Lord (not Edward) Snowdon who made this design most famous when he was turned away from a soirée in New York City for wearing it: a tuxedo shirt made out of silk with a turtleneck collar without any space for a bow tie. The design was bizarre but awesome: the simplicity of a turtleneck meant no studs, cummerbund or waistcoat, or the aforementioned bow tie. To my mind it’s aged rather better than the ruffled front tux shirt George Lazenby sports in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.  

According to my pal @voxsartoria, this shirt’s design was the brainchild of T&A’s creative cutter at the time, Robert Clark, who had come up with other bizarrely inventive models, such as the Clarney, a hunting shirt with a cravat in the same cloth as the shirt built in. There’s no word on whether he also designed a shirt called the Charney, after Dov of ill fame, that would sexually harass the wearer.  

I hate tying a bow tie, even if thanks to Bruce Boyer’s latest book I now know that it more or less ties like a shoelace, so I wanted to have my own tactleneck, my tactical response for dealing with black tie that cuts through the fuss and bulk of putting on a dress set and a cummerbund, among other things. But bringing back an inspiration had its issues – as Jurassic Park suggested, every resuscitation results in some genetic variation. For one, T&A only offered it as a bespoke model and never came out with a ready-to-wear version, even though T&A’s currently doing all sorts of archive editions of famous designs, so it’s a design only available custom. However, as with other items of bespoke gimmickry, apparent simplicity hid significant artifice. In order not to show its closure, the T&A version buttoned up the back, something impossible to do on my own in my valet-free class and age.

No, additional bastardization was called for. I had my own shirtmaker create a new pattern for a turtleneck-collared shirt that buttoned up the side, keeping the closure out of sight but far easier to do up, rather like the buttoning on old fencing jackets (they use Velcro now). That inspiration also came from a 1960s T&A design, in this case the side-buttoning Cossack-style shirts that they popularized after having made models for Omar Sharif to wear in Doctor Zhivago (Omar was a loyal fellow who continued to patronize T&A for decades thereafter). The collar still has to button around the back, but that can be done on my own with a lot of swearing.

In true bastard fashion I did not go back to the source, to the Churchill Room at Turnbull & Asser to have this shirt made. New customers at most English shirtmakers are required to place a minimum order of three or six shirts, and I don’t have any call for that. I instead tested one of my current shirtmakers’ skills in asking him to create a completely new pattern for an odd shirt design. Among other things I knew I could trust him to fit a test shirt on me before making the actual shirt up, something the British don’t do.

A more practical query would be why I didn’t just use a knitted turtleneck in cashmere or cotton, since those stretch and don’t need to be cut and fitted.  Even at their finest, however, knits can still add more bulk under a sportcoat than a woven cloth, and they just don’t have the sheen of silk. Nor do knits usually have French cuffs for cufflinks.  (For some reasons, the original T&A design had button cuffs despite being made for black tie; I changed that.) Good silk for making shirts is rather hard to find; even though 50 years ago it seems to have been the material of choice for better business shirts and formal wear shirts, to judge by mentions in those Bond novels that helped launch Connery.  Nonetheless, silk is far more delicate and difficult to clean than, and generally doesn’t breathe nearly as well as, cotton. There are wonderful cottons available now that have some of silk’s luster and fineness, but in homage to my inspirations I too wanted this shirt in silk. I know that the cloth house David & John Anderson has a book of silks called “Jade” (their finer cotton books are named after diamonds and emeralds, so “Jade” is obviously a bow to China where silk weaving first originated). That book might as well exist in name only, as it was impossible to obtain, but DJA’s sister company Thomas Mason had a fine ivory silk twill that we made this up in.  

The result, an obvious bastardization of black tie – tieless, waistcoatless, sashless. It looked and felt exactly as I had intended – different and yet somehow elegant in its own way, at least in my own mind – the offwhite ivory color less severe than a pure white would have been, the silk’s sheen and softness elegantly replacing conventional collar and bowtie. A tactile tactic better, in my own admittedly biased view, than the dark necktie or other inglorious bastardizations that pass for creative black tie nowadays.

Quality content, like quality clothing, ages well. This article first appeared on the No Man blog in 2018.

[per-the-jellicle-magician]

Robert "Silk" Mason as Mistoffelees during curtain call at last night's dress rehearsal of Cats: the Jellice Ball aka Cats PAC NYC

[for-the-blerds-fan-blog]

Episode 44: A conversation with Jesus

Music kicks off with "22" and "Partments" x Kenny Mason(8:52).

DFD appreciation moment (11:29).

Shilo Dynasty (15:32).

"I'm still waiting" x Laura Mvula(17:36).

"Green Garden x Laura Mvula(21:58).

So.Incredible.pkg x Robert Glasper(23:41).

"Leave the Door Open" x Silk Sonic(28:18).

"Scary Hours 2" x Drake commentary(35:20).

Anime chat starts here(51:33).

Akudama Drive and the issue with some shorter anime(55:52).

"Angel Beats" wrap-up(1:04:00).

"Trigun" first impressions(1:12:25).

"Michiko and Hatchin" early impressions(1:17:40).

"Your Lie in April" is great(1:24:20).

"Dare Ga Itta" starts here(1:32:20).

Gaming chat is here(1:37:05).

[doomsdayhq]

welcome to your life  ⎯  there’s no turning back

welcome to the chaos  ,  ally  (  diego hargreeves ,  david castañeda )  ,  andie  (  vanya hargreeves ,  ellen page )  ,  ani  ( five hargreeves , gavin leatherwood )  , cait  ( delilah hargreeves , allison scagliotti )  , j  ( francesca aguilar , kat graham )  , jay  ( nikora “niko” hargreeves , jordan fisher )  , jude  ( ben hargreeves , justin min )  , k  ( klaus hargreeves , robert sheehan )  , lily  ( alice peirce , danielle campbell )  , pisces  ( elena hargreeves , jeanine mason )  , raquel  ( zain hargreeves , avan jogia )  .  we're so happy to have you  ,  and we hope that you don't mess up the timelines too badly  . . .  again  .  now that you're ready to settle in  ,  please head on over to our checklist  (  linked in source  )  and make sure you give it a read before you send in your accounts  !  we can't wait to write with you  !  before we go  ,  let us we leave you with a wise quote from the scriptures of the prophet  :  young man  ,  there's no need to feel down .  i said , young man  ,  pick yourself off the ground  .

* admin note ! we did change the ages of some characters to line up with the timeline ⎯ they were all minor changes , but all gifted characters ( except the umbrella academy ) are currently 29 and will be turning 30 in a month !

⌈  DAVID CASTANEDA  ,  30  ,  CIS MALE  ,  TRAJECTORY MANIPULATION  ⌋    oh ,  of  course  you  know  about  DIEGO HARGREEVES !  you  know ,  NUMBER  2  of  the  UMBRELLA  ACADEMY ?  dad  always  said  that  HE  is  BRASH  &  SELF-CONSCIOUS ,  but  mom  would've  said   they’re HEROIC  &  SENTIMENTAL .  they’ve  always  reminded  me  of a volley of sharp knives , leather harnesses and boots , heavily practiced martial arts skills , the occasional stuttered utterance , and  time  jumps  haven't   changed  that . i  can’t  wait  to  see  how  this  pans  out  ! 

⌈  ELLEN PAGE  ,  30 ,  CIS FEMALE  ,  SOUND MANIPULATION  ⌋    oh ,  of  course  you  know  about  VANYA HARGREEVES !  you  know ,  NUMBER  7  of  the  UMBRELLA  ACADEMY ?  dad  always  said  that  SHE  is  UNSTABLE  &  AWKWARD ,  but  mom  would've  said   they’re  STUBBORN  &  HARDWALKING .  they’ve  always  reminded  me  of  violin strings , flowing water , crackling fire , and old book smell ,  and  time  jumps  haven't   changed  that .  i  can’t  wait  to  see  how  this  pans  out ! 

⌈  GAVIN LEATHERWOOD ,  18/59 ,  CIS MALE ,  SPACE-TIME JUMPS   ⌋    oh ,  of  course  you  know  about  FIVE HARGREEVES !  you  know ,  NUMBER  5  of  the  UMBRELLA  ACADEMY ? dad  always  said  that  HE  is  OBSESSIVE &  CANTANKEROUS ,  but  mom  would've  said   they’re  PRAGMATIC  &  INTELLIGENT .  they’ve  always  reminded  me  of  smirk holding back barely contained aggression , a lanky teenager dressed in a blooded school uniform, ineligible calculations scribbled into a coffee stained book,  judge jury & executioner ,  and  time  jumps  haven't   changed  that .  i  can’t  wait  to  see  how  this  pans  out ! 

⌈  ALLISON SCAGLIOTTI ,  29 ,  SHE/HER ,  ELECTRICITY MANIPULATION ⌋    oh ,  of  course  you  know  about  DELILAH HARGREEVES !  you  know ,  NUMBER 2  of  the  SPARROW  ACADEMY ?  dad  keeps  saying  that  SHE  is  RECKLESS  &  STUBBORN ,  but  pogo  would  say  they’re  RESOURCEFUL  &  TRUSTWORTHY .  they’ve  always  reminded  me  of   worn out converses resting on a table , the sound of lightning striking , the smell of the first cup of coffee in the morning , the feel of goosebumps on your skin even  more  now  they’re  under  pressure .  i  can’t  wait  to  see  how  this  pans  out !

⌈  KAT GRAHAM  ,  29  ,  FEMALE  ,  THE ABILITY TO BRING IMAGINARY BEINGS IN & OUT OF CREATION   ⌋   oh ,  have  you  heard  about  FRANCESCA ' FANCY ' AGUILAR  ?  they  showed  up  at  the  academy  10 DAYS  ago  all  the  way  from  CHICAGO  ?  i  got  the  impression  that  SHE is  STUBBORN  &  HOT-TEMPERED  ,  but  they  might  be  HONEST  &  HUMBLE  for  all  we  know  .  they  remind  me  of  candy glossed lips all the time , soft voice drips off their tongue like honey , pink glitter with a dash of blood, becoming the monster in the dark ,  but  maybe  all  this  chaos  will  change  that  .  i  can’t  wait  to  see  how  this  pans  out  !

⌈  JORDAN FISHER ,  29 ,  CIS MALE ,  PATHOKINESIS  ⌋    oh ,  of  course  you  know  about  NIKORA “NIKO”  HARGREEVES !  you  know ,  NUMBER  6  of  the  SPARROW  ACADEMY ?  dad  keeps  saying  that  HE  is  STOIC  &  ALOOF ,  but  pogo  would  say  they’re  ASTUTE  &  ALTRUISTIC .  they’ve  always  reminded  me  of  oversized sweaters to conceal a tiny frame , the sound of waves crashing ,  a heavy chest from holding in tears , and memories that never leave your mind even  more  now  they’re  under  pressure .  i  can’t  wait  to  see  how  this  pans  out !

⌈  JUSTIN MIN ,  29 ,  MALE ,  CAN SUMMON ELDRITCH TENTACLES FROM A PORTAL IN HIS CHEST  ⌋    oh ,  of  course  you  know  about  BEN HARGREEVES !  you  know ,  NUMBER  1  of  the SPARROW  ACADEMY ?  dad  keeps  saying  that  HE  is  NAUSEATING  &  MOODY ,  but  pogo  would  say  they’re  INTELLIGENT  &  LOYAL .  they’ve  always  reminded  me  of  the crinkle of leather in spring weather , the smell of a book , black is the new black , silently correcting your grammar , taste of blood behind unwavering lips , caught in the rain without an umbrella even  more  now  they’re  under  pressure .  i  can’t  wait  to  see  how  this  pans  out !

⌈ ROBERT SHEEHAN ,  33 TECHNICALLY ,  GENDER-FLUID ,  COMMUNING WITH THE DEAD  ⌋    oh ,  of  course  you  know  about  KLAUS HARGREEVES !  you  know ,  NUMBER  00.04  of  the  UMBRELLA  ACADEMY ?  dad  always  said  that  HE/THEY  is  NEGLIGENT &  SELF-SERVING ,  but  mom  would've  said   they’re  CREATIVE  &  RESILIENT .  they’ve  always  reminded  me  of  cigarette smoking wafting past a lamp post at midnight , an isolation amongst a crowd , black satin dampened by rain water , the smell of patchouli and sweat with a taste of gunpower on your tongue , the blunt edge of a razor blade gliding over multiple layers or tape ,  and  time  jumps  haven't   changed  that .  i  can’t  wait  to  see  how  this  pans  out !

⌈  DANIELLE CAMPBELL  ,  29  ,  FEMALE  ,  UMBRAKINESIS  ⌋   oh ,  have  you  heard  about  ALICE PEIRCE  ?  they  showed  up  at  the  academy  3  DAYS  ago  all  the  way  from  ROMANIA  ?  i  got  the  impression  that  SHE  is  TEMPERED  &  BLUNT ,  but  they  might  be  VEHEMENT  &  OBSERVANT  for  all  we  know  .  they  remind  me  of  the first snowfall spouting layers of ivory , lazy mornings curled up in black silk sheets with messy curls , darkness underneath such an innocent look that put angels to shame ,  an allure to the darkness ,  but  maybe  all  this  chaos  will  change  that  .  i  can’t  wait  to  see  how  this  pans  out  !

⌈  JEANINE MASON ,  29 , CIS GENDER ,  FIRE MANIPULATION  ⌋    oh ,  of  course  you  know  about  ELENA HARGREEVES !  you  know ,  NUMBER  FOUR  of  the  SPARROW  ACADEMY ?  dad  keeps  saying  that  SHE  is  NAIVE  &  STUBBORN ,  but  pogo  would  say  they’re  ENERGETIC  &  LOVING .  they’ve  always  reminded  me  of  paper cuts from turning the page too quick, lighting candles with a flick of her wrist, wiping tears away after hurt feelings, burning every flower she tries to plant ,  even  more  now  they’re  under  pressure .  i  can’t  wait  to  see  how  this  pans  out !

⌈  AVAN JOGIA ,  29 ,  CISMALE ,  ENHANCED SPEED ⌋    oh ,  of  course  you  know  about  ZAIN HARGREEVES  !  you  know ,  NUMBER  3 of  the  SPARROW  ACADEMY ?  dad  keeps  saying  that  HE  is   MALADROIT  &  AMENDABLE ,  but  pogo  would  say  they’re   SANGUINE  &  DILIGENT .  they’ve  always  reminded  me  of  stacks of books with tattered pages, the smell of a freshly blown out candle, a gust of cool wind blowing through a hot day, and empty grand old library filled with undiscovered books , even  more  now  they’re  under  pressure .  i  can’t  wait  to  see  how  this  pans  out !

[asterdeer]

1, 5, 8, 10, 16, 22, 29, 33 and 34!

1. if you were to have Hanahaki disease, what flowers would you cough up?african violets 

5. what would you be a god/goddess of and what would people sacrifice to you?i dream of being a minor god of knowledge and beauty and books and paper and trees and my altar is always decorated by letters their senders were too uncertain to send to their intended recipients, scraps of favorite poems, dried leaves and cones strung on garlands and wreaths and crowns, dictionary pages with favorite words highlighted or underlined, tiny unwanted baby saplings pulled from gardens like weeds, old postcards, odd little tchochkes unearthed from old thrift stores; part of my altars would always be little free libraries with extra copies of favorite books, already dog-eared and annotated, along with cuttings from houseplants and herbs

8. what combination of natural scents would you use as perfume?rosemary, cardamom, pine, and tomato plant

10. describe yourself as if you were a storm.a storm with deep, dense clouds, so thick the air turns gray, with wisps of startlingly cold wind, not much rain until the bottom drops out, a quick angry rain and then it’s gone and the sun comes out like it was never obscured at all

16. describe your ideal fantasy outfitlincoln green tights, obviously; short green undertunic, darker and softer and sleeveless and embroidered around the neckline; a pretty beaded belt under a ridiculously drapeful opalescent silk robe with the giantest bell sleeves, and maybe this is a fantasy but “flower gathering” by robert frost is embroidered across the back and mary oliver lines down the sleeves, and the fabric of the robe shifts pale colors but the lining around the sleeves and hems is deep deep orange. thick heeled boots are a must, and many iron and silver rings, and three woven chokers with rocks bound into them

22. tell us, in detail, about a curse a witch would put on you.there’s a forest i love and the witch curses me so the trees won’t love me back - it sends spiders down my shirt and snakes up my shins and it won’t let me find the berries or the healthy mushrooms for eating, it makes the shadows darker and the light brighter so i can’t navigate, it switchbacks the paths and gets me lost from the campsites, and as much as i want to still love the forest it’s hard to stay in it when it doesn’t love me back and i can’t even lean in to smell the sap of a pine without the scent sending a rash up my arms 

29. vials or mason jars?both have their place but i’m a vial bitch always

33. if you were a fairy, what color would your wings be?orange and silver

34. if you could have any magical item, what would it be?a pair of enchanted silver garden shears that, when used to snip a flower or a sprig of herbs from their stem, lets the plant grow back twice as full and vital. if used for pruning, the shears gently guide your hands to the right places to trim in order to coax the plant into the healthiest state they can be. every time you use the shears a little bit more of your hand turns green. you always smell like the last plant you trimmed or harvested.

[onimiman]

Film Review: Watchmen: The Ultimate Cut (2009)

On the tenth anniversary of the film Watchmen’s theatrical release, I decided to rewatch the film, only this time, I would watch the film’s Ultimate Cut. Whereas the theatrical cut ran approximately 2 hours and 42 minutes (including closing credits), the Ultimate Cut ran at 3 hours and 35 minutes (again, including closing credits). Having watched this film as a teenager and loving it to the point that for a few years, I’d called it my favorite film ever, I went into watching the Ultimate Cut with trepidation; I had feared that now that I was in my adulthood, I might not look so favorably toward the film as I had when I was a teen. I also feared that if I were to still enjoy the film, I hoped that it would not stem from a blind sense of nostalgia and that I would look upon this less favorably anyway. A similar feeling came over me a few years ago when I had rewatched Tim Burton’s Batman.

So what did I think of the Ultimate Cut of Watchmen? i absolutely loved it, and what few gripes I do have with it are so minute that I wished I wouldn’t even have to mention them here. And I can say with utmost certainty that not only did this movie stand the (albeit so far small) test of time of a decade, but if anything, it made me wonder if this film would have been more successful, critically and financially, if it had been released sometime this decade, what with R-rated films like Deadpool and Logan being so successful in both areas. 

But enough about all this prelude. What was it that I loved about this film? What I love about this film, as I did when I was a teenager, was something that had been simultaneously praised and criticized even at the time of this film’s release, which was its faithful adherence to the source material and making only the most necessary of changes for it to be at all filmable. The film’s strength stems largely because of the graphic novel from which it is based, as Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen is not only considered to be one of the greatest comics of all time, it’s considered a landmark piece of English literature in general such that it, as a piece of the superhero genre, can be studied on serious thematic levels in colleges and universities (I’d cite my sources, but admittedly, I am quite lazy in that regard; but don’t take my word for it, look it up).

The film, like the graphic novel, is set in a fairly realistic world, much like our own in 1985, but with the twist of superheroes existing within it. The story showcases these heroes’ now-outlawed influence on this world, as that influence (namely from Dr. Manhattan) has led the U.S. and U.S.S.R. to the point where nuclear Armageddon is more of a possibility than even during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The plot follows the investigation of one such outlawed vigilante, Rorschach (who, btw, is one of my favorite characters in all of fiction), who is looking into the death of the Comedian, a controversial (to say the least) hero who has been mysteriously murdered. Rorschach’s investigation leads him to a “mask killer” theory that, as time goes on and the threat of nuclear annihilation looms ever so closer, gains more credence as more of his fellow heroes, including himself, are attacked by an unknown powerful figure. With the aid of Nite-Owl and Silk Spectre, two of his former colleagues, Rorschach aims to find out who the mask killer is and ultimately uncover the possibility of that killer’s involvement with the impending global doom.

The film’s plot, like the novel, is given a fair amount of focus and does get a resolution that is as satisfying as it was unexpected (something that Rian Johnson seems to have trouble with when it comes to Star Wars: The Last Jedi). However, both the film and comic’s attention on the plot itself is surprisingly minimal compared to its focus on its own character studies, which is the core strength of both the film and comic. So let’s go into our six lead characters.

1. Rorschach: As I mentioned before, Rorschach has been one of my favorite characters in all of fiction, and here, he is probably given the most faithful depiction on the silver screen. Jackie Earle Haley’s performance as Rorschach is, in my opinion, more Oscar-worthy than something like Black Panther, as it is abundantly clear just how well Haley understood this character. He portrays an incredibly damaged sociopath with an uncompromising view of black-and-white morality so well that it makes me sad that Haley never gets the respect for playing this character as well as Ryan Reynolds does for playing Deadpool, Hugh Jackman for Wolverine, Kevin Conroy or Michael Keaton for playing Batman, or Robert Downey, Jr. for playing Iron Man. My hat goes out to you, Mr. Haley. Your performance here rates 10/10 for me still. :)

2. Nite-Owl a.k.a. Dan Dreiberg: As a teenager, I had an underappreciation for both the character of Dan Dreiberg and for Patrick Wilson’s portrayal of him. While I thought then that Wilson had done a good job playing Dreiberg, I didn’t much care for the character in general as a teen, as I thought that he was just a boring everyman. As an adult, however, I found both the character and Wilson’s performance to be as important as, if not more than, Rorschach and Haley’s performance of that character. Wilson’s portrayal of a defeated, pathetic sad-sack of a human being who has an underlying anxiety concerning the threat of nuclear annihilation is an important emotional anchor point for the film (and comic, of course); as entertaining as Rorschach is, I can imagine that not a whole lot of people can relate to him on a deep level. If Rorschach is the Jack Sparrow of what I can loosely call an adventure here, Dreiberg is Will Turner; you might not like him as much as the guy who gets the attention for his craziness, but you realize you need him as the everyman if you want your story to really work. 

3. Silk Spectre a.k.a. Laurie Jupiter: Unfortunately, while my opinion on Nite-Owl had changed, my opinion on Laurie Jupiter, as well as Malin Akerman’s performance, has not. I hate to say it, but she’s essentially the female equivalent of Dreiberg, and while she does have some interesting emotional turmoil going on, I don’t find the character to be particularly likable. And I think the biggest reason for that stems from Akerman’s performance; I find her to be too wooden and bland in her delivery. While Akerman does make the character more likable than in the comic, her eye candy appeal doesn’t distract me from the unconvincing performance that she delivers throughout the film.

4. Dr. Manhattan a.k.a. Jon Osterman: A character, and performance courtesy of Billy Crudup, that I gained more appreciation for, like Dreiberg and Wilson’s depiction of that character. The nihilism and disconnection from humanity that serves as the basis for Dr. Manhattan is one that is properly delivered by Crudup’s deliberately robotic performance, and as a character, he stands out as incredibly unique in fiction. As a fan of Rick and Morty, I find Dr. Manhattan to be what Rick Sanchez would be if he had less personalty and gave even less of a shit about the universe in which he inhabits. A nihilistic character can be hard to pull off without coming off as boring, yet the writing and Crudup’s performance manage to almost perfectly convey someone who maybe layered in disinterest, but who, at his core, still retains enough of a sliver of humanity that he wishes to find any reason to still be a part of it.

5. The Comedian a.k.a. Eddie Blake: Now here is a character that you probably wouldn’t see much of in the superhero genre. As unique as Dr. Manhattan is when it comes to his nihilism, Edward Morgan Blake is probably what would happen if Rick Sanchez were actually grounded in reality and his actions had legitimate consequences. Jeffrey Dean Morgan manages to play a despicable human being so incredibly well that even though he says and does some genuinely heinous things, like attempted rape or shooting a pregnant woman dead out of anger for slashing his face with a broken beer bottle because he wouldn’t agree to raise the baby that he impregnated her with, he still manages to come off as understandable and believably human. This is especially highlighted in a scene where he actually breaks down crying to someone who had been his enemy for decades. It’s a shockingly real depiction of a monster who is still all too human and it’s one that I don’t think would be depicted in the mainstream media these days. 

6. Ozymandias a.k.a. Adrian Veidt - As a teen, I thought that Matthew Goode’s performance as Veidt was dull, but now, like with Wilson and Crudup’s performance of their respective characters in this film, I now consider his performance to be an incredibly strong one. While giving this character a much more sinister and menacing air than the more tragic atmosphere surrounding Veidt in the comic, I can now assess that Goode is able to deliver a performance that is quite respectable for someone who can be reasonably argued to be the film and comic’s true hero rather than its villain. I don’t find it to be nearly to the same caliber as Josh Brolin’s performance as Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, but I’d say it’s at least within the same ballpark.

Now that we’re past the characters, I have to mention the extras that are part of the Ultimate Cut of this film and whether or not I think they add or subtract from the film’s quality overall. I can really only think of two scenes that I thought were unnecessary. The first is one early on that I thought made no sense, in which Rorschach somehow managed to survive being shot by a cop without even so much as flinching; it wasn’t even something that was from the book either, so what the hell? Also, I thought that including Hollis Mason’s death in the film was unnecessary, as it doesn’t really have a resolution, and that’s a criticism that I levy at the comic as well. However, in spite of these somewhat weak bits, I felt that the film’s inclusion of the Tales from the Black Freighter is one that lends some very interesting thematic weight to the film’s main story, just as that did in the comic. The Black Freighter sections were incredibly well animated, Gerard Butler put in a fantastic performance as the Captain, and it was a great representation of the comic-within-a-comic; I have no complaints here, but I do understand why it had to ultimately be cut from the film’s theatrical cut.

In conclusion, the film adaptation of Watchmen, as bolstered through most of the extra material of its Ultimate Cut, is not only an excellent adaptation of its source material, even if Alan Moore didn’t want his name attached to it, but it’s also a great film in its own right that I find to be incredibly underrated. I rate this movie 9.5/10.  

[weemsbotts]

Donning the White Apron: The Freemasons of Dumfries

By: Lisa Timmerman, Executive Director

When Squire Jesse Ewell placed his hands upon the white silk of his Masonic Apron, did he smile thinking of the obscure and often mythical tales surrounding the origins of Freemasonry or perhaps practice a speech as he prepared to meet other men of the Dumfries area? White privileged men welcomed the introduction of Freemasonry to the colonies in the 18th century as Masonic guilds recruited beyond literal stonemasons, eventually molding the former stonemasons’ guilds into a more philosophical and intellectual landscape. As the fraternity attracted even members of the royalty, men at all social levels looked to the secret organization to raise their social standing and develop advantageous networks.

While George Washington joined the Freemasonry at the lodge in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1752, the group, consisting mostly of Scotsmen, did not adhere to the strict regalia and met more informally. By 1778, the colony embraced masonry and established the Grand Lodge of Virginia in Williamsburg with nine chartered lodges spread throughout Virginia. Other major colonies embraced Freemasonry as well and in 1775, Prince Hall and other notable African American men turned to the British Freemasons after rejection by Boston’s all-white lodges. In 1784, Hall and others petitioned the Grand Lodge of England and formed the African Lodge No. 459; after Hall’s death, the remaining members elected to use the name “Prince Hall” for their fraternal organizations to distinguish themselves from the racist and prejudiced white lodges.

In 1875, Secretary Round recorded the origins of Dumfries Lodge No. 50 in the Minute Book of the Manasseh Lodge No. 182 and the William & Mary Quarterly later transcribed remaining records with a brief history of the Lodge. “The Most Worshipful Grand Master Robert Brooke having issued a dispensation to Brothers George Deneale, John Lawson and Charles S. O’Neale, to hold a regular lodge in the town of Dumfries, the county of Prince William, the authority of which expires this day, the committee took the papers under their consideration, and, Resolved as their opinion, that a Charter do issue…” The members included prominent Dumfries men, such as George Deneale, Alexander Lithgow, Mason Locke Weems, Willoughby Tebbs, and Thomas P. Botts among many others. From 1804 – 1828, the Lodge met at various places including near the Brick Tavern, John Overall’s Tavern, the Williams Ordinary, Dumfries Academy, near Captain William’s Tavern in the “Stone house”. By 1829, those same sources indicate the men met at “Masonic Hall”. Unfortunately, Round recorded the Dumfries Lodge extinction in 1849 after a fire ravaged the building along with most of the records apart from the Treasurer’s book. Surviving documents also include lists of the members from the 1800s-1810.

(HDVI Collections: This Apron (ca. 1700) belonged to Squire Jesse Ewell, son of Jesse Ewell of Bel-Air. Passed down from the family and gifted by Mrs. Hamilton upon the death of her brother)

Although we do not have surviving minutes from their meetings, we do have one of the most symbolic artifacts of the Freemason’s – Jesse Ewell’s Masonic apron. The Ewells’ passed this family artifact through the generations until Mrs. J.W. Hamilton gifted HDVI with it in 1979. While Masonic symbols can be interpreted in various ways, the compass and square are universally recognizable and largely concern a person’s conduct – honest, forthrightness, and moderation all deemed to be essential qualities for the organization. The apron itself refers to its’ utilitarian purpose and function for actual stonemasons and while the men may not be actual masons, the apron reminds them of the interpersonal “building” of character and spirituality. Apron’s appearance evolved over the course of the person’s service with the Lodge indicating their experience and preference.  

Freemasonry still sparks our imagination as we wonder and delight in thinking our early Americans practiced secret rituals, passing on information in codes for us to discover and uncover today. While we are sadly missing much information on the purported Dumfries masons, the apron reminds us of one of Dumfries many past lives as we still strain to imagine and hear the conversations of our early town’s inhabitants.

Note: Is it too early to think about October? One of our most requested programs, Ghost Walks, returns in a few weeks! Tickets are on sale for our outside ghost tour and inside paranormal investigation – offered every Friday & Saturday. For those wanting to take part of the festivities virtually, we are also hosting another Halloween tea featuring the history of monsters & eldritch beings along with suggestions for games and food! You can find all of our September & October programming here!

(Sources: HDVI Archives: Masonic Lodge – Dumfries, Va; Garlinghouse, Tom. Freemasons: Behind the veil of secrecy. LiveScience, https://www.livescience.com/freemasons.html; George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Masonic Associations & Freemasonry in Colonial America, https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/freemasonry/masonic-associations/, https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/freemasonry/freemasonry-in-colonial-america/; Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library Blog: Commemorating the 150th anniversary of Juneteenth Day, https://nationalheritagemuseum.typepad.com/library_and_archives/2015/06/juneteenth-and-african-american-freemasonry.html)