Editor’s note: The Press-Register holds exclusive global rights to reportage of the Masked Observer, a mysterious denizen of the leisure class who covers the local Mardi Gras scene.
If you’ve never witnessed the arrival of Joe Cain’s Merry Widows at Church Street Cemetery on “Sunday Gras,” you’ve simply never lived. Each year, the Observer assumes his perch atop crumbling brick for their welcome wails, but it isn’t the caterwauling he appreciates as much as the soundtrack. For they arrive to the honeyed peal of a lone clarinet — usually in the hands of an Excelsior — and the effect is mesmerizing.
Such memories gave the Masked One a sense of deja vu on Thursday night’s visit to the Order of Polka Dots’ renowned fete at the Mobile Civic Center. Except it wasn’t a clarinet spurring the reminiscence, but its big brother, the alto saxophone, deployed in service of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
“If there’s ever a new tradition for the Dots to start, it’s to always start the ball with beautiful tones just like that,” said the Observer’s social secretary, Floral Headpiece.
Dark Hallway, the Observer’s burly bodyguard, responded: “If there’s ever something new to add, how about they start the tableau on time?”
To be fair, the Dots were deep into the night before their 71st annual celebration commenced, and the natives were plenty restless, especially upon the realization that access to the Carnival comestibles was barred until 11 p.m.
“For a women’s society, you’d think they’d appreciate that it’s a school night,” one guest opined. To which her companion replied, “Maybe they’re taking advantage of the one night when they shouldn’t have to care.”
Even without ready sustenance, there was still copious entertainment, all under the theme, “Keys to the Kingdom.” The Sultry Siren of Carnival, the Gypsy Queen, began the show with her traditional saunter, followed by Queen Sharon, radiant in a sparkling gold gown. Cheers rained down twice upon the queen when it was announced she was being escorted by her son, a U.S. Marine Corps captain.
Many of the lovely Dots were surprisingly tame during the tableau, although their accessories were quite captivating. LED lights — all the rage at Mardi Gras 2020 — seemed to be everywhere in the arena, from the typical Toomey’s fare of headbands and gloves to more specific accouterments such as the brushes of the Chimney Sweeps, the bows and arrows of the Huntresses and the pulsing tambourines of the mystic Minstrels.
Speaking of the Minstrels, they clearly delighted in their celebrity, smacking each other on the fanny with their glowing noisemakers while prancing about in miniskirts and high boots.
There were Toymakers and Artists, Housekeepers and Barkeeps, all paying homage to Queen Sharon, who was the centerpiece of another exquisite Ron Barrett stage creation. For this year’s “kingdom,” Barrett and his inventive lieutenants erected an elegant European hamlet, bordered by soaring columns.
Spirits also soared after the tableau, especially among the merry maskers, with perhaps a few exceptions. As the hallway doors gave way to the guests, one Minstrel stumbled coming through and dropped her phone on the floor. She stared at it, wobbling, before finally barking a command to her date: “Damn it, you pick it up.”
In nearby Room 7 (we’ll get to the delicious menu it featured momentarily), one of the room marms parted the partygoers with shouts of, “I’ve got it! I’ve got it!” To which her escort, with cocktail in tow, announced, “There she is, everybody. For all of you wondering who it was that drank the most tonight, there she is.”
Such a scene might distract your average ball guest, but nothing could impede Dark Hallway’s advances on the room’s breakfast fare. Overflowing pans of egg casserole, shrimp and grits, and bacon-wrapped mini-biscuits were highlights, but the star was the affable chef wielding his skillet for high-end grilled-cheese sandwiches.
True to Polka Dot form, live music was as abundant as the chow, with Journey 2 Mars and the D Play Band alternating on the arena stages while the feminine flair of the Wellborn Band brought power to the wings around the corner.
"dazzling" - Google News
February 17, 2020 at 03:37AM
https://ift.tt/38zYNYa
Masked Observer enjoys the sweet and dazzling Polka Dots - AL.com
"dazzling" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2SitLND
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Masked Observer enjoys the sweet and dazzling Polka Dots - AL.com"
Post a Comment