New Year's Eve Dinner: Glazed BBQ Country Cut Pork with a roasted Cabbage Salad mixed with Green Bell Pepper, grated raw Carrot and Bacon in a Dijon Vinaigrette Dressing

 

Shakespeare Theatre Company: As You Like It

Simon Godwin at STC has done it again.  He's found an outstanding regional production and brought it to DC.  "As You Like It" is a mash-up of Shakespeare and the Beatles set in the 1960's flower power, Love-Peace-and-Rock 'n Roll culture.  Originally conceived of by Daryl Cloran of Vancouver's Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival in Canada.  Sixteen of the twenty-five cast members came with the show.  It is a vivacious and self-effacing production that is simpy, Fun, Fun, FUN.

The first act is set in a WWW-esque wrestling syndicate complete with a 20 minute pre-show pair of off the charts grudge matches feature some of the characters.  The emcee is hilarious and you set you heart on the promise of a wonderful experience.  A promise full-filled.  By the start of the second act, the actions and the set has transformed to the Arden Woods.  The wrestling ring is replaced with trees and a VW van festooned with flowers.

A fresh cast is a joy, and this one was especially enjoyable.  They clearly loved what they were giving and for the minor weaknesses, joy can cover little sins.  The strength of the voices was uneven.  Fortunately, they belonged to actors playing minor rolls.  And it might have a tech issue, certainly some of the actors knew exactly how resonate in the space.  By tossing in 22 Beatles numbers, the show was long.  Almost 3 hours.  

Of the cast, some members really stood out.  Jeff Irving as the love-struck Orlando was a thing of beauty to watch.  Gorgeous, great dancing, great comic timing and rizz of the charts.  Andrew Cownden in the dual rolls of Jaques/Le Beau was both funny as hell and maudlin in turn.  He voice was strong and highly expressive, his rendition of "I Am The Walrus" was a show stopper.  Likewise, the comic stylings of Kayvon Khoshkam as Touchstone hit the mark every time.  Finally, the best vocals in the cast were offered by Chelsea Rose as Rosalind.  Her voice was clear and fill of nuance and power.  I had a wonderful time.  What a great to bring a year of Theatre to a close.

Orlando de Boyes (Jeff Irving) about to drop the hammer on Charles the Wrestler (Marco Walker-Ng), while Jaques the Referee (Andrew Cownden) looks on in amazement.  In the background Dame Frances (Jennifer Lines) oversees her enterprise with her Attendant (Jennifer Copping) stands at her side.

Two of the musicians Evan Rein and Isaiah Terrell-Dobbs lead the cast in a rendition of "Help!"

Orlando de Boyes with Celia (Naomi Ngebulana) and Rosalind as Ganymede (Chelsea Rose)

Touchstone (Kayvon Khoshkam) and Corin (Jennifer Copping) reprising When I'm 64".

Celia and Oliver de Boyes (Matthew MacDonald-Bain) singing "Here Comes The Sun".

The mad-capped adventures culminate as the love-struck couples come together.

A full cast finale of "All You Need Is Love".

New Pre-certified Used Car: 2022 Nissan Verse

 

Everyman Theatre: Dial M for Murder

 One of the things that Everyman Theatre, a repertory company, does really well at farcical classics like "Dial M for Murder".  This one with a new treatment by Jeffery Hatcher, the original being written by Frederick Knott in 1952 as a Broadway Play, and then sensationalized by Alfred Hitchcock in his 1954 film adaptation.  It's a naughty little take of naughty little people full of wants they cannot fulfill in a legitimate manner, and one erstwhile detective who gets it wrong before getting right.

The opening scene if full of delightful banter between the two women: Margot Wendice (Beth Hylton) and Maxine Hadley (Megan Anderson)...and then it kind of bogs down in some more tedious narrative and an inexplicable bout of lameness by Morgot's gold-digging husband Tony Wendice (Tony Nam).  I found myself admiring the set and costumes at times.  The two women next to me failed to return after intermission--the thought crossed my mind.  But recognizing that I have a lot of extemporaneous shit vying for my attention, chose to remain connected to this distraction.

And I glad that I did.  The second act picked up the pace nicely.  

The cast of five included no non-members.  All were, in fact, the cake's heart in this company with 19 confectionery delights.  Like 5 pairs of comfortable slippers tossed in a pile, they were all equally enjoyable in a play that allowed them to just do what they do best without any fear of pulling a muscle.

The set was magnificent.  designed, no doubt, to mimic the screen of an old bijou theater or early model console TV with muted colors just north of black and white.  Subtle, brilliant, luscious.  

Everyone around me as I left were a buzz with joy.  Things that seemed obvious to me, delight them.  Even the banter in the public parking garage elevator a block and a half away filled with patrons like myself was convivial and sparked laughter among strangers.  That's no small feat.

Megan Anderson as Maxine Hadley and Beth Hylton as Margot Wendice

Danny Gavigan as Mr. Swann being enticed into a plan for murdering Margot by Tony Nam as Tony Wendice, her gold-digging husband.

Tony Nam as Tony Wendice with Margot

Bruce Randolph Nelson as Inspector Hubbard tying up loose ends with all the suspects

Christmas Breakky and Gifts!

 Always a day of rest and giving, my gifts have long been mailed to loved ones.  Today I opened those I've received.  But first a proper breakky.

A Cheesy, Spinach Casserole and some Cinnamon Hazelnut Coffee.

What a joyous booty from "Santa".
 

Christmas Eve at the Maryland Zoo

 Spent Christmas Eve volunteering at the Maryland Zoo.  What a wonderful day.  So many lovely encounters with guests and amazing view of animals.

Zahi, our new male Lesser Kudu and Lemon.

Our Zebra "sisters": Phoenix, Addie, and Stella.

Our Rhino "brothers": J.P. and Jelani

Clyde-the-Wise, one of our Saddle-billed Storks.  They have a 12 year average lifespan in the wild.  Ol' Clyde is 36!

Federal District Court of New Mexico

 I'm having fun.  Lets look at another District Court: New Mexico.  I pop the facts into a single post.

The Lay Of The Land

New Mexico is part of the 10th Circuit which serves the states of: Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.  All of the states are single Districts except for Oklahoma which is subdivided into 3 Districts: Western, Eastern and Northern.  New Mexico is a state that has transitioned from Republican to Democratic over the past 40 years.  The Federal Courts are slowing following this pattern.  This post will illustrate how.

Presently, the District is served by a full compliment of 7 Active Judges and 3 Senior status part-time Judges.  Unlike Eastern Texas, New Mexico has Court seats of the 10th Circuit with 2 Active Judges and one in Senior status.  The map indicates the primacy of the Federal Courthouse in Albuquerque with chambers for 7 Justices.  Usually, District and Appellate Judges share Courthouses.  It's a little odd that the Courthouse in Roswell supports only Appellate Judges.

At 86, Senior Judge Bobby Ray Baldock appointed by President Reagan is the longest serving Justice in the state.  An Appellate Judge, Baldock is like all of the other Appeals Court Justices seating in New Mexico--a Republican appointee.

At the District level, the present Chief Justice is also a Republican appointee, confirmed in 2001 after being nominated by President George W. Bush.  Judge William Paul Johnson will serve in this role until 2025, when it will transfer to Obama appointee Kenneth John Gonzalez.  Justice Gonzalez will be succeeded by Justice Matthew L. Garcia, appointed by President Biden.  

The Historical Perspective

Again, I took the history of the seats back to the advent of the Reagan Administration, the first in what is becoming a line of Judicial Activists Presidencies.  At the time there were only four seats in New Mexico.  One seat was filled by President Johnson, one by President Nixon and two by President Carter.  President Reagan got the opportunity to appoint three judges, after his first appointee was elevated to the 10th Circuit Appellate Court.  Clinton holds the distinction of appointing the first woman, Justice Martha Vasquez in 1993.  

Partisan parity was lost in 1992, what a new seat was allotted during President George H. W. Bush's administration.  With two additional seats added during his son, President Bush-the-Younger's administration, the Republican advantage on the Federal judiciary was locked in at 5 to 2 beginning in 2003 and lasting until 2021.  All during this time, local and state political fortunes favored the Democratic Party.  Within the following 3 years, President Biden has appointed 3 Judges to the Federal District Court of New Mexico, flipping majority to the Democratic Party in 2023.

Meet The Judges

Currently Justice William Paul Johnson appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001 is the Chief Justice.  He will hold this title until 2026 when it will confer to Justice Kenneth J. Gonzalez who was appointed by President Obama.  Justice Gonzalez will hold the title until 2033 when it will pass to Justice Matthew L. Garcia.  Justice James O. Browning is old enough to take Senior Status without financial repercussion presenting at least the possibility that President Biden will have the opportunity to appoint a fourth Justice.

I think I will look the midwest for the next installment...maybe, Ohio.