Remembering U.S. Senators Who Passed Into Ancestry In 2023

 You may know that I am a follower of the machinations of the United States Senate.  Often have their live feed on during times of votes and in the evenings when Voice Vote confirmations occur.  Fortunately for me, they spend less than half the year in session!  Never the less, these elected folks are among the most powerful people in our nation.  We ought to know what they are about.  And it's fitting to acknowledge the passing into Ancestry.

Remember Some TV Actors Who Passed Into Ancestry In 2023

 I grew up on TV.  It doesn't hold much interest to me today, but still when I learn of the passing of someone who help to raise me, whose work I admire greatly, I feel the sense of loss and gratitude.

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.

Round House Theatre: The Seafarers

 A quintessentially Irish play, it is the story of four men--three brothers and a childhood friend, who come into the acquaintance of a stranger on the eve of Christmas eve to play poker.  The brothers each bring there own baggage to the party.  The eldest, Richard, having only recently gone blind, the middle brother, Sharkey, suddenly returned home after an affair with a married woman on the heals of his own failed marriage and estrangement from his ex- and their children, and the youngest, Ivan, turning playing hooky from his wife and family in favor of the drink into a vocation.  In fact, drinking is the only thing short of parents that they seem to have in common.  The childhood friend, Nicky, is the husband of the middle son's ex-wife and is raising his children which eventually leads to an altercation.  And it is Nicky who brings the stranger, Mr. Lockhart, to the party.  A stranger who's presence has been planned long before he hooked up with the friend.  For you see, the stranger is actually Lucifer.  His mission is to beat the middle brother at a game of poker and thus claim his soul.  Now if, I've gotten any of the details wrong, the reason will become clear soon.

There were funny moments, though I am fairly certain that some slipped by unacknowledged.  And there were dramatic moments of which the full impact that not comprehended in real time.  Thought the gist of the story was clear and the ending a twist I surely would have seen coming were it not for the effort I was expending in following the dialogue. 

An Irish play set in Ireland, of course the actors were training to deliver their lines with strong Irish accents.  Being drunk most of the time, gave way to a cadence more in tune with Keith Richards garbled English than the Lucky Charms Leprechaun's delightful lilt!  I know I missed some of the details, and sudden bursts of anger that must have been building in the course of the dialogue felt disconnected.  There was a teleprompter on the side of the stage for the hearing impaired.  I found myself darting my eyes towards it throughout the play.

As I said many times I never preview the reviews of the photos or anything about the plays and musicals I attend before going.  I like the element of surprise.  After finding my seat I glanced at the program and was delighted to see the cast was made up of 5 of the most powerful actors sharing their talents in the DMV.  And everyone of them was amazing, in spite of my lack of Irish brogue fluency!  Marty Lodge as Richard was so completely in character that I could help by think he was adlibbing dialogue as a blind man consumed with whiskey desperate to remain relevant in the intercourse of life.  He was also the one who was most "Keith Richard"-y in his mumble-speak.  

Marcus Kyd as Mr. Lockhart was an alien presence from the moment he entered the room.  He clearly was not of this world, yet charmed the others, until revealing himself to Sharkey.  Confident, determined, his description of hell made my skin crawl.  

Michael Glenn as Ivan brought such a nuance physicality of inebriation to the stage that I half expected him to tumble into the laps of the patrons in the first row half a dozen times!  He was the classic sweet drunk, and never more so in this production than when he teamed up with Marty Lodge's blind Richard to sing Ave Maria.  

Maboud Ebrahimzadeh as Nicky impressed me most of all.  I have seen Mr. Ebrahimzadeh in over a dozen performances and each is always rock solid.  But this one was very special in that I just kept thinking, "Is this really him?"  The look, the presentation, the embodiment of the character.  If I didn't have the program to guide my thinking, and you told me after the show that he portrayed Nicky, I would have be incredulous.  In every respect that makes up a person, his Nicky was unique from anything he's done in the past.

Last but not least, Chris Genebach's embodiment of Sharkey.  Chris is not a shy or subtle actor.  He finds the north star in a character's raison d'etre and he that bull by the fucking horns and just doesn't let go.  The play begins and ends with him on stage.  And the arch of the events our his above all others.  It is a journey that he shares generously with his fellow actors, and yet, he is clearly holding the reins when the lights go out.

The other standout player is the set, designed by my new favorite local Scenic Designer, Andrew R. Cohen.  I've seen so much of his work this past autumn (The Tempest, The Chameleon, Monumental Travesties).  With each one he finds a way to enhance the fundamental elements of the play through nuanced metaphors.  In this set, the room featured is subterranean, and the key conflict is whether or not the Devil will be able to drag Sharkey into hell.  In the last scene with Mr. Lockhart on stage, he glanced through a ground level window at the rising sun and acknowledges his defeat.  The light overcoming the darkness--on Christmas Eve morning, no less.

Even with the dialectic difficulties, the actors present a story of hope and triumph.  I mean, if 4
fucken alcoholics can defeat the Lord of the Underworld?  How hard can our lives really be?

Sharkey (Chris Genebach) confront Richard (Marty Lodge) over some fault in their past.

Sharkey listens to Ivan (Michael Glenn) explain some aspect of this life.

Mr. Lockhart (Michael Kyd) reveals his true self and reason for being in his home to a shocked Skarkey!

Richard and Ivan singing Ave Maria

The full cast playing Poker--L-R: Richard, Ivan, Sharkey, Nicky (Maboud Ebrahimzadeh), and Mr. Lockhart

Sharkey and Nicky examining a card

Ivan finds his glasses (a sight gag throughout the play) and saves the day

"Mr. Lockhart" stops to bemoan the sun as he leaves

White Trash Gourmet! Spicy Hot Vienna Sausage Sandwich with Mayonnaise and Alfalfa Sprouts on Artisan Toasted Sour Dough Bread

 

A Little Holiday Lego Cheer

 

Federal District Court of Eastern Texas Snapshot

 It occurred to me after the past two posts that I should have started with this Snapshot of the Judges currently occupying the 8 seats of the Eastern District of Texas.

The nine columns read from left to right:

1) Order of tenure of the judge: por ejemplo, J. Campbell Barker is the 31st Justice appointed to this District.

2) The chronology of the establishment of the seat: por ejemplo, Amos L Mazzant III occupies the first seat established in the district

3) The year of the Justice's confirmation

4) The Name of the Judge

5) The Gender of the Judge

6) The race/Ethnicity of the Judge

7) The Age of the Judge

8) The college or University issuing the Juris diploma to the Judge

9) The status of the Judge Active or Chief

Federal Judicial District of Eastern Texas: History

I love studying this shit.  And making graphics, too.  This one shows the history of the Federal District Court of Eastern Texas beginning with 1980 and continuing through the present administration.  On the left we start with a hard break between the last year of the Carter Presidency and the first year of the Reagan White House.  I chose this on purposed given the generally agreed upon fact that President Reagan was the first President since FDR who has been accused of Judicial activism and partisanship.  Unlike Roosevelt whom history most remembers for his attempt to alter the make-up of the Supreme Court, Reagan's intentions seem aimed at every level of the Federal Judiciary.

When he took the oath of office in January 1981, there were just 4 seats in Eastern Texas.  They were held by White men:

• Seat 1, William Wayne Justice, appointed by President Johnson
• Seat 2, Joseph Jefferson Fisher, appointed by President Eisenhower
• Seat 3, William Steger, appointed by President Nixon
• Seat 4, Robert Manley Parker, appointed by President Carter

Nothing moved during President Reagan's first term, until at the very end, Justice Fisher died.  Once re-elected for a second term, Reagan had the gift of Fisher's death and two new seats authorized by Congress.  By the of 1985, the District of Eastern Texas went from political party parity to Republican majority. To ice the deal, Justice Steger died in 1987 which gave Reagan a fourth seat to fill.

In 1990, a 7th seat was authorized by Congress.  This should have been filled by President George H. W. Bush; however, he was unable to get a nominee through the Senate.  Thus it fell to newly elected President Clinton to make the first appoint.  In 1994, Judge John H. Hannah Jr. became the first of four Justices appointed by President Clinton.  A year later, President Clinton appointed two more judges beginning a 9 year span with Democratic appointments out numbering Republican.  The balance ended in 2004 during the George W. Bush Presidency, and the 5 to 3 Republican advantage has remained for the past 19 years.

A Deeper Dive Into The Article III Courts: The Fifth Circuit; Eastern District of Texas

As the year comes to a close, the nominees awaiting confirmation by the United States Senate will reset.  On December 31, 2023 at midnight all the nominees will be returned to the President for reconsideration.  At present this involves about 135 individuals.  Of those, 29 are awaiting confirmation to various Article III courts.  In the New Year, most will be renominated and their confirmation process will continue.  One, Scott Colom, who has been nominated to a seat on the Federal District Court of Northern Mississippi, won't be.  You see, he was nominated with the presumptive blue cards of both of Mississippi's Republican Senators. Then one of them, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, changed her mind.  One wonders if she was simply unaware that Mr. Colom is Black.  Goodness knows she's said her share of racist shit.  Instead her reasoning is the post nod discovery that Scott Colom believes Transexuals have rights.  Get the fainting couch ready!

Nevertheless, at the end of three years of triage by the Biden administration, it's a good time to take stock and explore the condition and dispersion of judges.  After all, Federal judges are appointed for life, and so change is rarely quick.  Power in the courts generally builds up over time.  Occasionally it is effected by chance.  More often it's raw power, but no matter, most people know little of the reality and less of the process.  

There has never been a President who didn't appoint more men than women.  There has never been a president who has appointed more minorities than White people.  There has never been a president who has done either of these things until President Biden--who has done both to a degree that is nothing short of radical.  Of the 39 Federal Appellate Judges nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate, 77% were non-White, 74% were woman, and only 3 were White men or 8%.  At the Federal District level 125 judges have been confirmed.  Of these, by comparison, 67% were non-white, 65% were women, and only 11 were White men or 8% again.  No President has ever even come close to only appointing 8% White men.  Did I mention that this is...radical?  Wonderfully, diversely, well over-due radical!

Let's look at one District in one Circuit.  The Fifth Circuit, or should I say, the infamous 5th Circuit.  Known as the most conservative of all the Circuits (there are 11, plus the District of Columbia, and a non-geocentric Federal Circuit), the Fifth covers the states of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.  These states, as indicated by the map below, have been sub-divided into 9 Districts.  Not all states are subdivided.  Some that are even relatively populous like New Jersey, Maryland and South Carolina are a District on their own.

Each District is assigned a set number of "seats" by the U.S. Congress.  Judges who hold these seats are considered to be "Active," and one of these Judges is assigned the role of Chief Justice.  The assignment is based upon the proximity of the justices to the age of 65.  Once assigned, the term of service lasts for seven years, an then is passed on to the next qualifying Justice.  It is possible for a Chief Justice to serve more than one term.

Along with Active Justices, Judges are allowed to take Senior status upon turning 65 or older.  The decision is theirs alone to make, there are no forced retirements.  Senior Judges work a far reduced schedule with as few as 12 weeks of hearing cases per year.  Nearly every District has a mix of Active and Senior Justices.  There are Senior Justices who were appointed by Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter who are still serving.

Now, let's hone in on the specifics of one District.  I have chosen the Eastern District of Texas.  It is in geographic size and apportionment of judges the smallest of Texas' four Districts, shown on the map above in yellow.  It holds a couple of interesting distinctions.  One is its notoriety for hearing more copyright cases than any other District; more, in fact, than the next four Districts combined.  There are reasons why this situation has evolved, but suffice it to say, it's certainly an interesting factoid.  The other is the fact that within the Eastern District of Texas there are no Appellate Justices seated.  

The Appellate Judges hear appeals from cases decided by the District Courts and are generally spread out with seats established in all of the Circuit's Districts.  The Fifth Circuit seats 17 Active Appellate Justices and currently has another 8 Senior Appellate Justices.  Yet of the 25 currently serving, none are seated within the Eastern District of Texas.  This doesn't mean that cases decided by the Judges in the Eastern District are final, rather, it means that appeals must be heard outside of the boundaries of the Eastern District.

Studying the illustration above, you can see that there are six Courthouses in the District of Eastern Texas.  The tables indicate which Judges are seated at which Courthouses.  Senior Judges who are part-time as indicated.  The number after the Judge's name represents there age, and the date is the year of their confirmation by the Senate signifying the start of their tenure.  The colors behind the names indicates the President who appointed them. 

Buff Red - President Ronald Reagan

Dusty Rose - President George W. Bush

Dark Sage - President Barack Obama

Pumpkin Orange - President Donald Trump

It's is interesting to me that three of the Courthouses are in the hands of Republican appointed Judges and three in Democrat appointed Judges. The current Chief Justice is James Rodney Gilstrap appointed by President Obama and seated in Marshall, Texas.  Judge Gilstrap will continue to serve into 2025, at which time he will be succeeded in the role of Chief Justice by Judge Amos L. Mazzarant III, who was also appointed by President Obama, in Sherman.  In 2032, the Chief Justice role would move to Judge Jeremy Kernodle who was appointed by President Trump, and the seat would then be located in Tyler.  This assumes that no other Judge would appointed before then to fill a vacancy whose age would qualify him over Judge Kernodle.  

Justice Marcia A. Crone who was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2003, is the only woman serving in this District.  All of the Judges are White.  This in spite of a significant percentage of the general population that is Hispanic, with pockets of African American and Asian citizens.  I've always thought in one fell swoop the writers of the Constitution were brilliant and blind.  Brilliant in crafting the idea that citizens are judges by a jury of their peers; yet judges need meet no such social expectation.

Folger's Shakespeare Theatre: The Winter's Tale

 Given that the Folgers Shakespeare Library sits on one of the most expensive plots of land in America (just behind the Library of Congress behind the  U. S. Capitol and kitty-corner to the U. S. Supreme Court, AND, given that its building is one of the most icon art deco designs in Washington, D.C., when it came time to undertake a humongous renovation they had to think creatively.  They couldn't go left.  They couldn't go right.  They could hardly go up.  So, where did they go?  Down!

A artist's rendering the new East Entrance.

They've excavated below to create and expand even to the point of recasting the entrances to subterranean walls of glass facing a patio and sloping pathway encircling a gorgeous butterfly garden.  Dormant now, but brimming with possibilities.  "The Winter's Tale" is the inaugural production.  How you ever seen it?  I had not.  I had not even bothered to read it or any cliff notes.  So the story was new to me as I watched it for the first time.

In a nutshell, it's about two kings, who are or consider one another brothers.  The King of Bohemia is visiting the King of Sicilia.  They are inseparable until suddenly the King of Sicilia, Leontes, becomes convinced that his "brother," Polixenes, the king of Bohemia is doing the nasty with his once virtuous wife, Hermione.  Much of the first half is consumed by Leontes spiraling into madness over it.  He plots to have Polixenes assassinated and tasks his servant, Camillo, with the deed.  But Camillo thinks the king is off his rocker and warns Polixenes instead escaping to Bohemia with him and changing his allegiances.  Meanwhile, Hermoine, very much pregnant is thrown in prison where she gives birth to a daughter (they already have a son).  With no one left to punish, Leontes sets out to burn his newborn daughter, whom he thinks is a bastard child and kill Hermoine.  A nobleman named Antigonus implores Leontes to have mercy on the baby is given permission to take it away and abandon it on some far foreign shore.  A little while back, Leontes sent of to Apollo the seer for confirmation of his twisted ideas.  Just as he is about to put Hermoine to death, the servant returns with the seer's response.  It is read aloud in the court and all of Leontes' ideas are called false, suddenly another servant arrives to announce that his now only child, the boy Mamillus has died by mysterious causes.  Leontes cries out that it is Apollo punishing him, and Hermione collapses and dies, too.

And this is a Comedy?

In the second act much of what has gone wrong is made right.  There are a few laughs--we've moved the action from Sicilia to Bohemia.  A buffoonish, peddler, pic-pocket is introduced as well as poor shepherd and his son, Clown <-- that's his son's name find the baby and raise her.  She falls in love with Florizel, Polixenes' son.  One thing leads to another and "All's Well That Ends Well." as they say!

Reza Salazar from a guest role on Law & Order
 in 2007's episode "The Melting Pot".

Because in some ways the two halves feel like separate plays, with their own, unique characters, most of the actors can double-up roles.  I was thrilled to see some familiar names among the cast.  One of my all time favorite Shakespearean actors in the DMV, Kate Eastwood Norris took on the roles of Paulina, a Sicilian noblewoman, in the first act, and Dorcas, a love-struck shepherdess, in the second and was simply brilliant in both!  I've seen Cody Nickell in various roles over the years, his portrayal of Antony in "Antony and Cleopatra" was one of the only bright spots!  As Camillo, he was okay.  Maybe an off day in a not very remarkable role.  Drew Kopas who is an actor with a lot of energy brought that to bear as Polixenes in the first half.  Reappearing in the second, his shine faded a little.  And there were newcomers and less familiar folk.  Stephen Patrick Martin who played a convincing and endearing Antigonus in the first act, before being eaten by a bear!, turned around and embodied the role of the Shepherd with gusto and great comedic timing.  Likewise, Nicholas Gerwitz as the overly zealous Gaoler in the first act, demonstrated real comic genius as Clown, the Shepard's son in the second.  Two more shout outs: 1) Habi Tabbal as Leonites and his descent into blind jealousy.  It was intense, mesmerizing, even a little disturbing, but he ran the rabbit threw from tail to head without ever looking back. His performance was the highlight of the first half.  2) Reza Salazar as the swindling peddler, Autolycus.  He began the second act with a lute-like instrument leading the audience in a call and response madrigal that he then referenced throughout the second act to great effect and laughter.  Although he was new to the DMV, he looked familiar to me--like I knew from some younger version of himself.  When I read his bio, it made sense.  Among my many obsessions it would be fair to say that the original Law & Order ranks right up there.  

The costume were fine, the staging functional and solid, the lighting seamless...save for the light bulb meant to illuminate the two rows of seats were I sat under the rear balcony, stage left.  Tens of millions of dollars and 3+ years of renovations and you don't replace a light bulb?  My biggest complaint! 

The opening scene is Birthday Party for Mamillus who has just turned 8!

Hermione (Antoinette Crowe-Legacy) and Polixenes (Drew Kopas) share a friendly conversation at the party, and thus the die is cast...

Leontes (Hadi Tabbal) begins to succumb to his jealous heart and his son, Mamillus (Richard Bradford--not present in the production I saw.  Minors are played by two actors who switch off performances)

Leontes entreats Camillo (Cody Nickell) to poison Polixenes

The time has come to execute Hermione, and she pleads her innocence even as she refuses to beg for a different fate.  [L-R: Lady-in-waiting (Sabrina Lynn Sawyer), Antigonus (Stephen Patrick Martin), Leontes (Hadi Tabbal), Hermoine (Antoinette Crowe-Legacy) and Nicholas Gerwitz (Gaoler)

Act II opens with Time (Clarence Michael Payne, who also played Mamillus in the production I saw) recapping the events of the first half and setting the stage for a 15 year jump into the future.

Autolycus (Reza Salazar)

Camillo (Cody Nickell) and Polixenes (Drew Kopas) don disguises as sheep shearers to spy on the Shepherd (Stephen Patrick Martin) and the Prince Florizel to see he is up to

Florizel (Jonathan Del Palmer) is up to Perdita (Kayleandra White) and they in love!