Sceptered Salutes!
Once Upon a Time
In two years, the Children’s Carnival Club of New Orleans will celebrate a centennial marking scores of years “when kings and queens were all as one.” At the recent Carnival ball in the Sheraton Hotel those majestic roles were filled by Mr. Charles Wilhelm Adriance and Miss Alexandra Nance Livingston, King and Queen “Once Upon a Time.” Their respective parents are Mr. and Mrs. Jason William Adriance and Mr. and Mrs. David Barkley Livingston. Last year, the honors befell Mr. Joseph Warren Zimmermann and Miss Eleanor Helen Hortensia Curtis.
King Will made a regal picture in a rhinestone-encrusted white tunic by Ilaine Hartman Designs, while her majesty Alexanda’s full-skirted gown of white French silk was by Wingate.
Pages to their majesties were Masters John Michael Hazen, Bennett Dalton Matrana, John Edward McAuliffe IV, Hudson Grey Perry and Michael Westley Johnsey Jr. Captains Ira Benjamin Acosta, Isabela Louise Furtado and Mercedes Grace Lee Ohlmeyer graced the court, as did princesses Erin Luz Munson, Caroline Best LaCour, Haven Marie Perry, Brynn Ruth Matrana, Elise Anne Munson, Lane Sarah Connell, Margaret Louise McAuliffe and Olivia Grace Kesler. The 10 dukes and maids were Shane Aubrey Langston, Connor Frederick Langston, Benjamin Hayden Salvaggio, John Sawyer Adriance (royal brother) and Mason Bradley Hayes and Sophia Clare Salvaggio, Lucia Locke Clement, Caroline Estelle Laudan, Levi Louise Clement and Landry Claire Hayes. Portraying roles in the “Star Wars: In the Beginning” theme were Elizabeth Ramsay Goldman, Jackson Carneal Goldman, Luke Jackson Connell, Charlotte Spencer LaCour, Bennett Clarence Childress, Elizabeth Abigail Childress, Keira Janley Vollman and Amelie Marie Sharp.
The appearance of former queens, 2022-2023 debutantes Kristina Schwing Bickham and Cecelia Frances Zimmermann; the New Orleans Youth Ballet, Maria and Joseph Giacobbe School of Dance with ballet master Richard Rholdon; presentations of proclamations and the Royal Gift to St. Michael Special School; and the remembrance of the 50-year monarchs Peter B. Salatich III and Allison Anne Bernhard were program highlights. The grand march, court dance, krewe drill and royal greeting concluded the merriment under the musicianship of the Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra. Ball chairman Dr. W. Kenneth Mann Jr. emceed. Among those applauding were royal grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Robert Livingston, Mrs. Albert John Ullrich (of Milford, Kansas) and Mrs. John Peter Labouisse III.
After the grand finale, the gala revved up in the hotel’s Waterbury Room, where the “Star Wars” theme played a decorative role, as well as a sweet one in the JCB Creations cookies. Guests dined on galaxy sliders, macaroni and moon cheese, chicken sabers, Padme salad, and Darth gumbo. The dessert furthered “May the Force Be With You.” For the music and photo booth, it was Party-Tyme’s DJ Robbie and Rickey.
Schoolmates, the youthful monarchs complimented one another and said how much fun it was to reign together in the presence of their friends and families. Clearly, in this “Star Wars” setting, Will and Allie had a blast.
Peter the Great
The year of 1709 and the reign of Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov (Peter the Great) became the festive focus of the 46th Imperial Reception of Alexis. Peter's defeat in battle against Sweden brought him great respect and renown among other European powers.
He was portrayed (but not identified) at the reception in the New Orleans Country Club as the Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias. Her Imperial Majesty Yekaterina Alekseyevna was Madame Pamela Cumberland Brierre. Madame Devorah Scheinuk Friedman and Mademoiselle Katherine Elizabeth Page Curtis assumed the roles of Grand Duchesses Anna and Elizaveta Petrovna, while their (unidentified) Grand Dukes were Charles Frederick I and Charles Augustus.
The captain entered to the “Russian March” op. 426 by Strauss, as played by Deacon John and the Ivories. The arrival of the tsar, the grand dukes and duchesses, and the tsarina followed to the music of Tchaikovsky. The procession of the 2020 court, entertainment by the Komenka Dancers, and the Imperial March concluded the formalities. In keeping with Alexis’s standard Russian theme, the double eagle crest was placed above the dais.
Carrie and Eric S. Berger were among those noted, as were Dr. Alan and Joan Sheen, Mary Lou and Dr. Robert L. Carter, Charlene and Dr. Tim G. Peterson, Sarah Lowman and Dr. Fred Querens, Sonda and Ted Stacey, Lynda Moreau and Shannon Walgamotte, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Childress, Melissa and Bruce Gordon, Louise Zimmermann, Mark and Melissa Bickham, the Drs. Ken and Naomi Mann, the Rene Navarres, the William Wegmanns, the Warren Brownings and the George A. Coirons III. All witnessed a change of command as the captain of 11 years passed the whistle to a lieutenant to whom he pledged support and thanked those who had mentored him.
Pleasures of the table flowed (in the form of a hearty dinner) making a tasty transition from the presentation. All the while, Deacon John kept up the musical momentum. For an evening when history was to the festive fore, memories held by the tsar and tsarina and their court will have solid footing in the future.
Arthur, Arthur!
What a sight it was to see Arthur XXXXII, his royal entourage and the krewe members alight from the streetcar at the Winter Palace to launch the annual Arthurians Ball! They, along with Merlin, the Jester and a brace of knights chamberlain, were heralded by bagpipes from the Kilts of Many Colours.
What was lacking, of course, was Guinevere and ladies in waiting. That was solved by the surprise tapping of Mmes. John T. Olivier and Seth Nehrbass, Terry and Mary, for the latter roles. Merlin then went in search of a queen and after much anticipation, Mrs. Rick C. Normand (Elizabeth "Liz" Williams) was designated for the royal role. All three ladies expressed surprise and delight. Lynda Moreau, whose husband is Shannon Walgamotte, reigned in 2022. Joined by the knights chamberlain and the ladies in waiting, the royals, Arthur and Guinevere, danced first to the music of the New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra led by John Craft.
All in attendance marveled at the décor (with many touches by floral designer Meade Wenzel), the scrumptious spread by Rommel’s Catering and the krewe favor, which the captain designed as “Excalibur and the Lady of the Lake,” to further the invitation’s design.
Among the revelers were Arthurians Ball Chairman Warren J. Greenwood Jr., Caroline and Arthur Nead, Bob and Bonnie Lippincott, Melissa Kwan and Mike Norton, Grady Hardy (Letizia was in Europe with their daughter, Jane), Donna and Chris Elliott, Devie and A.J. Friedman, Sanela and Tripp Frasch, Christel and Keene Kelley, Joan and Alan Sheen, Melissa and Bruce Gordon, Clay Andrews and Melissa Smith, Battle Bell, Emily and Tommy Ryan, Sally and Bill Reeves, Lance von Uhde III, Kelley and George Ellis, and countless others who were busy hailing King Arthur and Guinevere, enjoying dinner and bar spirits, or dancing with gusto to time-honored tunes.