#le theatre magazine

[czolgosz]

tumblr in the 1900s simulator

🎀 basilgillgirlie

HELPPP i went to see a country girl and i SWEAR coffin looked directly at me while he was singing no. 19 😳😳😳

#im going to DIE #oh my godddd #hayden coffin tag #theatre tag

( 5 notes )

🪮 tortoiseshelllll

honestly just go ahead and block me if you're still not against the consumption of intoxicating liquors /srs

#temperance discourse

( 7 notes )

🤵‍♂️ h0ney-b0y 🔁 in-my-merry-oldsmobile Follow

💁‍♀️ soshineonharvestmoon Follow

Alright, let's settle this once and for all:

Do cylinders or discs produce the clearest sound?

‎ ‎‎ Cylinders⬜‍‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎‎‎ ‎ ‍21.2%

‎‎ ‎‎ ‎Discs🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦🟦‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎ ‎‎78.8%

‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎‎ ‎Final result from 18,796 votes

🐶 yourwildirishrose Follow

literally who is voting for cylinders. #discsweep

#poll results that would give thomas edison neurasthenia

( 3,419 notes )

👨 lawrenceseldens 🔁 the-thing-with-feathers86 Follow

☕ the-thing-with-feathers86 Follow

hey. everyone. TAG YOUR HOUSE OF MIRTH SPOILERS!!!!! not all of us are able to keep up with the installments, especially ppl employed at factories/others who work 10+ hour shifts

#!!! #the house of mirth #edith wharton #scribner's magazine

( 102 notes )

🌌 impastolover 🔁 le-modernisme Follow

🔘 ilythomascole-deactivated19061203

There’s NO WAY you people are still supporting H*nri M*tisse after he posted THIS

🌈 chezlesfauves Follow

does this scare you

🌈 chezlesfauves Follow

i guess so lmaooo

#i wonder if op knows about la femme au chapeau…

( 10,675 notes )

🌻 emancipation-waist-official 🔁 localhoyden Follow

🐈‍⬛ localhoyden Follow

friendly reminder that it’s perfectly ok for women and girls to wear corsets if they want to!! don't ever let anyone make you feel ashamed for it - it's your choice, you can do whatever makes you happy 💗

🌻 emancipation-waist-official

Go outside.

( 984 notes )

👰 kittybristolsgf

i know it's been less than a decade since uh. you know. but can anarchists please go back to assassinating public figures and bombing government buildings and such all the time already, i have had ENOUGH

#the latest tariff law that was passed.... wtf #(for legal reasons this is a joke) #(please don't have me electrocuted <3)

( 2 notes )

🦚 fancyfeathers

Just got my widest hat yet!! An entire owl can fit atop it!

( 51 notes )

🏓 whiffwhaffwagerer

at the marathon in st. louis!👍 what is happening

#so the original winner cheated i guess #and the actual winner had to be carried over the finish line and is currently being treated by *several* doctors #also apparently some of the competitors are missing #...i'll keep you all posted?

( 9 notes )

🧳 thatkeenmotorist 🔁 thatkeenmotorist

🧳 thatkeenmotorist

driving my motor-car 😁

🧳 thatkeenmotorist

broken chain ☹️

🧳 thatkeenmotorist

driving my motor-car 😁

🧳 thatkeenmotorist

broken belt ☹️

🧳 thatkeenmotorist

driving my motor-car 😁

🧳 thatkeenmotorist

broken chain again ☹️

( 99 notes )

💃 lilyelsieinthemerrywidow 🔁 thegreat-trainrobbery1903 Follow

💃 lilyelsieinthemerrywidow

hey um whats going on in the balkans right now 😨 do you think theres going to be a war in europe soon im nervous

🙎‍♂️ thegreat-trainrobbery1903 Follow

well, a major war caused by a crisis in the balkans has been speculated on for a while. but it'll probably only last about a year like the war of 1870, plus you don't even live near the balkans, i wouldn't worry too much

💃 lilyelsieinthemerrywidow

yeah youre probably right

#and if it did reach us it would most likely be beneficial anyway #<-prev

( 13 notes )

[mote-historie]

Umberto Brunelleschi, Woman in Sheer Dress with Bird of Paradise, 1920's

Umberto Brunelleschi (1879 - 1949) was born in Italy, but moved to France in 1900, where he became a printer, book illustrator, and set and costume designer. He contributed to several French fashion magazines, such as Journal des Dames et des Modes, Gazette du Bon Ton, and Les Feuilles d'Art. Between the two world wars he worked on set and costume designs for several theaters, including Folies Bergère in Paris, the Roxy Theatre in New York, and La Scala in Milan. Some of the books he illustrated are Candide (Voltaire), Contes du temps jadis (Charles Perrault), and Les Masques et les Personnages de la Comedie Italienne. Towards the end of his life he also did a number of erotica illustrations. (x)

[you-have-made-a-fatal-error]

STFD Vintage Poster/Ad Art

1- L'HIPPODROME by Manuel Orazi, 1905 (Lillian's office)

2- In Agra (cover art for 'Asia' Magazine) by Frank McIntosh, 1930 (Lillian's office)

3- Lidia by Jules Cheret, 1895 (Lillian's office)

4- Job Paper Cigarettes by Jules Chéret, 1896 (Lillian's office)*

5- Flamenco Dancer by Henry J. Soulen, c.1930 (Lillian's office)**

6- Le Sillon by Fernand Toussaint, 1895 (Lillian's office)

7- Original Program for Gilbert and Sullivan's Patience by Clement-Smith & Co., 1882 (Prop room)

8- The Empire Theatre Program by George Barbier, 1928 (Mattie's dressing room)

9- Le Mage by Alfredo Edel, 1891 (Prop room)

*HeR changed the text on the in-game artwork - can't have an ad for cigarettes in a game for youths after all. 'Fete des menteurs' roughly translates to 'Liars' Ball'

**this is one of those irritating cases where the only source I can track down is the Mary Evans/Pictures Now image collection. Soulen's signature is visible on the piece - here it is side-by-side with an illustration he did for the Saturday Evening Post in 1932.

[barbielore]

I made a post a while ago about the point at which Barbie began to actively market collectibles as opposed to just playline dolls for children.

At the time I mentioned the first Dolls of the World line in 1980 and the debut of Barbie Bazaar in 1988, but in hindsight I missed some pretty important dolls in the history.

1985's Le Nouveau Theatre de la Mode Barbie, designed in collaboration with BillyBoy* was created to commemorate the first Barbie, at the time 26 years old. It's hard to argue that this was intended to be a playline doll for children - by modern standards we would definitely call this a collectible.

But it's Blue Rhapsody (1986) that is more widely considered to be the first Barbie collectible. She was the first Porcelain doll and was advertised as being the first in the "Porcelain Treasures collection".

She looks sort of quaint in a way I can't quite put my finger on.

This is probably the closest answer to my original question - but for the sake of completeness, I have seen some people put it later still, with the Bob Mackie Gold Barbie in 1990.

Charming though she is, I think we can confidently eliminate her from contention as she came after both of the dolls listed above, after the debut of the Holiday Barbie line, and well after the debut of Collectors Magazine Barbie Bazaar.

[paralleljulieverse]

From the Archives: This Day in Julie-history My Fair Lady Opening Night Supper Savoy Hotel, London, 30 April 1958

66 years ago, Julie Andrews made her triumphant bow in the London opening of My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Following the opening night performance, after-show parties were arranged at various venues around the West End. Producer Herman Levin hosted a party at the Dorchester which was attended by Stanley Hollaway and Cecil Beaton. Rex Harrison was guest at a supper held by the US Ambassador, Jock Hay Whitney and wife at Wingfield House. Hugh "Binkie" Beaumont, head of Tennent theatres, hosted another party at his home in Westminster (London 1958, p.3). True to homely form, Julie Andrews opted for a small private party at the Savoy Hotel attended by family and friends including Claire Bloom and Maggie Smith (London 1958, p.3). Guests dined on a special menu designed by the chefs of the Savoy Restaurant with bespoke dishes such as Le Suprême de Volaille Julie and Le Soufflé My Fair Lady.

Life magazine reported that Julie was "wrung out" as she and her family nervously awaited the critics' verdict. "But when the papers came, she was suddenly wide awake, on her feet and ready to dance all night" (Thompson 1958, p. 24).

Sources:

London, John (1958). 'It's My Fair Triumph at the Lane.' Daily News. 1 May: p. 3.

Thompson, E.K. (1958). 'Lady conquers London." Life. 12 May, pp. 20-25.

©2024, Brett Farmer. All rights reserved.

[psalm22-6]

The International Distribution of Henri Fescourt’s Les Misérables: Universal Pictures, the Carl Laemmle-Victor Hugo Scholarship, and a surprise appearance by William Hays

Sometimes it happens that two movie versions of Les Miserables are made and released at the same time. It happened first in 1909, when both the Edison Manufacturing Company and the Vitagraph Company of America released versions. It happened again in the 30s, when Raymond Bernard released a version in France, at the same time that Richard Boleslawski made his version in America. And apparently it had almost happened in the 1920s. In 1925, Henri Fescourt released his version of Les Miserables. The movie is notable for being in four parts and close to six hours long. Meanwhile in America, Universal Pictures founder Carl Laemmle was apparently thinking of doing the same thing. In 1923 he had huge success with an adaptation of Notre Dame de Paris, starring Lon Chaney. "Some months ago I had in mind making into a photoplay, Hugo's great classic, Les Miserables,” Laemmle said. “When I learned that the Societé des Cineromans were already engaged in the production of this work, I investigated and found to my great satisfaction that it was being done most admirably. Having in mind our mutual desire to share the better of European productions with our American patronage, I arranged to distribute the picture in England and America.” (the Universal Weekly, 11 December 1926) At the Regent Theatre in Portsmouth, England Fescourt's Les Miserables was recut and shown in two parts: “The Soul of Humanity” and “The Barricades.” It was reportedly very successful: 18,000 and 19,000 people were said to have seen the first and second parts, respectively. And that’s despite 80-degree weather and competition from a carnival, a regatta, and the start of the football season. People were apparently lining up 2 and a half hours before the show in order to get in. At the Rialto Theatre in London, 14,200 people came to see it in its first week. (the Universal Weekly, 2 October 1926). In the US, the movie was initially shown in three theaters: to the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World at the Forrest Theatre, in Philadelphia, to the National Press Club at the Poli's Theatre in Washington and finally at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Some sources say that the film was shown in full (18 reels), some say that it was cut (to 14 reels). The Philadelphia and Washington showings were attended by the French ambassador. (The Moving Picture World, 10 July 1926). In attendance at the Washington showing were First Lady Grace Coolidge, Herbert Hoover (then Secretary of Commerce) and MANY other people whose names you can find here.

However the showing I would most like to have attended was the one at Carnegie Hall, which was presented with a special pre-show portion: an actor portraying Victor Hugo appeared on the stage, and then pretended to fall asleep, at which point actors dressed as characters from Les Miserables emerged from a giant copy of the book. “The Hugo speech and the resurrection of his characters were part of the Universal presentation given Les Miserables by James V. Bryson and Joe Weil,” reported the Moving Picture World. “The idea was taken from the original prologue in the picture itself and made an effective opening for this really fine production.”   For the film's wider release, Laemmle proposed to conduct a survey to see how people would prefer to see it: in its entirety or in an abridged form. Apparently he distributed a questionnaire via the Saturday Evening Post, Liberty, and Photoplay Magazine. Overwhelmingly people reported that they would like to see the movie unabridged, and that they would be willing to go to the theater multiple times to see the multiple installments.  Wagner's Ring Cycle was cited as an example of a story successfully told in parts. People felt very strongly about wanting to see the entire thing. As one journalist, who had seen the screening in Philadelphia put it: “It would be, it seems to us, a pity to subject this picture to the sort of ruthless cutting that would be necessary to bring it down to the length of a single feature. Great length usually consists of unnecessary padding, in a large measure, but not in this instance.” (the Motion Picture News, 10 July, 1926) In the Universal Weekly (a trade publication for theater owners) one ad reads:

Thousands gave the overwhelming answer [to the question of whether it should be cut]: “DON’T touch Victor Hugo; don’t rob us of a single scene of pathos, beauty, or magnificence; give us the immortal Jean Valjean as he lived, suffered, loved, and triumphed.” So “Les Miserables” will come to you in two distinct stories, for showing on successive days, or weeks, as you see fit. First, “The Soul of Humanity;” second, “The Barricades.” Each picture so big it ranks as a screen achievement; together — Victor Hugo as Victor Hugo would want to see his work on the screen. A radical step! Yes — and it is the RADICAL that is SHOWMANSHIP!” (the Universal Weekly, 2 October 1926)

However despite this declaration that the film should and would be seen in full, Universal ultimately decided to release an 11 reel cut. As the Moving Picture World reported: “At first the two-part proposition was voted so strongly that Mr. Laemmle was on the point of ordering the print cut that way and a campaign looking toward this distribution of the picture started. But later advisors won the day. He reconsidered at the last moment. The picture has been cut to eleven reels and Carl Laemmle now announces that it will be distributed to theatres next season as a single super-special.” But Laemmle wasn’t done. He had plans for another way of exciting the public’s attention: the Carl Laemmle-Victor Hugo Scholarship. It seems that originally Laemmle had intended the contest to be for college students, as he had purportedly reached out to over 700 universities to ask if they would participate. But ultimately it was decided that the contest would be open to high school students in the United States and Canada, with prize money intended to be used in furthering their education. A similar contest was to be held in the UK, where prize money could be used for university or an apprenticeship.  Students were invited to submit a 500 word essay answering the question:  "What ideals for life do you find in 'Les Miserables?'" To prove that the author was in high school, the essay needed to be accompanied by a letter from their school principal. A reporter for Universal Weekly opined: “The choice of this subject is regarded as a happy one in that it gives a present day aspect to the characters and motivations of Hugo's romance. It is said to be excellent also for its scope, and not of such a nature as to hamper students from certain sections of the country or from certain walks of life.”

Ad in the Saturday Evening Post. For the US & Canada contest, it was announced that there would be ten $500 scholarships and one $1000 grand prize, for a total of $6,000 in scholarships (that’s over $100,000 today). The number of scholarships available was increased when Jean Sapene, of the Society of Cineromans also made a contribution of $3,000 (The New York Times, 14 Aug 1927.) According to Laemmle, the contest was not “any form of blatant advertising” (source) and yet…it was definitely an advertisement.  Though technically entrants didn’t need to see the movie to submit an essay, the contest was great advertising for the movie and additionally, it elevated the profile of the movie by branding it as educational, salutary even, not simply entertaining. In “City of Dreams: The Making and Remaking of Universal Pictures,” Bernard F. Dick writes that Laemmle wanted to be known as “a defender of the values derived from a liberal arts educations” but that “those values did not exist in the abstract; they had to be present in a film Universal was releasing. [In creating the scholarship] Carl was not especially interested in Victor Hugo’s novel Les Miserables but in Henri Fescourt’s 1925 film version that Universal was releasing.” “Much thought and discussion with my associates convinced me that an admirable way to [increase the general appreciation for Victor Hugo’s creative genius] would be through a student’s essay competition,” stated Laemmle. “This would entertain on the part of the entrants something more than a casual reading of the book and impress them with the value of character as exemplified by the life of the novel’s hero" (Niagara Falls Gazette, 18 October 1927.) The scholarships would be awarded by Dr. John J. Tigert, United States Commissioner of Education; Dr. Ernst Crandall, Director of Visual Education of New York City; Dr. Thomas Finnigan, Chairman of Visual Education of the National Education Association; and Octavus Roy Cohen, an author of “ethnic comedies” (and yes that's as bad as it sounds.) The head of the awards committee was Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler, president of Columbia University (Butler would later win the Nobel peace prize but is remembered today for his notable silence in the face of the growing Nazi movement). The letter from Butler accepting the role of judge was published. Here is an excerpt: 

My friend, Mr. Will Hays, has sent me your letter to him of November 9th with its kind suggestion that I should act as one of the judges in the interesting and highly useful competition that you propose for high school students. I have written Mr. Hays that it will give me great pleasure to accept your suggestion and to serve your cause to the best of my ability.

If you didn’t catch that, that’s William Hays, who the Hays code is named after.... So while I most strongly associate the 1935 American film version of Les Misérables with the movement to sanitize films and remarket them as educational, we can see that Hays and others were laying the ground work for that with this 1927 release, the scholarship contest, and an advertising campaign that sought to involve educators and students. In cities across the United States, special screenings were held for students and teachers, sometimes at a reduced price, supposedly due to the educational merits of the film (and definitely not in an attempt to sell tickets). Libraries and bookstores handed out hundreds of thousands of bookmarks (designed by the Cleveland Public Library) advertising the film, in addition to entry forms for the contest. In Charleston, South Carolina the high school superintendent wrote an article in the newspaper about the movie. (The Motion Picture News 28 January 1928). In Buffalo, New York school officials endorsed the movie and the superintendent distributed information about the scholarship. (The Motion Picture News 25 November 1927). In Boston the premiere was attended by the Governor, as well as 18 school superintendents (Motion Picture News, 18 November 1927). And in Houston, Texas students in the French and literature classes were given extra credit if they attended the movie (Moving Picture World, 31 December 1927).

The bookmark in question (Moving Picture World, 24 December 1927.) So who won the contest? One of the $500 prizes was awarded to Alfred Hollander, a student of  Emmerich Manual Training high school in Indianapolis, Indiana. He came in 5th place. 

(The Indianapolis Times, 23 April 1929) And the first place winner was 14 year old Edwin M. Snell, a student at Central High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

(Exhibitors Herald World, 11 May 1929) But the real winner was Universal Pictures, which surely made buckets of money. And that’s all I have to say on the subject for now, except for to thank @mabeuf5 and @l832​ for reigniting my interest in this topic and that I’m sure we will be hearing more about this from the two of you soon. 

[eternal--returned]

Alphonse Mucha ֍ Page's Costume: study for an illustration for 'Le Costume au Théâtre' (1890)

The publisher Lemercier gave Mucha a quasi permanent job making illustrations for Le Costume au Théâtre, a magazine devoted to the reproductions of stage sets and costumes from new productions in opera and theatre. His work with the magazine provided him with a fee and free tickets to plays. It was while he was working for Le Costume au Théâtre in 1890 that Mucha first drew Sarah Bernhardt as Cleopatra in the play by Victorien Sardou.

[useless-catalanfacts]

hello! are there any playlists on spotify with catalan music that you know of? or just podcasts in catalan? thanks :3

Hello!

You'll find many playlists of music in Catalan on Spotify. You can look at the account Musicat Memes, it started as an Instagram account for memes about Catalan bands but it evolved into more things including a Spotify account where they keep updated playlists classified by genre.

The Spotify account Música Catalana - CATLLISTES also keeps updated playlists.

Long time ago, I also posted some playlists: a pop one here, and 5 traditional genres here, but I don't update those.

I think you can find many more playlists, are you looking for any particular music genre?

For podcasts, again there must be hundreds of them on Spotify. Do you need a podcast for beginners (since you're writing to me in English)? If you search for "learn Catalan" on Spotify you'll find a few podcasts for learners, including Easy Catalan (the same ones that run the YouTube channel with the same name) and Learn Catalan with CouchPolyglot - Your morning sip of Catalan (also from the YouTuber CouchPolyglot). There are more but I don't know the people who made them.

If you're looking for any podcast in Catalan made for Catalan speakers, there are many podcasts (or radio shows uploaded as podcasts) that are very popular but again it depends on what you're interested in. Here's some of the popular ones atm:

El búnquer: humour show. It's done from a bunker where every day they explain the biography of a historical person and then people have to vote whether they're allowed in the Bunker to get saved from the Apocalypse or if they leave them out to die. Prepare for a lot of tuberculosis and a lot of cheering for people's deaths. To be fair, the biography is only an excuse and they often get carried away taking about other things.

La competència (not recommended for beginners, their characters use very dialectal and colloquial words): a bunch of characters talk about current events. There's no way I can explain what this is and be true to what it is lmao. Actually it's 2 guys doing voices to play all the characters, but they're very funny about it.

La sotana: a very funny humour talk show about sports.

Tor, tretze cases i tres morts: journalist Carles Porta explains the set of murders he investigated years ago in a village in the Pyrenees and their links to contraband. True crime.

Crims: Carles Porta's most famous true crime, it was very successful so it inspired the Crims TV show on TV3, which again has been one of the most successful TV shows of the last years.

Hotel Palestina: journalists who have been war correspondents in different parts of the world talk about their experiences. They're very respected journalists and experts on their regions of the world who have often risked their lives.

Les dones i els dies: they talk about women's history and different topics that affect women nowadays, always with experts in each topic.

Gent de merda: interviews with trendy people of the moment.

Fans de l'Alcover Moll: analysing song lyrics.

L'autoestopista: interviews with writers, talking about books.

Mòbil, cartera, claus: podcast made by a trans man beginning when he started his hormonal treatment for transition, documenting all his changes and talking about various related topics or things that worry him at the time.

El silenci dels telers: this is only 1 long episode because it's two actresses reading the script of a theatre play about women in company-towns / mills in Catalonia. (I saw the theatre play and I recommend it)

Pòdcast.cat de Núvol: this is a collection of podcasts hosted by the culture magazine Núvol. There's a lot of stuff about literature and broader discussions of culture and current events from a more philosophical point of view.

Maximum Clatellot: I've asked some more people and I've been recommended this one. She described it as "four old punks chatting about all kinds of stuff".

And many, many more. If there's any particular kind of podcast you're looking for, I can see if I know any like that. Otherwise, you can browse them by topic at podcasts.cat.

I hope this helps! And as always, if anyone wants to add more in the comments, you're welcome to do so.

[yuzukahibiscus]

Takarazuka Flower Troupe Performance Yuzuka Rei Special Concert "BE SHINING!! –Glamorous Time–"

(Note: This is taken from the magazine MUSICAL November/December Issue)

Yuzuka Rei-san, Takarazuka Revue Flower Troupe Top Star, who captivates the audience with her ever-blinding and overflowing glow, her beautiful appearance and delicate acting, dramatic singing and dancing.

In the Takarazuka Grand Theatre musical "Arc~en~Ciel: A Rainbow Crossing Over Paris" with the opening performance on February 9, and when we wanted to see more of her performances, we feel difficult to say goodbye to her whom she will be graduating from the Takarazuka Revue on May 26 in the Tokyo Takarazuka Performance closing day.

In the winter before the Sayonara performance, there will be a Yuzuka Rei Special Concert "BE SHINING!!" (written and directed by Fujii Daisuke-sensei).

Because this is a stage that only Yuzuka-san as an entertainer could show with her charms, we have much expectations for it. We talk to her to learn about what kind of concert this would be.

What kind of stage would the Special Concert "BE SHINING!!–Glamorous Time" be like?

I'm going to try on various new things, and it's going to have some nostalgic memories to look back on, there's new songs added that are unique to this concert, and I hope this to be a stage that shows the youth and their bursting energy.

You're going to be playing a stage fairy Fie, but what does this role entail?

This time I'm very happy to be playing the fairy Fie once again that I have played in Fujii-sensei's show "Le Paradis!!" It's because of Sensei that I could meet Fie, so in some sense it feels like returning back to the beginning and I want to show a Fie that is unique to the present. Takarasiennes are also described as "fairies", so to be a fairy before I grraduate is very interesting. And I'll look forward to the Fie that is created by Fujii-sensei.

What do you think are the charms created in Fujii Daisuke-san's world of performances?

It's got an energetic punch and it's catch and cool...I have an impression that the performances he created are so full of charms and with high entertainment quality. I'm grateful to have met with the role of the fairy Fie in my underclassmen times, and I'm honoured that when I became a Top Star, the first show I had for "Cool Beast" was also direceted by him, so I'm delighted that Sensei could work with us on this concert too.

Does Yuzuka-san have any wishes you hope would be added into this concert?

I really like to be able to present how Sensei is depicting these memories, so when we talked about the direction, if there's some kind of inspiration I have, I'd love to tell him about it.

What kind of Yuzuka-san can we expect to see in this concert?

It's my first time having a concert genre for my performances, so I'm looking forward to that already. I'd love it if you could enjoy the various parts that I'd showcase and I'd be happy to let the audience have new discoveries of seeing those parts of mine.

You're going to graduate in May next year, do you have any memorable performances?

It's really hard to choose...but it's "Haikara-san ga Tooru" (2017, 2020), "TOP HAT" (2022) and "Years of Pilgrimage~The Wandering Soul of Liszt Ferenc" (2022) are especially memorable to me.

We want to hear from why you chose these 3 performances. Let's start from "Haikara-san ga Tooru".

"Haikara-san ga Tooru" was my small theatre lead performance, and later restaged as my (Top Star) debut performance, and it has been a long time ever since, but I remember feeling emotional over reencountering this performanc eagain when so many things have happened. The timing of my debut performance was because of the impact of the pandemic, so through this period of performing "Haikara-san ga Tooru", I really felt many kinds of feelings, and in that sense also learnt a lot, so that time was full of memories. For the play, it is a heartful and wonderful performance, that I'm really grateful to have encountered this as a performance.

How about "TOP HAT"?

I had the opportunity of playing Fred Astaire in the Takarazuka Bow Hall performance "Forever Gershwin" (2013), so I learnt about Fred Astaire during that time, and it's the first time that I saw so many videos and felt shocked like a meteorite hit me. Starting from how to wear the black tails to escorting the women, he has become an inspiration and a vision to the otokoyaku image I want to learn from. And to be able to do my favourite performance of Mr Fred Astaire's "TOP HAT" was like time spent like a dream.

How was "Years of Pilgrimage~The Wandering Soul of Liszt Ferenc"?

Ikuta (Hirokazu)-sensei wrote a performance for me that became my favourite. By writing dramatically about the protagonist Liszt, it was a valuable experience for me to challenge delving deeper into the acting. The pandemic also affected most of our Tokyo performances to be cancelled, so during that time what I observed became important to me, and a significant performance with so many things I could not forget.

How do you face and approach all of this when many performances were greatly affected by the pandemic?

The greatest thing that stayed with me was the saddening memories of knowing how we couldn't deliver the performances that our audiences so looked forward to. I felt very sorry about that, and I really saw how many of our Flower Troupe members cried over this. We also feel regret, thinking if things go as planned, then maybe we could continue with the performance, and maybe we could improve more. But it's because of this time, that we learnt a lot, and we have more encounters, so thinking back, I also am overwhelmed with the warm and grateful feelings during that time.

Do you have any expectations for your graduation performance "Arc~en~Ciel: A Rainbow Crossing Over Paris"?

I am thrilled and exciterd what this performance would be like. I don't know about our roles yet, I just know that my final performance role would be Marcel, to which I like the pronunciation of it so I think I'll come to love the role. He's a dancer, but I also imagine that this story would expand itself dramatically, and there would be new challenges for me within this performance and that everyone could see a new side of me. I'm looking forward because this could be when the audience would be surprised but also delighted to see this performance.

How do you want to spend the days before your graudation day comes:?

I don't think it has changed for me even now. I'm utterly grateful to to see the audience every day, to see everyone in Flower Troupe smiling brightly, so while I'm still able to be on this stage, I would cherish the time here, while working hard and continuing to take on the challenge and improve with a relaxed and cheerful mindset.

The concert title is "BE SHINING!!", when is the moment that Yuzuka-san feels you are shining?

What comes to mind when I heard of this is how the audience's eyes are shining with joy. Their glow is truly impressive and it makes me feel that I want to see more of those sparkling eyes!

As we are awaiting the opening of "BE SHINING!! –Glamorous Time–", could you leave a message for the audience?

I'm looking forward to the interactions that would be unique with the audience in the concert. Together with all the nostalgia, I hope you also enjoy this compacted time full of new stimulations, so please look forward to it!

[lunaghost13]

About Me

Name: Luna or Ophs.

Birthday: February 28th.

Zodiac Sign: Pisces.

Hobbies: Singing, playing video games, drawing, writing fics, making edits, making TikToks, swimming, cosplaying, dyeing my hair, archery, acting, going to Hot Topic, listening to music, and reading.

Pets: Two cats named Saphiria “Safie” Autumn and Cosette Miriam. I also have a tarantula named Lars.  

I’m an introvert!

Fandoms I’m in: Brütal Legend, Metalocalypse, Rock & Rule, Rocky Horror, Shadows of the Damned, and Xavier: Renegade Angel.

I love tarantulas!

I was a bit of a theatre kid growing up and still act when I want to.

My favorite musicals/rock operas are Les Miz, Rocky Horror, The Doomstar Requiem, Repo! The Genetic Opera, Tommy, Jesus Christ Superstar, and The Devil’s Carnival 1&2.

My favorite metal artists are Nekrogoblikon and King Diamond.

Stephen King and Lemony Snicket are a couple of my biggest writing inspirations.

I collect Game Informer magazines.

It's nice to meet you all! :3

I’m also using this platform as my personal blog. So TW on topics of mental illness and NSFW content.

[mote-historie]

George Barbier, Le Consellier des Dames, Robe et Manteau pour le Theatre (The Ladies' Advisor, Dress and Coat for the Theater), detail, Gazette du Bon Ton. Paris, March 1913.

Photo Sotheby's

One thing that distinguished the Gazette from other big fashion magazines like Les Modes, Harper's Bazaar or Vogue was the way it was distributed. The magazine, which was published ten times a year, required a subscription that cost about 100 francs a year (about $420 today), and issues could not be purchased without it. The significant cost combined with the exclusive selection of fashion designers and sketches printed on fine paper made it clear that the Gazette du Bon Ton was tailored to a wealthy readership. (x)

[bizarrequazar]

GJ and ZZH Updates — November 27-December 3

<<< previous week || all posts || following week >>>

This is part of a weekly series collecting updates from and relating to Gong Jun and Zhang Zhehan.

This post is not wholly comprehensive and is intended as an overview, links provided lead to further details. Dates are in accordance with China Standard Time, the organization is chronological. My own biases on some things are reflected here. Anything I include that is not concretely known is indicated as such, and you’re welcome to do your own research and draw your own conclusions as you see fit. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, concerns, or additions. :)

[Glossary of names and terms] [Masterlist of my posts about the situation with Zhang Zhehan]

11-27 → Gong Jun’s studio posted a photo of him from the filming of Rising with the Wind. (1129 kadian) Caption: “Dear passengers, the #Gong Jun’s very wonderful November# time train has arrived at the 27th station, 「The train conductor @ Gong Jun Simon is running against the wind and going to Tengyue」, Passengers, please sit tight and hold on. The station ahead is _______.”

→ LockNLock posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun. (1129 kadian)

→ The Instagram posted a collection of photos from attending a grad performance at the Shanghai Theatre Academy. Around the same time, a video and photo of “Zhang Zhehan” were spread claiming that his former professors had invited him to attend the performance as an alumni. Antis flocked to this, digging up an old rumor from 2021 (which has been thoroughly debunked) that Zhang Zhehan paid his way into the school rather than being admitted legitimately. Fan Observations:   -  Someone in the audience posted photos of the performance, one of which caught part of the body double’s real face.   -  [Here] is a translation of what is said in the video, disproving claims that the speaker is talking about Zhang Zhehan. There is nothing in the video to indicate the speaker even knows who the man standing behind him is.   -  In Zhang Zhehan’s own words, he did not have a close relationship with any of his teachers from the school and no longer has any contact with them.   -  Anyone who knows anyone at the school is able to get a free ticket to their grad shows, it is not a special invitation reserved only for people closely associated. The email that was going around claiming this originated from a Zhang Sanjian fan who works in the school’s international students office (and was therefore abusing her position.) The Weibo account of this fan was deleted less than an hour after QuelleVous revealed her, before anyone had shared it on Weibo, indicating that she (the fan) was tipped off by an international whaler.  -  The final line of the Instagram caption is a quote from Les Miserables. This is highly worrisome, as people affiliated with the account seem to be trying to take advantage of the current tense political situation in China.

→ BEAST posted another teaser video featuring Gong Jun. (23:29, 1129 kadian) Caption: “The road ahead is long, the night is vast  Poo-Poo is sleepy, home is near”

11-28 → The exclusive audio recording for Gong Jun’s supertopic that was announced the previous week was made available. Translation: “Hello everyone, I'm Gong Jun and also the ‘Gong Jun’s very wonderful November’ train conductor. Here I would like to thank everyone for travelling onboard. I'm overjoyed to be able to enjoy this journey with all of you. I sincerely hope that everyone can attentively admire and record the scenery along the way. No matter where your destination is, I will always be with you.”

→ #ZhangZhehan trended on Twitter.

→ Wonderland magazine posted a teaser photo for the photoshoot of Gong Jun they would release an hour later. Caption: “Among the neon lights, phantoms overlap, the avant-garde wave pervades, awakens the tide of futurism, crosses the boundary of inherent order, and reality and dreams are connected at this moment. Entering the initial source code, a new chapter is being written, are you ready to lead to the unknown world of freedom with @ Gong Jun Simon?” 

→ Gong Jun posted the full commercial for BEAST. Caption: “I once made a promise with Poo-Poo that we wanted to go home together. After more than a year, we are finally on our way home, and our story is still going on” This was reposted by BEAST with the added caption: “1129 See you there or be square” Fan Observation: The final line of Gong Jun’s caption (我们的故事还在继续) is similar to the line “Bravely let this story go on (勇敢让这个 这个故事继续)” from Zhang Zhehan’s song 不说.

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted a photo of him from the filming of Fox Spirit Matchmaker. (1129 kadian) Caption: “Dear passengers, the #Gong Jun’s very wonderful November# time train has arrived at the 28th station. 「The train conductor @ Gong Jun Simon went shopping in the market and bought the last two sticks of candied haw」, Passengers, please sit tight and hold on, the station ahead is _______.”

→ Wonderland posted their photoshoot with Gong Jun, announcing the magazine’s release. (1129 kadian) Caption: “Seek breakthroughs in balance, outline in changes, walk freely between light and dark, and the illusory realm opens here. ... @ Gong Jun Simon breaks the boundary between virtual and real, and talks to a new self in the future world, looking for his own unique expression.” This was reposted by Gong Jun’s studio (11:32, 511 kadian) with the added caption: “The Realm of False Reality, Wonderful Phantom! Boss @ Gong Jun Simon 's journey to explore the unknown metaverse world is about to start!” It was also reposted by Hogan. [translated interview]

This was shortly followed by a video of footage from the shoot. The BGM is Orbit by Rezz. (flashing lights cw for both links) Caption: “When light and darkness collide, under the lens, his outline is both real and illusory; The angular frame is clear. This time, ‘New Vision Wonderland.’ joins hands with @ Gong Jun Simon to jointly explore the unknown dimensional universe, travel through time and space tunnels, welcome the arrival of hyper-real virtual avatars in the next multidimensional dimension, and open a new chapter of the metaverse world together. Stay tuned!”

→ Hogan posted five of the Wonderland photos, highlighting their shoes.

→ Gong Jun posted six of the Wonderland photos to his Weibo, caption: “Travel to the metaverse!”, six to his Instagram, caption: “Astro Boy 🤖”, and seven to his Xiao Hong Shu, caption: “This..... Too cool!” His Weibo post was reposted by Colgate.

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted a video of behind the scenes footage from the photoshoot. The BGM is So Thankful by Dylan Sitts. Caption: “There are many illusions, and the virtual and the real jump. Boss @ Gong Jun Simon travels through dimensions and explores himself in the virtual and the real.”

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted a douyin of more behind the scenes footage. Caption: “Are you ready to be ‘killed’ by boss @ Gong Jun Simon‘s eyes?”

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted nine more photos from the Wonderland photoshoot. Caption: “One-click access to the metaverse, freeze the working moment of boss @ Gong Jun Simon, and explore different definitions.”

→ (Unconfirmed) Someone reported the brand to the Shanghai Bureau of Supervision for unauthorized use of Zhang Zhehan’s name. Chen Liying and her sister Chen Qunying were required to submit documentation saying that Zhang Zhehan is not a shareholder, that they have never claimed a connection with him, and that this is purely a fan-led belief that they were not aware of. Bullshit.

→ Gong Jun posted a photo of a handwritten note in his supertopic: “Leave Application: Still on holiday, will be taking leave for tomorrow, hope you’ll approve it! Card has been sent out, please sign it personally~” Caption: “Requesting to take a leave of absence, please approve!” Fan Observations:  -  There appears to be a hexagon ring behind the glass. Quite a few people attempted to replicate it, with some pretty accurate results.  -  Him not doing a livestream means that his birthday outfit (at least in the minds of fans) is still his one from last year that matched Zhang Zhehan’s birthday outfit. 🥺

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted a promotional video for Honor spoken by Gong Jun. This was also later posted by Honor. 

11-29 → Gong Jun’s 30th birthday! 🥳 Here’s a collection of fan events and creations from throughout the week, feel free to send me any more I’ve missed! Art: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22.1 22.2] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33]  Charity Drives: [1] [2] [3] Fanfiction: [1] [2] [3] [4] Offline Meetups: [1] [2] [3] [4] PFPs: [1] [2] [3] [4] Public Displays: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] Videos: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Misc: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] @sssilkworms​ also did the amazing work this month of subbing Gong Jun’s 2018-2020 birthday livestreams!

→ At midnight, Gong Jun’s studio posted a letter to him for his birthday, and Gong Jun posted a gif to his own Weibo. Fans coordinated to line up matching pfps in the top comments under Gong Jun’s post.

→ Also at midnight, many of his endorsements posted photos and videos wishing him a happy birthday. Below are the captions from each.

361°: “We have met each other because of love, and have grown up with each other to this day. Happy birthday to @ Gong Jun Simon 🎂, may you continue to be brave and enthusiastic as always, and go to every journey calmly. Love track, to be continued.”

BEAST: BEAST and Panda Poo-Poo wish @ Gong Jun Simon a happy birthday.  All the roses are open for you, and they are cute and will not wait any longer”

Charlotte Tilbury: “Intensive research, the ultimate breakthrough! Let's explore the infinite possibilities of the future together with the power of bright magic~ I wish Charlotte Tilbury's global make-up spokesperson @ Gong Jun Simon a happy birthday!”

Colgate: “Day and night, it is all bright and white.  You focus on your original intention, work hard, and continue to transmit positive energy with a healing smile, making companionship more lucky and precious.  Happy birthday, Gong Jun!  New year, more beautiful, will come as promised!”

fresh: “When the years change, I see your bravery and responsibility, but also your tenacity and resound. May every transformation of yours be accompanied by fresh. Happy birthday to our handsome spokesperson @ Gong Jun Simon.”

(Hsu Fu Chi did post something but it was primarily advertising themselves and didn’t even include a photo of him, so fuck ‘em.)

LockNLock: “Across autumn and winter, across spring and summer 🎉 This is [LockNLock]'s second birthday with @ Gong Jun Simon! 🥳  We have heard insects chirping in midsummer outdoors together, and touched the falling snow in winter together. Every bit of fun is giving beauty to life! 👏  LockNLock wishes a happy birthday to the LockNLock global spokesperson @ Gong Jun Simon 1129 🎂  May we all continue to paint freely in the youthful world, and have fun with more beauty and comfort 🤗”

L’Oreal: “Greet the future with high fives, without changing the youthful background. Happy birthday to @ Gong Jun Simon!” 

Mengniu: “Growth meets unexpectedly, and the birthday comes as scheduled. Happy birthday to @ Gong Jun Simon 🎂  The two years that have passed side by side accompanying each other and growing up together for a new year. I hope you live up to your original intentions and don’t fear the future✨”

MUJOSH: “He is a young actor with changing roles, confident and shining, and also a gentle boy who maintains his original intention, humility and self-discipline. Happy birthday to MUJOSH brand spokesperson @ Gong Jun Simon 🎂 May the future days be full of non-stop progress and high spirits!”

→ #GongJun, Junjun, and #龚俊1129生日快乐 trended on Twitter.

→ Gong Jun posted a photo of a hotel table and window in his supertopic. Caption: “Good morning” Fan Observations:   -  People figured out (frighteningly quickly) where the photo was taken. The place has a suite option called Moon and Stars.  -  There’s a smudge on the window that is possibly a partial handprint. Fantasizing abounds.

→ The Legend of AnLe Weibo posted a photo of Gong Jun. Caption: “One eyebrow and one glance are handsome, and every move reflects calmness. I wish Han Ye @ Gong Jun Simon a happy birthday, every year now.”

→ The Rising with the Wind Weibo posted two photos of Gong Jun. Caption: “Leading the new national trend and helping the national brand rise. @ Gong Jun Simon Xu Si, happy birthday!”

→ The Fox Spirit Matchmaker Weibo posted four photos of Gong Jun. Caption: “Wishing the truly sincere boy Dongfang Yuechu @ Gong Jun Simon a happy birthday, and dreams coming true 🎂🎂” 

→ The producer of Rising with the Wind posted a short behind the scenes video of Gong Jun.

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted a childhood photo of him. (1129 kadian) Caption: “Dear passengers, the #Gong Jun’s very wonderful November# time train has arrived at the destination of this trip. 「The train conductor @ Gong Jun Simon opened the old photo album and met a seven-year-old self」. Thank you for your company all the way, and I hope that the future will be long, and I will accompany you at every stop.”

→ 361°, Colgate, Hogan, Hsu Fu Chi, LockNLock, MUJOSH, and Tangle Teezer posted more photos and videos at for Gong Jun’s birthday. (1129 kadian) LockNLock’s included “Bye bye trouble 👋 Hi hi happiness!”, paraphrasing the song Gong Jun and Zhang Zhehan danced to on Happy Camp.

→ MARRSGREEN posted a silly video of Gong Jun. (1129 kadian) They posted a birthday photo for him shortly after, caption: “From the first acquaintance to companionship, we walked through every moment of the trend together.  One year one gift, I wish you happiness, not just on your birthday @ Gong Jun Simon  A new year, a tide to a farther future!” 

→ Jifeng, a virtual personality created in Gong Jun’s image, was revealed. (1129 kadian) Gong Jun’s studio reposted this with the added caption: “The edge of the universe is the infinite future. Friends come from afar to explore the answer with you.” 

This was also reposted by Wonderland with the added caption: “Happy birthday to @ Gong Jun Simon, new adventures are coming soon, let us embark on a journey together and explore a more exciting new world together!” A few minutes later they also posted an additional video of Jifeng with white hair, shortly followed by a teaser image for something to be revealed in December. (Thanks I hate it.)

→ Kangshifu posted a photo of Gong Jun wishing him a happy birthday. Caption: “The time train has arrived at the most important station! 「Today is the birthday of the train conductor @ Gong Jun Simon~」 Kangshifu Jasmine Tea wishes Junjunzi a happy birthday, let’s walk the road of flowers together in the future!”

→ Honor posted a douyin of Gong Jun being gifted a cake during the filming of his recent commercials with them. (For those trying to keep track: Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. were his only endorsements that didn’t post anything.)

→ Vogue posted nine previously released photos of “Hello, Hello”. Caption: “Today is @ Gong Jun Simon's 30th birthday. On the road of an actor, he is not slow, and left a deep impression on us with his bright and funny characters. In the shooting for #VOGUEfilm# this year, we once again saw his bold performance and expression. Let's wish him a happy birthday 🎂.”

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted a video of various behind the scenes footage from the last couple months. [subbed video] Caption: “From the train conductor @ Gong Jun Simon’s #Gong Jun’s very wonderful November# Travel Notes 🎬 Let time flow, record every moment of the boss’s sincerity, enthusiasm, and joy.” BGM is Another Day of Sun from La La Land, Young Coconut by Mac De Marco, and Taking Off by LAKEY INSPIRED. Fan Observation: The video is 04:16 long, 1640 kadian.

→ The Jifeng account posted a photo of it and Gong Jun side by side.

→ Gong Jun posted a collection of travel photos. Caption: “Return home and look” He also posted them to his Xiao Hong Shu (13:18, 511 and 1129 kadian), caption: “Let’s just say~ today  In a good mood 📸😙”

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted eight more photos from the same photoshoot. Caption: “Boss @ Gong Jun Simon standing in the bustling city streets, wandering the old alleys of Chengdu, feeling the unique fireworks of this city!” An hour later they studio posted another eight photos from the it. Caption: “Boss @ Gong Jun Simon breaks into the gorgeous corner of the old street, salvaging the brilliance of early winter.”

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted a video of him going to see pandas. [subbed video] Caption: “Boss @ Gong Jun Simon took the promise to go home, embarked on a journey home, and had a cordial ‘meet and greet’ with the giant panda. Let's go back to Chengdu together!” BGM is waking up on a picnic blanket by Lullatone, Prologue from I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, a piano cover of Snowdin Town from Undertale, and Stardust by Christoffer Frazen.

→ The producer of Rising with the Wind and Legend of AnLe posted a photo of a cake with little figures of Gong Jun’s roles from the two dramas. After Gong Jun’s studio later posted photos of the larger cake, he also left a comment on his own post with a photo of Gong Jun with this smaller cake.  Fan Observation: Gong Jun possibly has a hickey in the photo.

→ MUJOSH posted photos [here] and [here] and a video from a (presumably staff-)event they held for Gong Jun’s birthday. BGM is 热爱105°C的你 by A Si. 

→ Gong Jun held an impromptu AMA in his supertopic. [translation thread] Fan Observation: His replies seem to be in two distinctly different writing styles.

→ Colgate posted a photo ad featuring Gong Jun.

→ BEAST posted a commercial featuring Gong Jun. (23:29, 1129 kadian) Caption: “20221129 is about to pass, BEAST and Panda Poo-Poo once again wish @ Gong Jun Simon a happy birthday. There are always some regrets, and it will become the next agreement”

→ Gong Jun’s studio posted photos of him with a giant cake with little figures of most of his past roles (including Wen Kexing!!!) (23:29, 1129 kadian) Caption: “Happy birthday to boss @ Gong Jun Simon, keep on playing!”

11-30 → The cake maker posted additional photos of the cake, explaining how they flew it to Yunnan for him. [summary translation]

→ #龚俊Simon trended on Twitter.

→ 361° announced the end of the charity program they ran in partnership with Gong Jun during the previous weeks, with a total of 150k RMB raised for the China Small Animal Protection Association. 

→ Colgate posted a collection of photo ads featuring Gong Jun. (flashing images cw)

→ Jiang Zemin, the former leader of China, passed away, bringing a mourning period into effect.

12-01 → Nothing of note.

12-02 → Nothing of note.

12-03 → 不想匿名 changed their pfp to clouds and a sunset.

→ The Instagram posted two photos of “Zhang Zhehan” and some other aesthetic-y photos of plants and a book.

Additional Reading → The Zhang Zhehan wiki created by Flora et al. was made public last weekend! It’s a great resource for up to date information about his case, and is where Flora’s daily fan news thread has moved to. → Sheena’s charity drive for Gong Jun’s birthday ended with a total of 102,911 HKD (92,827.54 RMB / 13,216.67 USD) in donations! Thank you to everyone who participated, winners of the various giveaways can be found [here]!

<<< previous week || all posts || following week >>>

[the-paintrist]

Léon Choubrac - Advertisement for the serialization of "Germinal" by Emile Zola in the magazine "Gil Blas" on 25 November 1884.

Émile Édouard Charles Antoine Zola (; 2 April 1840 – 29 September 1902) was a French novelist, journalist, playwright, political activist, the best-known practitioner of the literary school of naturalism, and an important contributor to the development of theatrical naturalism. He was a major figure in the political liberalization of France and in the exoneration of the falsely accused and convicted army officer Alfred Dreyfus, which is encapsulated in his renowned newspaper opinion headlined J'Accuse…!  Zola was nominated for the first and second Nobel Prize in Literature in 1901 and 1902.

Germinal is the thirteenth novel in Émile Zola's twenty-volume series Les Rougon-Macquart. Often considered Zola's masterpiece and one of the most significant novels in the French tradition, the novel – an uncompromisingly harsh and realistic story of a coalminers' strike in northern France in the 1860s – has been published and translated in over one hundred countries. It has also inspired five film adaptations and two television productions.

Germinal was written between April 1884 and January 1885. It was first serialized between November 1884 and February 1885 in the periodical Gil Blas, then in March 1885 published as a book.

The title refers to the name of a month of the French Republican Calendar, a spring month. Germen is a Latin word which means "seed"; the novel describes the hope for a better future that seeds amongst the miners. As the final lines of the novel read:

Des hommes poussaient, une armée noire, vengeresse, qui germait lentement dans les sillons, grandissant pour les récoltes du siècle futur, et dont la germination allait faire bientôt éclater la terre. Men were springing forth, a black avenging army, germinating slowly in the furrows, growing towards the harvests of the next century, and their germination would soon overturn the earth. — 1885 translation[

Gil Blas (or Le Gil Blas) was a Parisian literary periodical named for Alain-René Lesage's novel Gil Blas. It was founded by the sculptor Augustin-Alexandre Dumont in November 1879.

Gil Blas serialized novels, such as Émile Zola's Germinal (1884) and L'Œuvre (1885), before they appeared in book form. Numerous Guy de Maupassant short stories debuted in Gil Blas. The journal was also known for its opinionated arts and theatre criticism. Contributors included René Blum, Alexandru Bogdan-Pitești, and Abel Hermant. Théophile Steinlen and Albert Guillaume provided illustrations.

Gil Blas was published regularly until 1914, when there was a short hiatus due to the outbreak of World War I. Afterwards, it was published intermittently until 1938.

In addition to Germinal, Gil Blas serialized the Zola novels L'Argent, Au Bonheur des Dames, and La Joie de vivre.

Gil Blas critic Louis Vauxcelles's phrase "Donatello chez les fauves" ("Donatello among the wild beasts") brought notoriety and attention to the works of Henri Matisse and Les Fauves exhibited at the Salon d'Automne of 1905. Vauxcelles' comment was printed on 17 October 1905[4] and passed into popular usage.

[irisrowes]

molly   gordon.     she/her.     cis   woman.      ›      spotted   at   the   met   steps   ,   iris   rowe   ,   most   likely   listening   to   hunger   by   florence   and   the   machine  with   their   airpods   pro   .   the   twenty-six   year   old   gained   quite   a   reputation   ,   known   to   be   -theatrical   yet   +charming  to   anyone   who   knows   them   .   you'll   easily   spot   them   when   you   hear   about   scattered   coffee   mugs   stained   with   red   lipstick,   midnight   tarot   card   readings   in   the   smoky   back   booth,   dried   floral   arrangements   swaying   from   the   ceiling,   candle-lit   dinner   parties   that   dissolve   into   seances   and   an   eclectic   theatre   backstage   full   of   various   haunted   knick-knacks    ,   followed   by   the   noir   29   by   le   labo   .   latest   nepoupdates   article   talks   about   theatre   heiress   iris   rowe   spotted   on   a   series   of   romantic   european   dates   with   best   friend’s   ex-fiancee   ,   but   i   guess   any   reputation   is   good   reputation   .

* ㅤ stats ㅤ … ㅤ *

full name:  iris rosalind rowe

nicknames:  rowe

gender:  cis female

pronouns:  she/her

sexuality:  bisexual

aesthetics:  scattered coffee mugs stained with red lipstick, midnight tarot card readings in the smoky back booth, dried floral arrangements swaying from the ceiling, candle-lit dinner parties that dissolve into seances, eclectic theatre backstage full of various knick-knacks, cigarette smoke curling around red velvet dusters, midnight games of poker in her paid-for-by-her-parents new york city apartment, late night train rides, waking up at midday, stumbling over fashion magazines littered over the bedroom floor

age:  twenty-six

date of birth:  12th october 1997 at 9.17pm

zodiac sign:  libra sun, pisces moon & gemini rising

residence:  brooklyn, new york city in a one-bedroom loft apartment that her parents pay for. iris lives alone but has a revolving-door of friends that come and stay with her for extended periods of time. the living room is always a make-shift bedroom. she used to have a kitten, whisky, but she ran away

occupation:  iris is forever changing occupations - she's been a florist, a medium, a psychic to the stars (the one brief summer she spent in hollywood with her father at sixteen), a thespian, an actress, an artist, an interior designer, a summer camp counsellor and a writer. she was the costume manager for her fathers' latest broadway play a shriek! a cry! but was quietly fired after she disappeared halfway during production to jet-set across europe. she's now putting all of her energy into writing her paid substack column: new york haunting.

* ㅤ appearance … ㅤ *

faceclaim:  molly gordon

piercings:  two piercings in both lower lobes and a cartilage piercing on her right ear

tattoos: a matching love heart on her ankle with her best-friend, 1997 on her right forearm, two cherries underneath the 1997, a tiny cross on her ribcage

style:  lots of black, lace, velvet, silky slip dresses, accents of red, mary-janes, velvet headbands, multiple heavy gold cross necklaces, an eclectic assortment of rings, ribbons, plaid, very bohemian when she's at the theatre, long skirts,

* ㅤ personality … ㅤ *

traits:  theatrical, charming, imaginative, bold, confident, loving, flighty, deceitful, selfish, irresponsible, dramatic, obsessive, vain, assertive, curious, captivating, cultured, dynamic, idealistic

labels / tropes:  the thespian

likes:  sitting in wine bars with her friends, tarot readings, creating mysterious scenes, parties, always being on the go, card games

dislikes  feeling restless, not being the centre of attention, corporate spaces, prolonged weeks of work

fears:  she's not afraid of anything

hobbies:  hosting dinner parties, tarot readings, seeing her psychic, attending plays, tennis, poker, pottery, whittling

* ㅤ family … ㅤ *

mother:  carolina tucker rowe, the leading actress of all william rowe's early broadway plays before she began co-producing productions with him

father:  william david rowe, renowned broadway producer, writer and director

siblings:  only child

pets:  previously: a kitten, whisky, and her childhood cat, sutton.

notable close relatives:  her aunt mabel rowe-myer, an acclaimed independent film director; her uncle christian rowe, an award-winning broadway composer; her aunt elizabeth rowe, a fashion designer who started the label rower; her aunt may tucker, an actress who starred in mabel's early indie productions; her grandfather benjamin rowe, an acclaimed broadway director

best friend:  iris' best-friend was actress maya valentine, who she had been close with since their years of secondary-schooling. the friendship ended the night of a tarot-card reading at iris' apartment - both their lips have been sealed over what has happened but there has been a notable lack of content featuring the two of them on their social media feeds

* ㅤ backstory ㅤ … ㅤ *

01. iris was born into theatre legacy - her grandfather was an acclaimed theatre director who brought his three children up in the theatre. her father, william, was the rising-star amongst the three of them. her parents met on the set of william's first play

02. her birth was a scandal - her father was married to lucinda wright, a family-friend, while engaging in an affair with his lead actress, carolina. iris' birth brought the affair to the limelight. it took years for his divorce to be finalised and her parents weren't married until she was six

03. iris' childhood was marked by instability. william and carolina often got into explosive fights that could span months. their house was often full of tension. there were periods of time where both would pack their bags and fly to opposite sides of the earth, leaving iris in the care of one of their siblings, her grandparents or a nanny. most of her childhood was spent in the theatre: backstage, front-stage, side-stage

04. her first role in film was when she was ten. mabel cast her as the leading child actress in a horror film - it was iris' first taste of what a bad review was; the tormenting from friends and reviewers followed her for years, yet, she liked the taste of being talked about

05. she attended a series of new york city prep schools through elementary and secondary. the year she turned fourteen she was caught drinking on school premises, leading to an expulsion and a six-month banishment to a swiss boarding school. iris loves new york and new york loves her; she concocted a plan for a second expulsion so she could return to her city

06. her teenage years were marked by rebellious behaviour that went unnoticed by both parents - underage drinking, inappropriate relationships, flying to france on a whim, overindulgent spending, returning home in the early hours of the morning

07. iris attended nyu where she miraculously and lazily got a degree in dramatic writing

08. iris spent her early twenties engaging in all sorts of side gigs and tumultuous relationships but now she fears she's truly in love & all it's all with the wrong person - her (former) best friend's ex-fiancee; she's stuck between throwing herself all in and searching for her latest obsession somewhere else

* ㅤ secrets & scandals ㅤ … ㅤ *

01. she's been spending all her time chasing her (former) best friend's ex-fiancee around europe - she's in love! she's writing sonnets for him! she knows its wrong but its what makes it all the more exciting - iris can't resist the chase of what isn't right

02. her (former) best friend didn't stop talking to her because of her current entanglement but because iris presented the cards of death at a tarot reading, reciting a foreboding future that left maya in tears - iris wouldn't stop, even when she was asked, even when she was laying into territory that made a mockery of maya's familial deaths

03. iris still lazily engages in her psychic readings but has taken it from the stars to the streets. she has a pop-up shop hidden away in madame piper's shop. iris knows its all a lie but she'll take money from anyone who is offering and tell them all the most gruesome, troubling tales she can think of - she sees it as writing practice. what makes it worse is that she takes the stories of her patrons and exploits it for her substack column

* ㅤ wanted connections ㅤ … ㅤ *

here.

[la-cocotte-de-paris]

Bonsoir amie des orages ! 2: If you could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be? 24: Do you have a collection of anything? 76: In your opinion, what makes a great relationship? please

Bonsoir ! ^.^

2: If you could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?

Hmm, if the person would be living, then I actually don't know. Maybe Cate Blanchett or Isabelle Huppert? I really admire them. Maybe some friends that I haven't seen in a while but it's too difficult to reach them irl atm (but I get to catch up with some soon, so I'm excited for that <3). Maybe a former lover just to clear up some things that never saw appropriate closure.

If I could pick someone who has passed, the list of people I'd want to meet would be endless! Edwige, Cleopatra, Elizabeth I, Vivien Leigh, Sarah Bernhardt, Shakespeare, Jean Cocteau and Jean Marais, some family members who have moved onto the next realm (which would also be a long list and mostly male, interestingly enough).

24: Do you have a collection of anything?

A few things, I suppose! I own a few antique jewellery pieces (as in, like, maybe less than five pieces). Of course I am a NERD and own a shitload of books that I someday intend to read but haven't yet (I'm sorta slowly absorbing one of my uncle's libraries bc it turns out we would have had a LOT of similar interests). I also sort of have an accidental shine for Edwige?? It was never supposed to be like that but I just keep end up collecting random little pieces about her (I've literally barred myself from ebay sometimes lmfao), and when I finally have a more long-term place to live, I feel a whole section of my apartment could be dedicated to her alone, let alone all my other theatre/classic film interests! But for the Edwige things, the "collection" ranges from the books she wrote (one she signed :) ), a theatre programme, some film cards, magazines/magazine clippings, copies of films (duh), and vintage photos. <3

I also want to print out all the photos I've taken that I really like (either from my phone camera or my film camera), but that's a work in progress, ahahaha! :P I also own an increasing amount of unusual jewellery (which i LOVE) and some of it is rather stark or macabre. I own a variety of different hand-fans, too, for the summer. <3

I just KNOW I'm forgetting a really obvious collection I own - but I'm too tired to remember it now... -_-""

76: In your opinion, what makes a great relationship?

Oooooh, this is such a good question! To me, I think open and unwavering communication, honesty, trust are all of top-tier importance. Some similar interests, and good sense of humour also helps a lot. Being kind, understanding/compassionate, and passionate with your lover is also key. Being self-aware and having an understanding of yourself is also important to help a healthy relationship function (knowing your own emotional limits, etc. so then you don't end up breaking your lover's heart repeatedly due to a disparity neither of you knew about/something you can't handle yourself and something your partner cannot help you with). Also you need to have fun together! Share experiences together, be willing to work through the bad and celebrate the good together. Support one another if a partner is going through a period of difficulty, too. And, well, you must love one another and appreciate one another for what you each are! I'm sure I could go on, but those would be the most important factors.

Merci pour les questions ! <3

let's get personal.

[denimbex1986]

'It's all happening for Florence Pugh.

The brilliant actress can be seen in Christopher Nolan's latest box-office hit, Oppenheimer, as the psychiatrist Jean Tatlock. She has starred in films as diverse as Outlaw King, Greta ('Barbie') Gerwig's Little Women (for which she received an Oscar nomination), the Marvel hit, Black Widow, and Don't Worry Darling, opposite Harry Styles. On TV, she has been Cordelia to Anthony Hopkins’s King Lear, and was the lead in BBC One’s hit adaptation of John le Carré's The Little Drummer Girl.

She presented two categories at the 2023 Oscars (her striking Valentino dress prompted Vogue magazine to hail her 'punk princess' look), and she has appeared on the cover of Time magazine, billed as one of its 'Next Generation Leaders'. Her social media series, 'Cooking with Flo', has been a huge hit.

Little wonder that a London-based newspaper can say of her: "In the last couple of years, the actress has become a plain-speaking role model for Gen Zers and is fast becoming the celebrity young women most identify with".

Back in April 2017 the Sunday Herald ran an interview with her, as her then-latest film, Lady Macbeth, was released in the UK. Here it is again.

“SHE was just so different to anything I’d ever read before,” Florence Pugh is saying. “She was just so exciting, and so manipulative, and delicious. I’ve never had a character allow us to love her whilst she does awful things”.

Awful things is an understatement when it comes to Katherine, the anti-heroine whom she plays in a new film, Lady Macbeth. The film has just gone on UK general release, trailing the sort of advance reviews that most film-makers would kill for. Pugh herself has drawn praise from critics who know what they’re talking about.

The film, the debut feature by theatre director William Oldroyd, is based on a 19th century novella, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District, by Nikolai Leskov (and despite the title, it’s not about the Shakespeare character).

On screen, the action has been transported to rural Northumberland in 1865. Katherine, 17, having been sold by her father, together with a small piece of land, finds herself in a large, austere country house and, worse, in an arranged marriage to a curt and distant older man, who resolutely declines to make any physical advances to her, even on their wedding night. And her new father-in-law is as harsh as he is unsympathetic. Her future looks bleak, but Katherine is not without resources.

In time, she falls headlong for a groomsman, Sebastian (Cosmo Jarvis), with whom she begins a torrid affair. Gradually, however, she, and the film, take a violent turn as it becomes evident that she will stop at nothing to get what she wants. It says much for the script (by Alice Birch) and for Pugh’s remarkably self-assured performance that, even at the end of the film, having witnessed a fair degree of mayhem, we still can’t bring ourselves to dislike Katherine.

Pugh herself has won acclaim for the role. Declaring that she had announced herself as a major talent, the US entertainment bible Variety praised her for folding Katherine’s contradictions “into one composed, consistent characterisation” and that she “impresses with precocious poise, sensuality and venom”. Given that this is really her first major role, and that she is still only 21, it’s hard to disagree with Variety’s judgement.

Pugh was born and raised in Oxfordshire. At school, in Oxford, she was, by her own admission, no good at chemistry or maths, being much more inclined in the direction of drama and music. She took part in a city arts centre’s productions of such plays as Romeo & Juliet and Blood Wedding, and she was already thinking of a career as an actor when fate intervened in the shape of The Falling, a 2015 film directed by Carol Morley and set in an all-girls' school.

“I nearly didn’t do it,” Pugh says of that film. “I wasn’t going to do it. My brother’s in the industry, and I had been watching him for a couple of years before I had done that audition. I knew how mean the industry was, I knew how cut-throat it was. I knew that you just don’t get auditions like that.

“So obviously, when I saw that ad – to hand in a tape – I didn’t do it, because there was no point, because I wasn’t going to get the part. And then my mum said, well, this is what you want to do at some point. You’re not going to get the role, but we can always just give it a go because you need to start knowing how to do tapes.

“So, on the day of the deadline, I rushed over and we quickly filmed myself talking about my hobbies, who I was, and what it was that I did, and I got a callback the next day, saying the director wanted to meet me at some point. So it was all pretty much fluke, and being in the right place at the right time.”

She subsequently did an audition in person for Morley. After she left the room, Morley thought, oh wow. The casting personnel fell quiet as they weighed up what they had just seen. “Do you not think she’s amazing?” Morley asked. Someone else said it was like a young Kate Winslet walking into the room.

Pugh has a small but central role in The Falling, and if she appeared daunted by working with Maisie (Game of Thrones) Williams, with Maxine Peake and Greta Scacchi, she did not show it. That said, her first day in front of the camera was, she acknowledges, “absolutely terrifying, and I remember feeling sick on the way to work, because I’d done a whole summer’s worth of auditions, and I’d worked so hard to get this role," she says.

“I remember [on that first day], getting in the car and thinking, oh God what if I’m crap? What if all of this is a lie, and I’ve managed to wean myself into this role and I completely muck it up? The first line I had on camera is where me and Maisie are under the tree and I say one line. It’s a very simple line. There was a big crew there … and the camera’s on, and they say ‘action’, and I’m looking up at the tree, and I just completely forget my line. Gone. I remember thinking, you really can't muck this up. Wake up!”

She needn’t have worried. After The Falling, she filmed a pilot, Studio City, for Fox. Most recently, she was seen in ITV’s Marcella, alongside Anna Friel and Laura Carmichael. And last October she was one of 20 talented newcomers to win a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit award.

Casting director Shaheen Baig had cast The Falling and she recommended Pugh to Oldroyd when the search was on for someone to play Katherine. It had to be someone capable of playing an innocent young woman who becomes considerably more cold-hearted. Oldroyd himself had seen The Falling and thought Pugh had been “open and honest”. And straightaway, they knew they’d found their Katherine. Florence, Oldroyd says, “gives an incredibly strong and confident performance”.

And now, after numerous screenings at film festivals, comes the widespread release of Lady Macbeth. “It’s very rare,” Pugh says, “that a script like this lands in my inbox – especially, you know, being given the opportunity to … at the time, I was a still-unknown 19-year-old actress, and that just really doesn’t happen.” It was “such an exciting prospect to try and get under the skin of” someone as manipulative and delicious as Katherine, she adds.

“The most fascinating thing about her is that we still love her until the end. Even if you don’t love her at the end, she still managed to allow you to support her. For a character to try and play, that’s fascinating."

The film also makes you think of the repressive way in which many women were treated back then. “One reason why I believe this character is so brilliant is that she is a modern woman in 1865. This wasn’t the norm, back then: it was totally expected that the woman was bought by her husband, and she was his property, and she would do exactly as he said.

“And of course Katherine – she’s 17 and she has been forced into this marriage – and she says no, which is rare. All of us that know period dramas were not expecting that. We don’t expect to see a modern force in an 1865-period film.”

Lady Macbeth sees Pugh wearing some authentic, striking gowns, but the tightly-laced corsets that Katherine is tied into by her maid Anna (Naomi Ackie) were a key way to understanding her.

Let’s get ready to giggle

“We went up about two weeks before we started shooting, and we had rehearsal time. We would be doing all of these physical scenes, me and Cosmo, and of course the moment I got in a corset, it all changed, because I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t move.

“That was so eye-opening in terms of Katherine and the character, because it meant that she was just as serious about these things as I was, and essentially her happiest times were when she was in a nightie or she was naked or she was in a dressing-gown, because that’s when I was at my happiest.

“There are so many ties that I could pull between me and Katherine because of that corset. It also made me realise how imprisoned these women were in 1865. They were trapped in their own clothes.” The corset, she adds, squashes your internal organs. "It’s designed to do exactly what it does, and that’s to keep a woman quiet.”

Pugh has gone on to shoot three upcoming films. The Commuter is an action thriller with Liam Neeson and Vera Farmiga; in Hush, a Sigma Films and Thruline Entertainment production, filmed in Glasgow and Ayrshire, she and Ben Lloyd-Hughes play two siblings who run a profitable ghostbusting racket. “Florence is a very unique talent, a special British talent on the rise,” says Brian Coffey, co-producer of Hush, “She has a deeply intuitive ability to create characters that draw an audience in. We were thrilled to be able to cast her in Hush.”

The third film is Stephen Merchant’s Fighting With My Family, in which Pugh plays a real-life WWE wrestler called Paige. The cast also includes the substantial presence of The Rock, Dwayne Johnson.

One scene in the film recreates Paige’s wrestling championship victory in a Monday Night RAW event in Los Angeles. Before Pugh stepped out into the ring, she had a brief rehearsal with The Rock. Speaking on Women’s Hour this week she said: “He’s teaching me how to throw a punch and I was stood there, and I remember looking at him, and just this space behind, all the empty seats, and thinking, oh my God, Dwayne 'The Rock’ Johnson just taught me how to punch!”

All in all, it was a marvellous experience, as evidence by Pugh’s Instagram post: “One of the best, most terrifying, most knackering and unbelievably exhilarating shoots I've ever done. #fightingwithmyfamily has wrapped and my god has it been a good run.”

She tells the Sunday Herald that she’s excited about both Hush and The Commuter. "Fighting With My Family was an emotionally and physically draining film, because it was so much fun but also because we were playing those wrestlers," she says. "Jack Lowden played my brother and it was really wonderful. We learned how to wrestle together and we had a lot of fun.”

There’s nothing else in the pipeline at the moment, though. For the time being she is focusing her energies on helping to promote Lady Macbeth – she’s excited to see what people think of it. Afterwards? “I’m going to have a little bit of time off, because I’m knackered. And then I can see what happens to Lady Macbeth, see where it goes.”

I ask her about her favourite films. “I love Leon,” she says, “I love Eternal Sunshine [Of The Spotless Mind]. I tell you what: I bloody love all of Natalie Portman’s stuff." She asks if I’ve seen the film, Chicken. “Oh, you should watch that,” she enthuses. “It’s by a new director called Joe Stephenson and there’s a great actor in it called Scott Chambers, who I worked with on Hush. It’s just absolutely beautiful.”

It’s only once the interview is over that I remember that Florence Pugh has yet another string to her bow. On her Twitter bio she describes herself not just as an actor but also as a singer-songwriter - she plays acoustic guitar, and sings, in a tantalisingly brief scene in The Falling. If for some reason she doesn’t make it as an actor she could, you imagine, always turn to writing and singing songs. But her performance as the manipulative, quietly riveting Katherine in Lady Macbeth suggests that her acting career is already on the firmest of footings.'

THE issue of so-called "posh" actors dominating the profession at the expense of those from less privileged backgrounds crops up frequently. Two weeks ago, Eton-educated Damian Lewis rejected the idea that they dominated acting, but called for greater diversity in the arts.

“I can certainly say that I didn’t have a difficult childhood. I had a really wonderful upbringing,” says Florence Pugh. “Obviously, [the alleged dominance] must be an issue, because it’s coming up, and people are obviously very opinionated about it.

“I haven’t been doing this for very long but of course I’ve been called this and that. And because of the speed with which my career has gone up, people have questioned whether it’s because of where I’ve come from, or where I went to school, or whatever. And I think my main comment towards it is: obviously, it must be frustrating to see people of privilege to go so high, but at the end of the day it’s the same game to get into this industry.

“It is just as hard, and everyone’s stories, left or right, have their own challenges in it. It is not easy to win over the public, to win over the critics. And yes, essentially, you could get in the news a lot if you’re privileged, if you have money, but it’s what you do with that afterwards. If people continue to watch your work, then surely that’s down to your talent.

“If they don’t, then you can call them out on it. But because this industry is so difficult, to stay in and to get there, I don’t think anybody should be accused of how they got there – unless they haven’t proved their point.”'