Oberon
Fantasy and “Favor” fused formality and fun when the Elves of Oberon celebrated their 132nd year with a gala masked ball at the Orpheum Theater. Legend reminds us, as does Shakespeare in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” that Oberon was King of Fairyland and Titania, his queen. Add to the merry mix Robin Goodfellow, Puck, a nature spirit and trickster, who often causes trouble for humans and fairies alike.
In the ball’s tableau, the players lamented the closure of a cherished jewelry shop on Canal Street, which supplied the ball’s favors. “Can I Get a Favor?” was both the tableau title and the quest. Puck solved the dilemma by finding “The Violet Lady to See them all though.”
All sights turned to the masquerade’s cynosure, Miss Caroline Staples Picou, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Louis Picou, who reigned as the 2026 queen of the Elves of Oberon. Last year, Miss Sarah Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brian Christopher Fitzpatrick, wore the glittering crown.
Maids to her majesty Caroline were Misses Cameron Sinclair Andrews, Eleanor Katherine Cowan, Annabel Katherine McCarthy, in absentia Elizabeth Kathleen Robert, and Helen Claire Thompson. Four pages completed the court: Masters Hayward Manson Adams, Thomas Jackson Bethune V, Christopher Michael Hodnette Jr., and Parker Earl Koerner Jr.
Mrs. Bruce Michael Thompson made a joyful return at the 50-year queen, having ruled as Catherine Cunningham Barry. At the recent Oberon ball, she was accompanied by lively kin and kith. She even got a special nod from the king, Oberon, who seemed to be relishing his role.
Smiling throughout, and enjoying the music making of the Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra led by Robert Maxwell, was the royal mother, Meredith Picou, who was resplendent in a gown by Katie Johnson of Royal Design House. Made of lilac matelassé, it was embellished with a floral pattern in shades of orchid, periwinkle, deep lavender, and shining metallic gold. Others in prominent seating were maternal grandmother Mrs. Martin Archibald Macdiarmid Jr. and Mmes. Macdiarmid III, Alan Bartley Gorman, John August Batt Jr., Robert Michael Hardie, Adam Roy Wirth, Michael Owen Barry, David Conway Kepper Jr., Robert Lawrence Barry, William Ward Watkin, Thomas M. Richard and William G. Barry Jr. Also, Lisette Milham Normann and Catherine Lapeyre Barry.
Many wore the queen’s pin, which was a magnolia flanked by pansies, as well as the krewe favor, an enameled peacock. Both were designed by Adler’s. Quite a few of the ball gowns were in the organization’s signature violet, or various shades of purple.
The ultimate visuals were provided by the radiant monarch. Her A-line silhouette gown by the above Katie Johnson was of silver lame and lace and featured embroidery with an Art Deco scalloped motif. Amethyst Austrian crystal drops, set rhinestones, sequins and beading embellished the lace on queen Caroline’s gorgeous gown.
Special guests were able to get a close-up of the regal robe prior to the ball at the New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club. After the bal masqué, guests crossed the street from the Orpheum to The Roosevelt, where the Blue Room was staged for the Queen’s Supper. Pamela Dennis Flowers made the floral statement; breakfast fare included Bananas Foster; late-night bites pleased with cheeseburger sliders and mini grilled cheese sandwiches; and the show band, BRW, revved up the revelry.
“It meant so much to me,” said an appreciative and happy queen Caroline, who concluded with “(it) was a night I will never forget.” Somewhere, Oberon and Titania beamed in approbation.
Mystery
Rings, roses and royalty! All this was offered within a Carnivalscape produced by the Krewe of Mystery. The annual event, which now hails 115 years of merriment, is billed Ball of the Roses, and for 2026, the theme was “Le Cirque Magnifique.” Attendees applauded the adept performers within the circus “ring” of the ball’s tableau.
They also clapped their gloved hands with glee at the appearance of the queen and her court. Miss Elizabeth McLundie Bolton Schmidt had the royal honor and dazzled in a gown of white satin by Katie Johnson of Royal Design House. The overlay featured a custom-designed lace of beaded roses made with silvery and shining seed beads, sequins, and bugle beads.
Maids to her majesty were Misses Cecile Amanda Abbott, Suzanne Marie Brown, Hazel Kathryn Drury, Piper Katherine Franks, Elizabeth Adlynn Johnston, Vivian Bryce Jones, Madeline Francis Kessels, Catherine Carlise Martin and Lizette Anne Terrillion. Mystery lineage figures for most of them, as it does for Miss Jones, whose mother, as Cathryn Boyd Abbott, ruled in 1988. Last year, Miss Emily Elizabeth LeBlanc, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clifton David Le Blanc, reigned.
The train bearers were Misses Elizabeth Abigail Childress and Jean Rose Murphy, and the page quartet, Masters Hayward Manson Adams, Thomas Jackson Bethune V, Wilton Ellwood Bland V, and John Martin Roth.
Mary Schmidt, queen Ellie’s mother, chose a stunning gown by the above couturiere that was embossed with roses and artfully finished with a satin-faced capelet of deep crimson. She and daughters Conery and Anna, daughter-in-law Mrs. R. Calderwood Schmidt, and royal grandmothers Mrs. Robert C. Hassinger and Mrs. Michael J. Schmidt accessorized their ball gowns with the Adler’s-created krewe favors featuring a circus seal on a drum balancing a ball on its nose. They were a hit! Another favorite was the symbolic butterfly pin given by the queen.
Noted, too, were Mmes. Catherine H. Drennan, H. Wood Van Horn IV, Michael H. Schmidt, E. James Kock III, Timothy J. Young, David C. Joseph, Peirce A. Hammond II, Paul A. Connolly, Michael Q. Walshe Jr., Shaun M. McCarthy, Edmund E. Redd, Andrew S. Hovet, Paul J. Politz, Edmund R. Henry, Joseph M. Guillot, and William C. Gambel Jr. Also, Dee McCloskey and Janet C. Morse. Particularly recognized was Mrs. Peter Hopkins, who wore the crown at the Ball of Roses 50 years ago as Jean Ann Maumus.
“Thank Heaven for Little Girls” was among the noteworthy tunes rendered by Robert Maxwell and the Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra. Another was “South Rampart Street Parade.”
Very near Rampart and forming a foot “parade,” many of the ball’s guests headed to The Roosevelt for the Queen’s Supper in the Waldorf Astoria Ballroom. (They had gathered earlier, prior to the ball, on St. Charles Avenue for the Queen’s Reception.) Katie Rafferty spearheaded the decorations — as well as the ball invitation and program — using papier-mâché to create circus animals. Steve Baker did the flowers of red roses that bedecked the pink-clothed tables; an ice sculpture with red roses served queen Ellie’s signature cocktail; hats and light-up red-roses beads produced twinkly lagniappe; and, for Ellie’s entrance, Rockin’ Dopsie programmed ABBA’s “Dancing Queen.” Later, her majesty joined him on the stage for more musical fun.
Among her royal reflections were those of “sitting on the throne with her fabulous king during the ball,” and then dancing with her pals at the supper. Concerning queen Ellie’s gratitude and enjoyment, there was no mystery about that.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nola.com ’
