White Shirt Monday: Season’s Greetings

[(closeted) queer person, home for the holidays, when everyone else is finally asleep after the party (generic image, also possibly most of us). – Or, one mezzo (Lady) Prince Charming (Paula Murrihy) sneaking off with a bottle of dad’s champagne, about to fall head over heels for Lucette, in Mariame Clement’s production of Massenet’s “Cendrillon” for ONP, Paris 2023.]

It’s been another year (more than a year. Sorry about that), and a crazy one at that – aren’t they all, lately? – but here are some White Shirt season’s greetings. (I still lack both the time and the energy to do this more regularly again. Sorry about that, too).

To anyone with a 2023 vibe of “inside or underneath the hamster wheel”, I wish enough and restful sleep, no matter where.

[…outwit the wheel and turn it into a bed: taking a page from Lucette (Jeanine DeBique) in Massenet’s “Cendrillon” at ONP, Paris 2023. – Photo Credit: Elisa Haberer for ONP]

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For 2024, I am wishing all of you 6ft. plus Italian Contralto Energy with a side of Mad Scientist. Put on those shades and that shirt and go big! Mwahahaaa!

[Not the worst plan for Word Domination (and clean laundry): Madame de la Haltière (Daniela Barcellona) raging againt the machine in Massenet’s “Cendrillon” at ONP, Paris 2023. – Photo Credit: Elisa Haberer for ONP]

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And for these holidays, may you all be gifted the perfect sensible sneakers (preferably by a perfect White Shirt mezzo. – If not, there’s always the champagne above. Just remember the shirt).

[If she/they bring sneakers to the first date: marry her/them. Okay, White Shirt and boots are also points in the plus column. – Le Prince Charmant (Paula Murrihy) and Lucette (Jeanine de Bique) in Massenet’s “Cendrillon” at ONP, Paris 2023. – Photo Credit: Elisa Haberer for ONP]

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[And may there be a place somewhere where we can imagine screaming pink heteronormativity giving us “awww” smiles instead of making our queer lives harder in 2024. – I’ll be holding onto the smile of Le Prince Charmant (Paula Murrihy) finally finding Lucette (Jeanine de Bique) again in Massenet’s “Cendrillon” at ONP, Paris 2023. – Photo Credit: Elisa Haberer for ONP]

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