Fitzgerald Ball

This page refers to the costume ball held at Rotherham House on Thursday 16th May in honour of Lady Olivia Fitzgerald's coming out into society. The theme of the ball is characters from Shakespeare.

For the purposes of the ball, the screen between the music room and gilded drawing room will be thrown open to create a long ballroom. Supper will be served in the dining room and the green drawing room will be used for cards. The billiards room will be open for any gentlemen wishing to play and the library will be available for guests to leave their wraps. If it is a warm evening, the doors in the library out onto the garden will be left open. A set of pictures representing Shakespearean scenes are on display in the picture gallery and on the stairs. The orchestra are dressed in Elizabeth costumes.

Costumes

The Hosts

• Viola Fitzgerald: Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing. Viola wears a splendid Georgian outfit in red and gold and carries a half mask[1].
• Olivia Fitzgerald: Miranda from The Tempest. A full description of Olivia's appearance can be found here[2].
• Robert Fitzgerald: Prince Hal from Henry IV Part 1 in a dark blue velvet doublet embroidered with flowers in gold thread and matching breeches [3]. (Please note: He will not be dancing).
• Lord Rotherham: Lord Capulet from Romeo and Juliet.
• Lady Rotherham: Lady Capulet from Romeo and Juliet.

The Guests

Under construction. Please add your characters' costumes and group by families in alphabetical order for ease of reference.

Groups

The d'Aubins/Montgomerys/Talbots/Worthings:

• Lunete d'Aubin: Hermia from A Midsummer Night's Dream in a simple white gown in the Grecian style with matching asymmetrical ringlets and silver ornamentation.
• Jean-Laurent d'Aubin: Rosencrantz and/or Guildernstern from Hamlet, dressed in a (very short) red and gold Elizabethan doublet and hose, complete with eye catching codpiece..
• Rawdon Montgomery: Guildernstern and/or Rosencrantz from Hamlet, dressed in a (very short) green and gold Elizabethan doublet and hose, complete with eye catching codpiece.
• Sophie Montgomery: Queen Elizabeth from Richard III, in an outfit modelled on this painting.
• Mirabel O'Sullivan: Maria from Twelfth Night, dressed in a black mourning gown and veil.
• Alexandra Talbot: Olivia from Twelfth Night, dressed in a black mourning gown and veil.
• Clementine Worthing: Juliet from Romeo and Juliet, dressed in a white gown with gold detailing. An ornate but dulled gold paperknife in the style of a dagger hangs around her neck to her waist on a thin red ribbon.

The Bartrams:

• Honoria Bartram: Duchess of York from Richard III. A Burgundian gown of deep blue with a deep v-neck and fitted sleeves over a red undergown like so. The dove grey trims of the gown are matched by the wide belt cinched above the natural waist. Her head is covered by a simple black truncated hennin with a turned-over brim and lappets sans veil. A little brooch with a ruby adorns the side of one of the lappets, quite nearly matching the colour of the undergown.
• John Bartram: Richard III from Richard III.

The Careys:

• Blanche Carey: Anne Boleyn from Henry VIII An amalgamation of Elizabethan, Tudor and modern regency style: A black gown [4] with dark red detail and an Elizabethan style collar, a pearl necklace with a golden B [5] and a Tudor style French hood similar to this [6] but in black and red to match her gown
• Adrian Carey: Thomas Cromell from Henry VIII An approximation of a Tudor man's attire, in black velvet with a matching cap and a gold chain. Similar to this [7]

The Devenishes:

• Charlie Devenish: Malvolio from Twelfth Night in Elizabethan costume with mustard yellow stockings.
• William Devenish: Orsino from Twelfth Night

The Fairmonts/Winters:

• Marcus Fairmont: A lost sailor, from the ship in The Tempest.
• Rosalind Fairmont: Rosalind from As You Like It, dressed as a shepherd with a crook, but a very feminine one.
• Augusta Winter: Celia/Aliena from As You Like It.
• Katie Winter: Audrey from As You Like It, dressed as a shepherdess.

The Freyes:

• Henrietta Freye: Helena from A Midsummer Night's Dream dressed with a white gown and a toga. Her hair falls loosely on her shoulders.
• Julian Freye: Iago from Othello

The Graftons/Palmers:

• Katharine Steele: Katherine of Aragon from Henry VIII. Kate's costume is modeled after the Hornebolte portrait: a deep red velvet dress with full sleeves (albeit short sleeves to accommodate the weather) with a square neckline that is trimmed in gold ribbon. She wears a papier-mâché cross with paste rubies and glass pearls. On her head is a gable hood with black lappets to hide the majority of her hair.
• Jemima Palmer: Cordelia from King Lear. Jem's dress is red over white, a bit like this, embroidered at the bottom with golden dragons and fleurs-de-lis. Rather than a necklace, she wears a ribbon tied around her neck, in a nod to Cordelia’s fate. Over her hair she wears a long sheer veil, held in place by a thin gold circlet.

The Goslings:

• Nicholas Gosling: Duke Orsino from "Twelfth Night", in classic 17th century garb but in light colours to contrast with his brother.
• William Gosling: Malvolio, from "Twelfth Night", all in black, with a false moustache and spectacles.

The Grenfells:

• Matilda Grenfell: Ariel from The Tempest in a blue confection and windswept hair (along these lines)
• Sophronia Grenfell: Emilia from Othello
• Sybilla Grenfell: Hippolyta from A Midsummer Night's Dream. A Greek chiton-inspired dress of cream muslin with the 'Greek key' meandros scrolling on the hems in gold, and a decorative girdle accentuating the waist made of deerskin. Her hair is swept up in a wide milkmaid braid, plaited with bronze and copper ribbons in a way that evokes a crown, with a few wisps and curls ganging loose here and there. A pair simple golden drop earrings in her ears are all the jewellery she wears.

The Laytons:

• Henry Layton: A bear from The Winter's Tale. He will be in a full, hot bear costume up to the neck with furry ears in addition. Extremely impractical for dancing.
• Catherine McAvoy: Lady Macbeth from Macbeth in a black Medieval costume with a short cloak in Kirkfries tartan and a silver diadem.

The Lazenbys:

• Sophia Lazenby: Peaseblossom from A Midsummer Night's Dream
• Frederick Lazenby: The Lion/Snug from A Midsummer Night's Dream

The Pritchards:

• Blake Pritchard: Count Paris from Romeo and Juliet
• Gabriel Pritchard: Ferdinand from The Tempest
• Charity Pritchard: Rosalind from As You Like It
• Elise Hampton: Celia from As You Like It

The Scarboroughs & Associates:

• Nathaniel Scarborough: Laertes from Hamlet. He is wearing a gold jacket cut vaguely in the shape of a doublet, with buff breeches and leather knee boots. He wears a blue velvet Tudor half-cape slung over his left shoulder, covering his bad arm. [8] He starts the evening with a small ruffled collar in concession to the designer, but it will probably end up discarded by the end of the night.
• Emily Grey: Ophelia from Hamlet. She wears a high-waisted pale blue gown with a green-gold shot silk-gauze overlay. The overlay has a train, and both are short-sleeved. [9] Her hair is coiled and braided, with flowers worked into it (rosemary, pansies, daisies, violets.) There is a small posy of rue, fennel, and columbine at her waist. Significance of the flowers: [10]
• Dorothea Darling: Queen Elinor from King John in a deep red velvet Medieval, style dress [11]. Her hair is up in a braided bun, with a snood decorated with tiny natural pearls[12] and she also wears a ruby parure[13] and ruby and pearl tiara[14]

The Sternes:

• Thomas Sterne: Othello from Othello. Italian get-up in dark brown, complete with an earring and blackface. He's not wearing a hat.
• Rebecca Sterne: Desdemona from Othello. A simple muslin, elegantly cut, while being delicate and flowing enough to perhaps pass for a night-dress. Bands of pearls pinned about the crown of her head, while her dark curls are otherwise left long.
• Colonel Sterne: Iago from Othello. Italian gentleman's costume in shades of grey, with a red heart sewn to his sleeve.

The Tolsons:

• Charlotte Tolson: Hero from Much Ado About Nothing.
• Edward Tolson: Benvolio from Romeo and Juliet.

The Vickerys:

• Lord and Lady Saltash are the Duke and Duchess of York from Richard II in Medieval robes.
• Emma Vickery: Portia from The Merchant of Venice A cream velvet gown in the Jacobean/early Stuart style similar to this, accessorised with a jet demi-parure[15]. On arrival, she is wearing a scholar's gown and mortarboard instead of a cloak.
• Robert Vickery: Antonio from The Merchant of Venice

Individuals

• Aaron Abdullah: Othello, from Othello. He is wearing traditional Moroccan dress for the occasion, with a striking blood-red kaftan worn open over loose shirt and silk trousers. The basic style is something like this: [16], though his head is bare and his hair is loose. An embroidered handkerchief is tucked into his wide blue sash, and a short curved dagger is worn at his hip (peace-bonded / tied closed so that it obviously cannot be drawn in haste).
• Yves Armistead: Florizel from A Winter's Tale in crimson, jewel studded robes designed by Carandini, with Sabine dressed to match.
• Annabelle Beacham: Ophelia from Hamlet in medieval attire, hair loose with a wreath of flowers on her head.
• Arthur Cartwright: Feste from Twelfth Night
• Mirabelle Delafield: Ophelia from Hamlet A white medieval inspired gown adorned with waterlillies similar to this [17] but with a lower waistline. Mirabelle's hair is worn half up and half down her back in hanging curls, plaited with flowers.
• George Hackett: Anthony from Anthony and Cleopatra in standard dress with red cloak, Roman helmet and breastplate.
• Frank Harpole: Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet
• Juliet Landon: Juliet from "Romeo and Juliet". She is wearing a dress very similar to this, except it is done in pale pink and gold.
• Edmund Mayoh: Oberon from A Midsummer Night's Dream
• Gwendolyn Moncrieff: Angelo from Measure for Measure. Contemporary gentleman's costume in full black. Her hair is concealed under a sixteenth-century black beret decorated with a white feather, and a long gold chain hangs around her neck with two keys, one larger than the other. She is accompanied by Stella Gray dressed as a nun.
• Geoffrey Stapleton: The Wall/Tom Snout from A Midsummer Night's Dream
• Daniel Rossington: Rosencrantz from Hamlet (he has no Guildenstern and is sad about it.)
• Camille Thornton: Titania from A Midsummer Night's Dream She is dressed in a flowy purple silk gown with a silk gauze sash. Flowers are embroidered to the helm and strips of silk gauze run from her shoulders all the way to the back of her knees in an imitation of wings.
• Ira Wilson: Prospero from The Tempest
• Simon Wingrave: John of Gaunt from Richard II
• Felicity Staunton: Desdemona from Othello
• Caroline Gardiner: Cordelia from King Lear

The Dances

The dances will be called by the following ladies, selected for being Fitzgerald family members or for their high rank. Within each dance, partners are listed in alphabetical order of the men's surnames.

• One: Lady Olivia Fitzgerald with Lord Foxford (The Hopeless)
  • Partners Include: Adrian Carey and Jemima Palmer, Charlie Devenish and Henrietta Freye, William Gosling and Camille Thornton, George Hackett and Sybilla Grenfell, Frank Harpole and Rosalind Fairmont, Henry Layton and Charity Pritchard, Rawdon Montgomery and Clementine Worthing, Blake Pritchard and Viola Fitzgerald, Robert Vickery and Elise Hampton

• Two: Lady Elizabeth Dunford with Lord Foxford (Boil'd Goose with Snuff Sauce)
  • Partners Include: Benedict DeLancey and Emily Grey, Anthony Dunford and Rosalind Fairmont, Nicholas Gosling and Olivia Fitzgerald, William Gosling and Jemima Palmer, Henry Layton and Camille Thornton, Rawdon Montgomery and Emma Vickery, Robert Vickery and Julianne Grafton, Simon Wingrave and Blanche Carey

• Three: Lady Rosalind Fairmont with Lord Alderhan
  • Partners Include: Anthony Dunford with Catherine McAvoy, Marcus Fairmont and Blanche Carey, William Gosling and Lunete d'Aubin, George Hackett and Bee Rosdew, Dominic Hissop and Viola Fitzgerald, Frederick Lazenby and Emily Grey, Edmund Mayoh and Olivia Fitzgerald, Daniel Rossington and Emma Vickery, Robert Vickery and Jemima Palmer, Simon Wingrave and Clementine Worthing,

• Four: Lady Juliet Landon with Lord Torrington
  • Partners Include: Arthur Cartwright and Emily Grey, George Hackett and Blanche Carey, Rawdon Montgomery and Jemima Palmer, Nathaniel Scarborough and Rosalind Fairmont, Ira Wilson and Clementine Worthing, Robert Vickery and Olivia Fitzgerald

• Five: Lady Julianne Grafton with Lord Frank Harpole (Kimbly Park)
  • Partners Include: Adrian Carey and Olivia Fitzgerald, Charlie Devenish and Katie Winter, Marcus Fairmont and Viola Fitzgerald, Nicholas Gosling and Blanche Carey, George Hackett and Jemima Palmer, Henry Layton and Emma Vickery, Rawdon Montgomery and Mirabelle Delafield, Nathaniel Scarborough and Katharine Steele, Simon Wingrave and Sybilla Grenfell, Robert Vickery and Camille Thornton

• Six (supper dance): Lady Viola Fitzgerald with Lord Emerson (The Continental Waltz)
  • Partners Include: Charlie Devenish and Clementine Worthing, Tony Dunford and Olivia Fitzgerald, Marcus Fairmont and Emma Vickery, Nicholas Gosling and Mirabelle Delafield, Frank Harpole and Blanche Carey, Henry Layton and Matilda Grenfell, Rawdon Montgomery and Lunete d'Aubin, Daniel Rossington and Jemima Palmer, Ira Wilson and Bee Rosdew, Simon Wingrave and Catherine McAvoy, Robert Vickery and Charity Pritchard

• Seven: Miss Charity Pritchard
  • Partners Include: Jeannot d'Aubin and Olivia Fitzgerald, Nicholas Gosling and Clementine Worthing, Rawdon Montgomery and Emily Grey, Gabriel Pritchard and Viola Fitzgerald, Robert Vickery and Drusilla Mortemain, Ira Wilson and Blanche Carey, Simon Wingrave and Emma Vickery

• Eight: Miss Henrietta Freye
  • Partners Include: Adrian Carey and Lunete d'Aubin, Nicholas Gosling and Catherine McAvoy, George Hackett and Rosalind Fairmont, Henry Layton and Olivia Fitzgerald, Rawdon Montgomery and Blanche Carey, Gabriel Pritchard and Emma Vickery, Robert Vickery and Sybilla Grenfell

• Nine: Miss Elise Hampton with Mr. Vickery (The Walcheren Waltz)
  • Partners Include: Kit Carlisle and Viola Fitzgerald, Tony Dunford and Emma Vickery, George Hackett and Clementine Worthing, Henry Layton and Rosalind Fairmont, Rawdon Montgomery and Honoria Bartram

• Ten: Boulanger
  • Partners Include: Nicholas Gosling and Emma Vickery, Rawdon Montgomery and Oliva Fitzgerald, Robert Vickery and Blanche Carey

Threads

Under Construction.

• They have their exits and their entrances: The receiving line.

Subsequent threads listed alphabetically within the order of the actual dances.

Before the First Dance

• But it's in my roots, in my veins, it's in my blood, and I stain ev'ry heart...: Lord Hawksley, Frederick Lazenby and Sophia Lazenby talk - segues into the first dance
• Hello, Again: Nathaniel Scarborough talks with Lady Weston
• So when the night falls: Lady Dryden and Lady Clementine Worthing talk
• The Very Pink of Courtesy: Lord Frank Harpole and Rebecca Sterne

First Dance

• And if he were I would burn my library: the Duke of Leighton and Lady Elizabeth Dunford dance the first dance.
• A Fool On The Sideline: Lt. Colonel Fitzgerald and Captain Arthur Cartwright talk during the first dance.
• Begin As You Mean To Go On: Mr Adrian Carey and Miss Jemima Palmer dance the first dance.
• Dance away your sorrows: Mr Charlie Devenish and Miss Henrietta Freye dance the first dance.
• How long within this wood intend you stay?: Lord William Gosling and Camille Thornton dance the first dance.
• I would rather hear my dog bark at a crow: Lord Parry and Miss Charity Pritchard talk things out during the first dance.
• If you find him sad, say I am dancing: Lord Selwyn and Miss Sybilla Grenfell dance the first dance
• Masks are the order of the day Miss Drusilla Mortemain and Miss Emma Vickery chat on the sidelines of the first dance
• One may smile, and smile: Augusta Harpole and Roxanne Harpole chat
• She doth teach the torches to shine bright: Robert Vickery and Elise Hampton dance the first together
• Sunshine & Roses: Frederick Lazenby and Katie Winter
• When you do dance, I wish you a wave o' the sea: Lady Olivia Fitzgerald and Lord Foxford open the dancing
• You are the dancing queen: Lady Rosalind Fairmont and Lord Frank Harpole

Between the First and Second Dances

• Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.: Lady Carrington, the Duchess of Wycombe and Nathaniel Scarborough

Second Dance

• A Turn For Two: Nate Scarborough and Lady de Grave take a turn about the room.
• All the broken hearts in the world still beat: Nicholas Gosling and Olivia Fitzgerald
• Among the whisperings and the champagne: Tristan Ellis and Lady Hollomere
• Bear with me, please: Henry Layton and Camille Thornton dance
• Dance a cachuca, fandango, bolero: Charlie Devenish, Miss Caroline Gardiner, Perdita Gardiner
• If you will patiently dance in our round Robert Vickery and Lady Julianne Grafton dance the second dance
• Oh I know that music's fine like sparkling wine: Sophia Lazenby and Camille Thornton
• Pardon the frankness of my mirth: Sybilla Grenfell and Lieutenant-Colonel Robbie Fitzgerald chat during the second dance and are joined by Viola
• Pas de Deux (Times Two): The Dunfords and Fairmonts dance with each other
• The mirror of all courtesy: Simon Wingrave and Blanche Carey
• To while away a careless hour: Miss Emma Vickery and Lord Alderhan
• We were victims of the night, the chemical, physical, kryptonite: William Gosling and Jemima Palmer
• When Othello met Lady Macbeth:Lady Kirkfries and Aaron Abdullah talk during the second

Between the Second and Third Dances

• It's Raining Men, Hallelujah!: Nate Scarborough and Rawdon Montgomery
• Just a dandy-lion: Clementine Worthing, Frederick Lazenby, Rawdon Montgomery, Sophia Lazenby
• One Chum, Two Chums, Old Chums, New Chums: Nathaniel Scarborough, Lady Flemming, Miss Emily Grey, Frederick Lazenby, Sophia Lazenby
• Sailor & Shepherdess: Gabriel Pritchard and Rosalind Fairmont talk after the second dance
• To abandon themselves to all their passions and laugh at everything else: William Gosling and Avreya Voronstova talk after the second dance
• Where There Is Smoke: Katharine Steele and Lady Raulings

Third Dance

• A Dance With an Old Acquaintance: Daniel Rossington dances with Emma Vickery
• Almost Nobody Dances Sober Unless he is Insane: Bee Rosdew and Frank Harpole dance
• Find me find, catch me a catch: Augustus Reynolds and Lady Eastborough
• Give 'em hell: Henry Layton and Lady Tinsdale talk
• I Danced in the Moon and the Stars and the Sun: William Gosling and Lunete d'Aubin dance
• I pray you, how many hath he killed and eaten in these wars? Dominic Hissop and Viola Fitzgerald dance the third dance
• My friends are my estate: Arthur Cartwright and Adrian Carey chat during the third
• Northern girls are the prettiest girls: Frederick Lazenby and Emily Grey

Between the Third and Fourth Dances

• So long as men can breathe and eyes can see: Robbie Fitzgerald and Mirabelle Delafield chat
• Codpieces and Capes: Rawdon Montgomery and Yves Armistead renew an old acquaintance.

Fourth Dance

• All things are ready if our minds be so George Hackett dances with Blanche Carey
• Boldness be my friend: The Duke of Claitonborough and Catherine McAvoy
• Dance like nobody is watching: Robert Vickery and Olivia Fitzgerald dance the fourth dance
• Dance Your Cares Away: Captain Cartwright and Miss Emily Grey dance the fourth dance.
• Greece and Rome were here: Yves Armistead and Lunete d'Aubin
• Man is a giddy thing: Simon Blackmoor and Viola Fitzgerald
• My blood is radioactive: Thomas Sterne dances with Mirabelle Delafield
• The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars: Frederick Lazenby and Sybilla Grenfell
• The only thing that could spoil a day was people: Nathaniel Scarborough and Rosalind Fairmont
• Where the bee sups, there sup I Robbie Fitzgerald and Bee Rosdew chat during the fourth dance

Between the Fourth and Fifth Dances

• A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of: Augusta Harpole and George Hackett talk
• I pray thee, understand a plan man in his plain meaning: Robbie Fitzgerald and Rosalind Fairmont talk
• Such as we are made of, such we be Frank Harpole and ELizabeth Dunford
• This odd travesty: Gwendolyn Moncrieff

Fifth Dance

• An ursine endeavour: Henry Layton and Emma Vickery talk
• Chess is a fairytale of 1001 blunders: Nicholas Gosling and Blanche Carey dance the fifth dance
• Dance, my pretties, dance!: Charlie Devenish and Katie Winter
• Deep in here eyes I think I see the future: Nathaniel Scarborough and Katharine Steele
• I will be the pattern of all patience; I will say nothing: Robbie Fitzgerald is buttonholed by Miss Honoria Bartram
• Picture of a dancer: Adrian Carey and Olivia Fitzgerald
• Someone will lose his head William Gosling
• 'Tis little I could care for pearls: Arthur Cartwright and Bee Rosdew
• You and I can set the world on fire: George Hackett and Jemima Palmer
• You too? I thought I was the only one: Ira Wilson and Clementine Worthing

Between the Fifth and Sixth Dances

• Chaos is Come Again Captain and Mrs Sterne have a private conversation in the billiard room
• Drink it in, drink it up till you've drowned Jean-Laurent d'Aubin and Rawdon Montgomery have a private conversation in Lord Rotherham's study.
• Is our whole dissembly appeared: Nicholas Gosling and Miss Aurelia Blakeney

Sixth (Supper) Dance

• Adventure is out there: Frederick Lazenby and Miss Caroline Gardiner
• and in whose arms you're gonna be: Mr Ira Wilson and Bee Rosdew
• Bring me the sunset in a cup: Arthur Cartwright and Lord Titchfield
• Casus Bellum: Robert Vickery and Charity Pritchard
• Cry Havoc: Aubrey Sayre and Gwendolyn Moncrieff
• Danse Macabre Anthony Dunford and Olivia Fitzgerald do not dance the waltz
• Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: Charlie Devenish and Clementine Worthing
• I never knew what made it so exciting: Frank Harpole and Blanche Carey
• Movingly Perverse Techniques: Rawdon Montgomery and Lunete d'Aubin
• Shall we liquefy?: Marcus Fairmont and Emma Vickery
• This is the moment, my final test...: Victor Kincaide and Sophia Lazenby
• When it comes to us: Lady Rosanna Devereux and Jean-Laurent d'Aubin
• You want to go to heaven, but you're human tonight: Nicholas Gosling and Mirabelle Delafield
• You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream: Blake Pritchard and Viola Fitzgerald dance the sixth (the supper dance)

Supper and Musical Displays

• Entr'Acte: Viola opens the performance part of supper
• Everyone's a critic: Viola Fitzgerald and Sophia Lazenby
• Know how to dissemble without embarrassment: Ira Wilson, Bee Rosdew and Clementine Worthing
• My heart flutters fast, even in the darkest shadows: Dominic Hissop and Avreya Voronstova talk after the sixth dance

Seventh Dance

• Gentlemen definitely do prefer blondes: Nicholas Gosling and Clementine Worthing
• Give me leave to speak my mind, nd I will through and through: Robbie Fitzgerald and Geoffrey Stapleton chat

Between the Seventh and Eighth Dances

• Revenge is a dish best served chilled: Sophia Lazenby and Yves Armistead talk

Eighth Dance

• O brave new world: Aaron Abdullah and Olivia Fitzgerald

Ninth Dance

• This woman is my destiny Robert and Elise

Tenth Dance (Boulanger)

• There's a drumming noise in my head and it starts when you're around: Nicholas Gosling and Blanche Carey

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