The Washington Nationals Championship Parade!

This flag marks the beginning of  the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade at the corner of Constitution and 15th, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

See the lady's shark hat?  For an explanation of the ties to the Washington Nationals, please go here.  She was at the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

Look!  Racing President Thomas Jefferson (on far right) came, too.on a bicycle!  Someone in the crowd said it must have been tough wearing this big head and riding a bike, but like most presidents, T.J. got the job done at the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

I think this is Gerardo Parra at the front (who wears the tinted glasses) getting ready to throw...a t-shirt? He's the one who started the Nats' Baby Shark craze when he opted to use the song for his walk-up.  His children loved it, and so does he, and thousands more!

The buses moved up Constitution towards the Capitol, and the players and their families hung out on bus tops.  It was difficult to see all of them, and I missed Strasburg and Scherzer, and maybe, Rendon.  A loud speaker would have helped.  Fans who watched the parade at home told me you couldn't tell on TV either which players were on the buses at the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

Parra (I think) is the "Daddy Shark" at the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

This is...who knows? The fellow in white, sunglasses, and hat holds two beers in the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

This is the same group as above in the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019, I took these pictures from a wall at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Across the street is the U.S. Department of Commerce/photo by Patricia Leslie.

Troops in the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

Oh, oh, a Harper shirt.at the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019. See below for another version of it/photo by Patricia Leslie.

Matt Adams wears #15 and Patrick Corbin, #46, but I'm not sure if the men in these shirts are the players in the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

This may be Rendon's bus in the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie

This is ...? In the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

Racing President Abraham Lincoln, looking stern as always, showed up riding a bicycle in the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

Racing President Teddy Roosevelt came, too, to meet up with Abe who turned his bicycle around to greet Teddy, also riding a bike. Everybody loves Teddy, because he's got that huge smile on his face. They were in the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019. Never saw George the whole day/photo by Patricia Leslie.

I couldn't resist, but had to include another photo of the presidents passing each other
in the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

There goes Teddy in the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

This is Kendrick waving from the back of the bus. Thank you, Kendrick!  In the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

These were pom-pom people on a bus.  I especially like the woman on the ground in the light green jacket floating with the crowd at the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

Children grow in trees where they can see the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade a lot better! Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

"Go Nats!" at the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

Clydesdales, of course, in the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

Revelers in the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

Soto! (I think) In front of the bus in the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie.

Who ... in the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019? I missed Sean Doolittle when he went by, but the crowd behind me screamed his name: "D -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o."  Thank you, Sean Doolittle, for holding firm to your values and for refusing to participate in a ceremony at a place which has no values.  I hope more players join Doolittle. (Update: The following also did not attend:: Anthony Rendon, Javy Guerra, Joe Ross, Wander Suero, Wilmer Difo, Michael A. Taylor, Victor Robles, Roenis Elías, Raudy Read and Tres Barrera.  On behalf of civilization, thanks, guys!)./photo by Patricia Leslie.

The Budweiser beer tent in front of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Beer and hot dogs were reasonably priced. ("Take me out to the ball game.")  That beer was sold on Constitution Avenue was a wonderful surprise.  Near the end of the parade, all that were left were Bud Lites, but that was A-OK, since some were left, thank Nationals!  Surely, the museum got a cut of the non-stop sales (I stood on the wall nearby to keep count) since its name was on the receipt. At the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie

The trophy!  The trophy!  Zimmerman holding it, maybe? In the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie

Another trophy shot, held by Martinez? Do the Nationals get to keep it  for a year, like the Capitals kept the Stanley Cup for a year, and take it on a worldwide tour, including swimming and filling it up with all kinds of goodies? At the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie

Joy to the Red!  Confetti spewed from blowers near the end of the parade which lasted about an hour or about double the length of the Capitals' parade.last year. At the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie
Whoosh! More confetti! At the end of the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie

At the end of the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019. No signs left lying on the ground per usual.  Everyone carried them home save those who didn't get one, like me.  Sniff/photo by Patricia Leslie

Walking along 17th Street at the Executive Office Building with the Renwick Museum in the distance, after the  Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019/photo by Patricia Leslie

At the East Falls Church Metro station, this lady has her Harper number all covered up!  Where's Harper? Not in the District of Champions for the Washington Nationals World Series Championship Parade, Nov. 2, 2019!/photo by Patricia Leslie

Baby sharks take over Nationals Land! Like near the East Falls Church Metro station, Nov. 2, 2019 and on ears of ladies, and I saw a man wearing baby shark sunglasses. Attention:  Ball Players:  Let's do it again!/Photo by Patricia Leslie


patricialesli@gmail.com

A haunted house howls in Alexandria

From left, Kirk Lambert, Patricia Nicklin, and  Shannon Labadie star in Little Theatre of Alexandria's The Haunting of Hill House/Photo by Matt Liptak

Just in time for Halloween comes The Haunting of Hill House now on stage at the Little Theatre of Alexandria with sounds, screeches, screams, poundings, and more rumblings like you have never heard before.

Sound designer Janice Rivera will surely receive a WATCH nomination for her work on this show which got its start 60 years ago as a novel by Shirley Jackson. 

Since then, it has evolved into a radio series, a television series, two movies, and a play. 

For the last century, Wikipedia calls Haunting one of the best literary ghost stories published and quotes Stephen King who describes it as one of the finest horror novels.

The Wall Street Journal said Ms. Jackson's book is "now widely regarded as the greatest haunted-house story ever written." 

Is it any wonder that LTA chose it for the ghoulish season?

A foursome straggles in to Hill House where a sullen Mrs. Dudley (Danielle Taylor) greets them with official rules which she doesn't bend nor does she spend the night at Hill House, if you please.

The group has come to explore the mystics of this odd place since they've got supernatural on their minds. Never mind that they are strangers in a strange place.   

Shannon Labadie is the mousy Eleanor whose dull personality (matched with excellent costuming by Jean Schlicting and Kit Sibley) springs to life once the haunts invade her spirits.  She stumbles into the surroundings as if she's walking in a spooked haze, wearing an imaginary beekeeper's hat which encases her mind with mysterious dandies.  In other words, Director Maggie Mumford has her in a constant fog.   

The exuberant and theatrical "Theodora"  (Kathy Ohlhaber) (always in yellow) soon joins Eleanor in an elaborately decorated Victorian parlor (designed by Ken Brown and Peter Mumford with Luana Bossolo).

After pleasantries are exchanged, the ladies meet the men of this weird four pack, Dr. Montague (Bruce Alan Rauscher), who has called the group to order. He is accompanied by "Luke" (James Murphy) whose reason for being I could not quite determine, unless, partners?

Enter Dr. Montague's wife (Patricia Nicklin, always one of my fav actors at LTA) on the arms of another man (Kirk Lambert). (Relationships are left unspoken.)

Ms. Nicklin's sweeping gestures, white gloves, and exaggerated mannerisms add much needed"grandeur" and humor to this house party where the choking environment threatens the weakest and swallows whole those among them whose souls dive into inner selves (?).

If you let it, a house can overcome you. This house is not a home.

Adapted for the stage by F. Andrew Leslie.

Other crew members are Alan K. Wray, producer with Stacey Becker, also set painting designer;  Cynthia Mullins, assistant director;  Sherry Clarke and Donna Reynolds, stage managers;  JK Lighting; Jodi LaCoe, properties; Susan Boyd, hair and makeup; Margaret Snow, wardrobe coordinator; and Russell Wyland, rigging.


What: The Haunting of Hill House

When: Now through November 9, 2019. Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. November 2 and 3 performances are sold out.

Where: Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

Tickets: $21 to $24

Language rating: G.  Youngsters will enjoy the sounds and environment but may find the story too difficult to follow.

Duration: About two hours with one 15-minute intermission

Public transportation: Check the Metro website.

Parking: On the streets and in many garages nearby. If Capital One Bank at Wilkes and Washington streets is closed, the bank's lot is open to LTA patrons at no charge.

For more information: 703-683-0496

patricialesli@gmail.com