Mayor is King, mother is Queen

By MECEAL H. SMITH

Publisher-Editor

It was the largest, most comical, most audience-attended, most glamorously dressed, and seemingly the most appreciative audience ever, at the Mardi Gras Ball January 30.

This year’s event, entitled “Tour de Paris,” transported its guests from the airport in Paris, France, to a tour of the city of romance and history.

The 2010 Mardi Gras Ball of the Krewe de la Chambre Royale held at the Gueydan Civic Center Saturday night, was the scene of everything that epitomizes Mardi Gras.

Dressed in the royal garb of Napoleon Bonapart, Gueydan Mayor Craig “Bob” Hensgens was crowned 2010 King of the Krewe de la Chambre Royale.

His Queen was his mother, Elizabeth Hensgens Miller, who was elegant in her robes befitting Josephine Bonapart.

Prior to the pageant, Krewe Captain Judy Leblanc introduced Gueydan Mayor Craig “Bob” Hensgens and Chamber of Commerce President Logan Woods.

Following the sound of roaring airplane motors, the tour of Paris began.

Members of the Royal Court included Maids: Cheryl Simon, Chrystal Breaux, Courtney Wall, and Anita Dupuis. Royal Dukes were Scott Vallo, Cody Gaspard, Doug Baudoin and Karl Petry.

Always unidentified until the end, the King, to the surprise of the audience, was the Gueydan mayor as the 2010 King, Napoleon Bonapart entering to the French National Anthem.

Entertainers were can-can dancers Tammy Simon, Bethany Webb, Kristi Gaspard, Liz Beth, David and Brandi Vallo.

Following the court pageantry the Krewe du le Originales et Les Enfants, to the delight of the audience, performed the original old-time Chicken Dance.

Masters of Ceremonies were Tim Leblanc and David Dupuis. Script Writer was Jeri Chapman. Pageant Music chairman was Lisa Guidry,

Music for dancing was by Disc Jockey Eric Boone and assistant Beau LeJeune.

Krewe Co-Captains were Ranella McDaniel and Meceal Smith.

The entire night’s event including photos will be continued in The Gueydan Journal special Mardi Gras edition next week on February 11.