Editor’s note: The Press-Register holds exclusive global rights to reportage of the Masked Observer, a mysterious denizen of the Leisure Class who covers the local Mardi Gras scene.

The best thing about being the Masked Observer is the ability to blend into any situation. It’s taken 30 years to hone that skill, but it serves him well during Carnival, especially among a din of paparazzi. There was no shortage of looky-loos last weekend as the Order of Osiris and La Luna Servante put on extraordinary events at Mobile’s Convention and Civic centers, respectively.

Order of Osiris

Even though Osiris came early this year — the luminous krewe usually holds its indoor cavalcade after parades have started filling the downtown avenues, but for its 41st annual fete the Order decided to take the reins of the entire Mardi Gras chariot. This year’s theme was “The Oscars,” and just like all our favorite films the evening had equal parts drama and luminescence. Hosted as always by the indefatigable Darwin Singleton, the evening started with a memoriam to longtime member, and incoming queen, Michael Spotswood, who passed away 16 days before reigning over his Carnival comrades.

It was a lovely moment, with Darwin’s kindness and power illuminating a giant slideshow showing the downtown stylist — and longtime Osiris emblem — enjoying life, his spirit animal Cher, and much more alongside his partner of 35 years, David. The queen was honored with a procession of her crown and cape, and even Dark Hallway couldn’t hold back the tears as he opined, “It takes serious cajones to be the queen.”

After the graceful honorarium to Queen Michael, the Osiris procession was on, paying tribute to movies of every generation and of course this year’s royalty Queen Ginny XL and King Brandi XL. Their procession was resplendent, as was Queen Ginny’s escort’s coif, which rose like a silver phoenix as the two walked along the dance floor. The queen shimmered in an iridescent gown, which matched her escort’s blooming pocket square.

Speaking of peacocking, King Brandi was a sight in dark cranberry, bejeweled with accents throughout his raiments. Of equal sparkle was the king’s gorgeous escort, who sauntered in black and silver glory with a dazzling necklace contrasted against her sun-kissed skin. As the procession began in earnest, the creativity once again cemented its place as the centerpiece of the celebration.

The Observer never fails to wonder at the engineering and design feats that advance past him each time the Order of Osiris gathers, and this was spectacle worthy of Hollywood inspiration. Highlights included “Spider-man,” “Dances with Wolves,” “Toy Story” and “Titanic,” which was staged using the bow of the giant ocean liner, with Jack and Rose gazing at the world from their timeless embrace. The evening’s first and second Mellow MoonPie Awards were obvious, and went to the designers (and riders) of the “E.T.” and “Mad Max” floats, respectively. “E.T.” included young Elliot astride his bicycle, silhouetted by the full moon, and Mad Max arrived strapped to the front of his Fury Road transport. He then disembarked and raged across the floor with much fanfare, which was splendid.

True to Carnival form, once the royals mounted their dais, Floral Headpiece shifted her gaze to the attendees. There the Masked One’s social secretary found plenty of early trends to report on, including the peaking fad of “ruching.” As Headpiece explained, it’s a tailoring style meant to accent a woman’s derriere. Dark Hallway nearly coughed up a meatball at the thought of witnessing the end of the Age of Décolletage. He needn’t worry, however, as the cortege tracked a lovely young woman’s plunging neckline nearby, which dove well below her navel.

Speaking of navel gazing, Floral Headpiece was less than thrilled at the domination of Christmas colors among the gowns. “That’s not purple and green, that’s red and green and Santa’s been gone a while now,” she said.

If anything deserved an accompanying spot in the rearview mirror, it had to be Osiris’s decision to substitute a wine and beer bar for its usual exterior full-service bar near the smoker’s exit. There’s a reason there were so few people in lines at that new counter, while the lines at the two interior bars stretched throughout the surrounding tables. The Observer has faith the group will tweak those minor details, and otherwise it was an event to remember. His only regret is that now that the downtown parading season is underway, the Osiris ball is also already in the rearview mirror.

La Luna Servante

The Crewe d’Observe always looks forward to their annual commutation with the Sisters of the Moon. The lovely ladies of La Luna Servante and their handsome escorts held their 73rd celestial celebration with the theme, “It’s Showtime!” La Luna is a non-parading society, but the members celebrate in style by presenting a series of dance numbers, with different groups trying to outdo each other with saucy moves in the center spotlights of the Civic Center arena.

Per tradition, Emblem Diana made the introductory promenade to the ethereal notes of Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” in a filmy white gown accentuated with a quiver of arrows at her shoulder. Diana’s symbolic journey of introspection and moonlit radiance led to the raucous entrance of the La Luna officers, who were dressed as can-can dancers in festive red frills. Together they shook and shimmied to “Here Come the Girls.”

The rest of the tableaux continued the showtime theme, with Santa Baby Rockettes, rock stars, white-booted 60s hippies and a cadre of nurses from “M*A*S*H.” The moon maidens may not always be fully rehearsed, but of course, that’s not the goal. The aim is to complete the dance number without stumbling, while prancing in masks and high heels on the less-than-even Civic Center “hardwoods” – not an easy feat.

Predictably, Dark Hallway lusted after the Hot Lips unit, but the Masked Observer gave the Mellow MoonPie for the best promenade to the New Orleanians, sassy in purple wigs and glowing green sequins. After the La Luna Queen, looking very regal in a silver sequined column, brought the tableau to its dénouement, guests danced to the party-hearty rhythms of Fortag and D.J. Mike Barnes. In-between they supped in the party rooms on spicy jambalaya, creamy chicken fettuccine, finger sandwiches, dips, and a delectable array of desserts, including king cakes and bread pudding.