title: Vauxhall

text: The burgeoning club scene and the lure of the more trendy railway arches once made Vauxhall a prime destination for businesses to open up in, including London's only exclusively gay gym, Paris Gym, another branch of Chariots gay sauna and the Sunday Morning Afterhours venue, Beyond hosted at 'Area' club. The area at the time earned the nickname "Vauxhall Gay Village". During the mid-2010s, many venues have closed due to gentrification, amongst them The Hoist, Area and Barcode.


title: Vauxhall

text: Before Vauxhall earned its reputation as a gay village, it was regarded among the underground gay club scene as the place to go to avoid the more commercial nights elsewhere in central London. However, the market has become more and more lucrative with the arrival of more venues and more nights, and Vauxhall has been criticised as becoming increasingly commercial, diluting its once underground appeal. The demise of other club venues in London, such as Turnmills, the Astoria and The Fridge, have led to the gay club scene to become more centralised in Vauxhall, turning it into an alternative destination from Soho for gay people to socialise. Vauxhall has also become colloquially known as "Voho" (a portmanteau of the names Vauxhall and Soho) within the gay community, due to the emergence of Vauxhall as a gay village after Soho.


title: Vauxhall

text: Entertainment in the Vauxhall area is not exclusively aimed at gay clientele; the oldest strip pub in London (the Queen Anne) sitting at Vauxhall Walk has now closed to be replaced with The Tea House Theatre, a 1940s-themed tea room.


title: Vauxhall

text: By Vauxhall Bridge stands the central headquarters of the British Secret Intelligence Service (more commonly referred to as MI6), which occupies offices built between 1989 and 1992 and commonly referred to as Vauxhall Cross. Since 1992, a large complex of apartments and offices has been built to the south of Vauxhall Bridge at St George Wharf. Part of this development includes the St George Wharf Tower, completed in 2014.


title: Vauxhall

text: The MI6 building has featured in several James Bond films, initially filmed without permission, but then condoned by then Foreign Secretary Robin Cook with his memorable "After all James Bond has done for Britain..." quip. It appears in "GoldenEye", "The World Is Not Enough" (wherein it suffers a fictional terrorist attack that prefigured a genuine incident), "Die Another Day", "Skyfall" (where it also comes under a fictional terrorist attack), and "Spectre" (2015) (wherein it is demolished). "Die Another Day" featured a fictional London Underground station, Vauxhall Cross, a fictional closed stop on the Piccadilly line now employed by MI6 as an extension to its HQ. (In fact, the Piccadilly line does not come south of the river at all; only the Victoria line passes anywhere nearby, and the secret entrance to the station shown in the film is on the east side of Westminster Bridge, some considerable distance downriver.)


title: Vauxhall

text: Vauxhall is also home to Brunswick House, a listed Georgian mansion and former home to the Dukes of Brunswick. Built in 1758, it once stood in three acres of riverside parkland; now it sits overshadowed by the St George Wharf complex. The building was in a state of disrepair and was on the English Heritage 'Buildings at Risk' list until the London Architectural Salvage and Supply Company acquired it in 2004 and restored it as a premises from which to sell architectural salvage. It also has a restaurant and is an events venue.


title: Vauxhall

text: was designed by the 19th-century architect John Loughborough Pearson, who also designed Truro Cathedral and St John's Cathedral, Brisbane in Australia, as well as being responsible for restoration work at Rochester, Bristol, Peterborough, and Lincoln cathedrals. , the church building serves as a community centre and arts venue, as well as a church. Next to St Peter's is Vauxhall City Farm.


title: Vauxhall

text: Vauxhall is well connected even by central London standards. London Underground, National Rail trains, and London buses are all available at Vauxhall station. The tube stop is on the boundary of zones 1 and 2 of the London Travelcard area on the Victoria line, and Northern line stations are within walking distance of many parts of Vauxhall, though the nearest is Nine Elms. The railway station is served by South Western Railway to and from London Waterloo, which is one stop away. Vauxhall bus station has 14 routes serving various parts of London.


title: Vauxhall

text: The availability of underground, trains, and buses has given Vauxhall a PTAL rating of 6b at its centre.


title: Vauxhall

text: In addition to public transport, Vauxhall is accessible by major roads and the Thames Path pedestrian and bicycle trail. Vauxhall also has two 17-space Santander Cycles docking stations and Cycle Superhighway 7 runs through the area.


title: Vauxhall

text: Vauxhall Cross is immediately to the southeast of Vauxhall Bridge, where six major roads converge, including the Albert Embankment, which exits the Cross to the north and is the southernmost point of entry into the London congestion charge area. Vauxhall Cross was described as "one of the most unpleasant road junctions in South London" in Nikolaus Pevsner's architectural guide to London. Through 2002 to 2004, the Cross underwent a gradual redesign to accommodate a bus interchange linked to the Vauxhall mainline railway and tube stations, both of which are located to the southeastern end of the cross.


title: Vauxhall

text: Work has involved design changes to traffic lanes, improved pedestrian and cycle crossings, refurbishment of walkways beneath the mainline railway viaduct, and the construction of a bus station, completed in December 2004 featuring an undulating steel-frame canopy and ribbed steel walls. An interesting feature of the canopy is a series of photoelectric cells generating electricity to offset the energy used by the bus station.


title: Vauxhall

text: Vauxhall Cross bus station will be redeveloped to create a new mixed-use development consisting of offices, hotels, and shopping areas. The project will be managed by Great Marlborough Estates and has an apparent budget of £600 million, and is estimated to make the developers over £45 million.


title: Vauxhall

text: Vauxhall Park contains an area of miniature model houses (also in Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne) as well as tennis courts, day care in the "one o'clock club", and children's playground. It is open daily for recreation and has an "open day" once a year.


title: Vauxhall

text: Vauxhall City Farm, located within Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens is open daily and contains a range of animals including alpacas, sheep, goats and pigs.


title: Vauxhall

text: Vauxhall is the home of Vauxhall Gardens Estate Residents and Tenants Association (VGERTA) that represents 2,500 residents in Vauxhall Gardens Estate which is the biggest Presidents and Tenants Association in Lambeth. VGERTA and their committee has received a number of awards for their contributions to the local community.


title: Vauxhall

text: VGERTA's biggest success to date is the fundraising of £165,000 for the full regeneration of the Glasshouse Walk Playground that was successfully completed in July 2013.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Catwoman is a fictional character appearing in "Batman" #1. After her debut she would appear in many forms of media including live-action appearances in the "Batman" television series (1966-68), its film adaptation "Batman" (1966), "Batman Returns" (1992), "Catwoman" (2004)"," "The Dark Knight Rises" (2012), "Gotham" (2014-19), and "The Batman" (2022). The character has also appeared in numerous animated television series and movies, most notably "" (1992-95) and "The Lego Batman Movie" (2017), as well as video games such as the "" series.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: She has been portrayed by Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, Eartha Kitt, Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, Anne Hathaway, Camren Bicondova, Lili Simmons and Zoë Kravitz, and has been voiced by Adrienne Barbeau, Grey DeLisle, Kravitz, Elizabeth Gillies, and numerous others.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Catwoman in the 1966 live-action television series "Batman" is portrayed by Julie Newmar and Eartha Kitt. Newmar portrayed Catwoman in the first and second season, and Kitt portrayed her in the third season. The feature film credits Lee Meriwether as both Catwoman and Miss Kitka. All three Catwoman incarnations are described by comic writer, Marc Andreyko, in an afterword to a "Batman '66 Meets Wonder Woman '77" omnibus, as being akin to a "Darrin-in-"Bewitched" bit of silent recasting" and his colleague, co-writer Jeff Parker, liked how their story "leaves no one out and the readers got it immediately", thus reflecting how the change of actress was never specifically addressed. In the TV series, Catwoman was given neither a background nor an alter ego, but focused instead on her costumed aspects. The costume created for the series was similar to the green catsuit appearing in the comics at the time, though it was constructed by Newmar from black Lurex fabric. One of these costumes tailored for Newmar is part of the collection of the Smithsonian Institution.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Due to other commitments, Newmar was unavailable for the tie-in film produced after the first season, and for the series' third season. An uncredited body double played the role in a cameo in "The Entrancing Dr. Cassandra", the series' penultimate episode.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: The 2002 television series "Birds of Prey" included an adaptation of the Silver Age Huntress as one of its main characters. Catwoman was also adapted for the series as she is an integral component of the back story for Huntress. That adaptation was limited to the alter ego, a costume design similar to the one used in the 1992 film "Batman Returns", and adding the aspect of the character being a "metahuman". Catwoman was portrayed by Casey Elizabeth Easlick. She was uncredited and her appearances were limited to a flashback of her death which was edited into the series title sequence and the rare in-episode flashback.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Selina Kyle is featured in the TV series "Gotham", with her younger version portrayed by Camren Bicondova, while the adult version of the character is portrayed by Lili Simmons. Selina Kyle is initially depicted as a 13-year-old thief and orphan who lives on the streets of Gotham City. In the series' pilot episode, she witnesses the murders of Thomas and Martha Wayne. She forms a tenuous alliance with GCPD Detective Jim Gordon after he saves her from kidnappers working for the Dollmaker. She promises to help him solve the Wayne murders if he helps her get out of trouble with the law. Gordon arranges for her to stay at Wayne Manor, where she befriends the young Bruce Wayne. She saves him from a gang of hired killers and gives him his first kiss. Throughout the rest of the series, Selina overcomes her insecurities and develops a love-hate relationship with Bruce while helping him keep order in Gotham City, despite often butting heads with him due to her moral ambiguity.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Bicondova was cast to portray the teenaged Selina, assuming she was auditioning for a random role named "Lucy" and not finding out what the real role was until after she was selected. While she takes inspiration from previous Catwoman actresses Michelle Pfeiffer, Anne Hathaway and others, Bicondova wanted to portray a side of Selina Kyle not seen before, focusing on her past. As the series finale jumps ten years into the future from the rest of the series, Bicondova did not feel comfortable portraying her character as an adult, and at her request, an older actress was chosen to portray the adult Selina Kyle. Warner Bros. Television cast Lili Simmons in the role, with Simmons and Bicondova collaborating closely on the adult Selina's characterization.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: In the "Titans" episode "Lazarus", both her goggles and whip are shown in Batman's trophy room in the Batcave. In the season 3 finale episode "Purple Rain", Tim Drake tells Beast Boy put in the name (Selina Kyle) in the security question at Wayne Manor that asks "What's the name of one who got away?" following which Beast Boy / Gar asks Tim "Who's Selina Kyle?".


title: Catwoman in other media

text: In the "Batwoman" episode "A Lesson from Professor Pyg", Ryan and Alice were tracking someone who's using Catwoman's bullwhip and mentioned that both Batman and Catwoman have a thing. It was later revealed that it's Flamingo who's doing all of the victims.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Catwoman was originally supposed to be featured in the "Challenge of the Super Friends" season of "Super Friends" as a member of the Legion of Doom. However, due Filmation's "The New Adventures of Batman" development at that time, Catwoman was restricted to appear in the show. She was eventually replaced with Cheetah.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Catwoman was first adapted to television animation by Filmation, for the 1968 series "The Batman/Superman Hour". The character design and aspects adapted were similar to those used in the previous live-action television series: a focus on the character in costume, lack of a backstory, and use of the then-current green catsuit. Like the live action TV series, Catwoman behaved like many of her villainous counterparts (Joker, Riddler), by speaking in puns and hiring henchmen who wore outfits similar to hers. Jane Webb was cast to provide the voice for the character.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Filmation returned to the character in 1977 for the animated series "The New Adventures of Batman", where Melendy Britt was cast to voice the character in four episodes. Again, no backstory or alter ego were presented within the episodes. The yellow and orange costume design used was unique to the series.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Catwoman was adapted for "" and "The New Batman Adventures", set in the same continuity from the DC Animated Universe, voiced by Adrienne Barbeau. A spin-off focused on the character was in production before being cancelled; it was reconsidered years later as a dual spin-off also focused on Nightwing.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: The character design for "Batman: The Animated Series" is a long-haired blonde look (based on Michelle Pfeiffer's appearance) when Selina is not wearing her costume, and the costume itself is a predominately gray catsuit based on the costume used in "Batman Returns" as well, with long black gloves and high-heeled boots. Along with a black portion of the mask, this gives the appearance of a seal-point Siamese cat.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: When "The New Batman Adventures" went into development, Catwoman's redesign resulted in an all-black catsuit, blue-white face make-up and short black hair. The first series establishes Catwoman as a socialite and animal rights activist in addition to a costumed thief in the early appearances. Beyond this, no backstory or actual origin is provided within the series. The series does play somewhat on the relation between Batman and Catwoman. She had a crush on Batman, but tried to keep her distance between her and Bruce Wayne, even though they dated.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: In "Batman Beyond", Catwoman does not appear as her ultimate fate after her last appearance in "Chase Me" remains completely unknown. However, she was mentioned by Bruce at the end of the episode "Dead Man's Hand". After the release of "", a second movie with an elderly Catwoman as a main character was planned by Bruce Timm, but was finally scrapped. However, in "Justice League Unlimited"s episode "Epilogue", it was revealed that Selina eventually reformed and became an ally of Batman, though she eventually left him prior to his retirement from crime-fighting much like his other partners.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Catwoman appears in the 2004 animated series "The Batman", voiced by Gina Gershon. The character design used was based loosely on the then-current costume used in the comic books. This resulted in a black/dark grey catsuit with a pull-up collar mask, dark red, claw-tipped gloves, a black cowl with exaggerated cat ears, and large amber goggles. She also has blue eyes instead of green. The initial episode featuring Catwoman establishes her as working as a charity fund raiser in her identity of Selina Kyle. With the majority of her remaining appearances focusing on her activities only as Catwoman, an origin for the character is never provided.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Catwoman appears in the 2008 animated series "", voiced by Nika Futterman. Keeping with the tone of the show, the character design used for most of her appearances was drawn from the 1950s through mid-1960s and again from the late 1970 to the mid-1980s. This outfit is the purple long sleeved dress with green cloak and purple headdress/mask with cat-ears.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Catwoman appeared in the "Batman of Shanghai" shorts on the DC Nation block, voiced by Stephanie Sheh. In a departure from the comics, she was portrayed as a Chinese thief active in Shanghai during the 1930s.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Catwoman appears in the web series "DC Super Hero Girls" as a student at Super Hero High, voiced by Cristina Pucelli.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Catwoman appears in the "DC Universe" animated series "Harley Quinn", voiced by Sanaa Lathan. This incarnation of Catwoman is of African American descent and is said to be the "best burglar in all of Gotham." Introduced in the season two episode, "Trapped", she is recruited by the titular character and Poison Ivy to help them steal Firefly's flamethrower from Doctor Trap's booby-trapped museum. Though she effortlessly makes it through said museum and robs several treasures, Catwoman betrays them and leaves them to die. Despite this, she and Ivy appear to remain on good terms, as Catwoman later attended her bachelorette party in the episode "Bachelorette". In the season two finale, "The Runaway Bridesmaid", Catwoman attends Ivy's wedding as a bridesmaid and with Tim Burton as her date. Catwoman returns in the show's third season, as Harley and her crew move into her penthouse apartment after the abandoned mall they had been living in is destroyed while she lives in the mansion of her new boyfriend, revealed to be Bruce Wayne. However, she ends up breaking up with him due to unresolved issues stemming from his parents murder. It is also revealed that she and Ivy had once hooked up, but the relationship ended when Ivy realized Catwoman didn't take the prospect of them being together seriously.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: The first feature film to include an adaptation of Catwoman was "Batman", produced immediately after production of the first season of the 1966 television series of the same name. When the producers realized that Julie Newmar would be unavailable due to prior commitments, they cast Lee Meriwether to portray the character.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: "", a television film which aired in 2003, was a semi-documentary of the production of the 1966 television series and film. It featured dramatizations one of which included Julia Rose portraying a young Julie Newmar on set in character as Catwoman. Newmar and Meriwether also appeared in the film.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Catwoman is portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer in the 1992 feature film "Batman Returns". Re-created by Daniel Waters, the character is based on the Selina Kyle from ""Catwoman: Her Sister's Keeper"". Annette Bening was originally cast in the role but dropped out due to pregnancy. Other actresses including Nicole Kidman, Madonna, Jennifer Beals, Lorraine Bracco and Demi Moore were all linked to the role, and actress Sean Young campaigned heavily to get it (even turning up to Warner Bros. Studios in a homemade Catwoman suit). When it was suggested to Tim Burton that Michelle Pfeiffer was interested, something clicked to the producers thinking "She's perfect. She also could be both Selina Kyle and Catwoman."


title: Catwoman in other media

text: This version of Selina Kyle is depicted as a mousy, lonely and frustrated secretary of corrupt tycoon Max Shreck. After Selina accidentally discovers Shreck's plot to build a power plant that would steal Gotham's electricity, Shreck attempts to murder her by pushing her out the window of his top-story office. She survives the fall and is mysteriously revived by a group of alley cats that flock around her and begin gnawing at her fingers. When she returns home, she suffers a psychotic breakdown and becomes the more seductive and deadly Catwoman. As part of her larger plan to destroy Shreck, she allies herself with the Penguin, which attracts Batman's attention. Meanwhile, she begins a relationship with Bruce Wayne, at first not knowing that he is Batman. It's when she unknowingly helps Penguin frame Batman for a murder that her conscience resurfaces, with her quest for revenge gradually destroying her. At the climax of the film, Catwoman tries to kill Shreck. Although Shreck shoots her several times, he fails to kill her. She then kills Shreck by kissing him with a taser in her mouth while holding onto an exposed power cable. An explosion ensues, but afterwards, Batman finds only Shreck's charred corpse; Catwoman is not present. As the Bat-signal later shines in the night sky, a figure wearing Catwoman's outfit watches it from afar, suggesting that she has survived.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: The film's interpretation of Catwoman derives heavily from the Pre-"Crisis" version of the character.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Prior to the announcement Michael Keaton will be reprising his role as Batman in the upcoming "The Flash" set in the DC Extended Universe, Pfeiffer previously stated a willingness and enthusiasm to reprise her own role as Catwoman. In a 2021 interview with Screen Rant, Pfeiffer stated that she would be interested in reprising the role in "The Flash", but that "no one's asked me yet".


title: Catwoman in other media

text: While Catwoman did not return in "Batman Forever", she was referenced by Dr. Chase Meridian when she tells Batman: "You like strong women. I've done my homework. Or do I need skin-tight vinyl and a whip?".


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Burton had no interest in returning to direct a sequel of "Batman Returns", but was credited as producer. With Warner Bros. moving on development for "Batman Forever" in June 1993, a "Catwoman" spin-off was announced. Michelle Pfeiffer was to reprise her role, with the character not to appear in "Forever" because of her own spin-off.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Burton became attached as director, while producer Denise Di Novi and writer Daniel Waters also returned. In January 1994, Burton was unsure of his plans to direct "Catwoman" or an adaptation of "The Fall of the House of Usher". On June 16, 1995, Waters turned in his "Catwoman" script to Warner Bros., the same day that "Batman Forever" was released. Burton was still being courted to direct. Waters joked, "Turning it in the day "Batman Forever" opened may not have been my best logistical move, in that it's the celebration of the fun-for-the-whole-family Batman. "Catwoman" is definitely not a fun-for-the-whole-family script." In an August 1995 interview, Pfeiffer re-iterated her interest in the spin-off, but explained her priorities would be challenged as a mother and commitments to other projects. The film labored in development hell for years, with Pfeiffer replaced by Ashley Judd. The film ended up becoming the critically panned "Catwoman" (2004), starring Halle Berry.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: In 2000, Warner Bros. commissioned Darren Aronofsky for an adaptation of "" to reboot the "Batman" franchise. The script featured an African-American Selina Kyle/Catwoman in a prominent role.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: In 2004, the feature film "Catwoman" was released. Starring Halle Berry, this film's Catwoman bears little resemblance to the comic book version. Berry portrays Patience Phillips, an artist and graphics designer who works for a cosmetics company called Hedare Beauty, which is ready to ship a new skin cream called Beau-Line that is able to reverse the effects of aging. However, as Patience visits the factory where it is being manufactured, she learns that the product has deadly side-effects. Laurel Hedare (Sharon Stone), the wife of the company's CEO, orders her killed. Hedare's minions drown her, but she is mysteriously brought back to life by Midnight, an Egyptian Mau cat, and from that point on develops cat-like abilities. A researcher named Ophelia Powers (Frances Conroy) tells Patience that Egyptian Mau cats serve as messengers of the goddess Bast, suggesting that Patience has been granted supernatural powers. Wearing a mask to disguise her identity, Patience stalks the night as Catwoman seeking revenge against her murderers. Eventually, her search leads her to Hedare, who murders her husband and frames her for it. In the film's climactic fight scene between Hedare and Catwoman, Hedare falls to her death. Patience is cleared of murder charges, and decides to become Catwoman permanently.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: The movie alludes to other women who have been granted such cat-like abilities, particularly in a scene in which Patience is introduced to a series of photos of prior Catwomen, including Pfeiffer's "Batman Returns" version of Selina Kyle.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: The film's story has nothing to do with the Batman universe, and is considered "Catwoman in name only". It was poorly received by critics and audiences, and is commonly listed as one of the worst films ever made.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Selina Kyle is portrayed by Anne Hathaway in "The Dark Knight Rises". "Entertainment Weekly" describes this version as an enigma, a wily and witty con artist, as well as a high society grifter. She is depicted as a femme fatale antiheroine whose actions often blur ethical lines, similar to her portrayal in the comics. Certain actresses considered for the role of Selina Kyle included Natalie Portman, Keira Knightley, Kate Mara, Gemma Arterton, Blake Lively and music superstar Lady Gaga.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: In the film, Selina Kyle is hired by corrupt businessman John Daggett to steal Bruce Wayne's fingerprints; Daggett in exchange promises to expunge her criminal record with a "Clean Slate" computer program, during which she meets and falls in love with Bruce. Bane subsequently uses Bruce's prints to attack Gotham City's stock exchange and bankrupt Bruce with bogus stock trades. She also steals the pearl necklace belonging to Bruce's deceased mother and takes a congressman hostage. After Daggett betrays her, Selina leads Batman to Bane's trap without realizing that Batman and Bruce are the same person. She attempts to flee Gotham, fearing that Bane's terrorist group will eventually kill her. John Blake arrests her for kidnapping and takes her to Blackgate Prison to await trial. She is subsequently "released" when Bane takes control of Gotham. When Batman returns to Gotham and offers her the "Clean Slate", she aids the Dark Knight in liberating Gotham City from Bane's chaos. With Selina's help, Batman rescues Lucius Fox. Using the Batpod, Selina destroys the blockade at the tunnel leading out of Gotham. During the battle, Selina kills Bane with the Batpod's grenade launcher and helps Batman destroy Talia al Ghul's convoy. At the end of the movie, Bruce leaves the Batman mantle behind and enters a relationship with Selina. She is never referred to as "Catwoman" in the film, although she does receive the moniker in related "The Dark Knight Rises" merchandise. Instead, emphasis is made upon her profession as a "cat" burglar in headlines shown in the film; also, her safecracking goggles resemble cat ears when not in use.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Catwoman is portrayed by Zoë Kravitz in the 2022 film "The Batman". Kravitz had previously voiced the role in "The Lego Batman Movie". Zazie Beetz, Alicia Vikander, Ana de Armas, Ella Balinska and Eiza González also auditioned for the role. Here, Selina Kyle is the biological daughter of Carmine Falcone, born from an affair he had with her mother Maria, and works for him as a waitress at the Iceberg Lounge alongside her roommate Annika Koslov while moonlighting as a cat burglar. When she learns that Falcone murdered Annika due to her learning that he ratted out Sal Maroni to get him arrested, she attempts to kill him, but is stopped by Batman. She later helps Batman stop Riddler's plan to kill Gotham's newly-elected mayor. Afterwards, she decides to leave Gotham, and warns Batman that Gotham will never change and his efforts to help it are futile before biding him goodbye. She is never referred to as "Catwoman" in the film, but she does call herself the "Cat" in one scene and she wears a mask with cat-like ears.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Catwoman is set to appear in "Gotham City Sirens" with Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, but the film's production has stopped for the moment.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Catwoman is a recurring character in the "" games, voiced by Grey DeLisle. She is playable in most of her appearances, and has her own range of animations and abilities, including gadgets such as her bullwhip and caltrops.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Catwoman appears in Telltale Games' Batman series, voiced by Laura Bailey. Like the modern interpretations of the character, she serves as an anti-hero and occasional ally of Batman.


title: Catwoman in other media

text: Starting with the Pop Art period and on a continuing basis, since the 1960s the character of Catwoman has been "appropriated" by multiple visual artists and incorporated into contemporary artwork, most notably by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Mel Ramos, Dulce Pinzon, F. Lennox Campello, and others.


title: Fiona Button

text: Button was born in Lausanne, Switzerland. She grew up in Newbury, Berkshire where she attended Park House School and the sixth form of St. Bartholomew's School. She studied drama at the University of Birmingham before enrolling at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 2007. She made her professional stage debut at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury aged 10 in the "Wizard of Oz".


title: Fiona Button

text: In 2008, she played Lucy Bedford in "The Palace". From 2010 to 2012 she played Tess Roberts in two series of "Lip Service". From 2014 to 2016 she played Jennifer Chambers in series 1 and 2 of "Grantchester." In 2018, she was cast as Rose Defoe in the BBC series "The Split".


title: Fiona Button

text: Button has made guest appearances in "How Not to Live Your Life," "Outcasts", "Foyle's War", "Cardinal Burns", "Pramface", "You, Me and the Apocalypse" and as Vera in "My Mother and Other Strangers".


title: Fiona Button

text: Button made her "West End" debut in 2007 in "Rock 'n' Roll" by Tom Stoppard playing young Esme and Alice. In 2009 she appeared in "Madame de Sade" for the Donmar Warehouse opposite Judi Dench and Rosamund Pike, then as Sonya in "Vanya" at the Gate Theatre. In 2010 she played Rachel in the original cast of "Posh" at the Royal Court Theatre, then Mabel Chiltern in "An Ideal Husband" at the Vaudeville Theatre.


title: Fiona Button

text: In 2013 Button originated the role of Wendy in "Wendy and Peter Pan" for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Written by Ella Hickson, it is a feminist reimagining of Barrie's original novel, putting Wendy 'the girl who would grow up' in the spotlight. The show became a sell out hit and the production was revived in 2015.


title: Fiona Button

text: In 2014 Button went on to play Annabella in "'Tis Pity She's a Whore" at the Globe Theatre. Dominic Maxwell from "The Times" said of her performance, "Button has the ability to transmit the knottiest thoughts from behind an easy, poised demeanour. She is an exceptional performer."


title: Fiona Button

text: In 2016 she played Stef in "They Drink It in the Congo" at the Almeida Theatre. In 2018 she played Cecily Cardew in "The Importance of Being Earnest" in the West End.


title: Fiona Button

text: Button lives in London and has been married to screenwriter Henry Fleet since 2014. In 2017, their daughter, Fordy, was born.


title: Real Muthaphuckkin G's

text: "Real Muthaphuckkin G's," or "Real Compton City G's" in its radio edit, is a song released in August 1993 by American rapper Eazy-E with guest rappers Gangsta Dresta and BG Knocc Out. Peaking at #42 on "Billboard"'s Hot 100, and the most successful of Eazy's singles as a solo artist, it led an EP, also his most successful, "It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa". This diss track answers Eazy's former N.W.A bandmate Dr. Dre and his debuting, guest rapper Snoop Dogg, who had dissed Eazy on Dre's first solo album, "The Chronic". The single was nominated for a Grammy in 1994 and according to some sources sold 5 million copies in the U.S.


title: Real Muthaphuckkin G's

text: In 1991, Dr. Dre left N.W.A and, with Suge Knight, launched Death Row Records. It released Dre's "The Chronic", which in 1993 broke gangsta rap onto pop radio. On the album, Dre and guest rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg, a star on the rise at the time, diss Eazy-E in skits, in the single "Fuck wit Dre Day" plus its music video, and, closing the album, in the hidden track "Bitches Ain't Shit."


title: Real Muthaphuckkin G's

text: To seize the moment, Eazy planned an EP, shorter than an album. Its lead single originally slated was "It's On." But an Eazy associate got word of two halfbrothers, both Nutty Blocc Compton Crips, who rapped. Recently released from several years of youth incarceration, Dresta had forged his rap skill through activities inside, whereby his reputation preceded him onto the streets.


title: Real Muthaphuckkin G's

text: Visiting the brothers' house, Eazy's associate found Dresta and took him to the studio, where Eazy told him tales of Dre. Dresta, thereby forming the song concept, wrote all the lyrics for an Eazy and Dresta duet. Yet the next day, Dresta brought to the studio his brother Knocc Out, who, improvising it on the spot, added a verse. And so Eazy's leading answer to Dre became "Real Muthaphuckkin G's."


title: Real Muthaphuckkin G's

text: The three "Real Muthaphukkin G's" rappers, claiming gangster authenticity, mock Dre and Snoop as "studio gangstas." Also disputing Dre's masculinity, Eazy alludes to Dre's androgynous styling, by attire and makeup, in the 1980s DJ crew World Class Wreckin' Cru, which, in line with Los Angeles county's hip hop scene until N.W.A, was also an electro rap group, occasionally donning glitzy styling. In the process, Eazy briefly disses Snoop as an "anorexic rapper" who weighs "60 pounds" when "wet and wearing boots."


title: Real Muthaphuckkin G's

text: Back to Dre, Eazy disparages the sentiment that beating a woman makes one a man, as Dre's assault of TV personality Dee Barnes was highly publicized. Further, Eazy refers to the single "Fuck wit Dre Day" as "Eazy's pay day." Dre's contract with Eazy's label, Ruthless Records, left Eazy profiting from Dre's earnings through Death Row. Finally, claiming rumors that Death Row is Dre's "boot camp," Eazy calls its CEO, Suge Knight, widely known for strongarm tactics in the music business, Dr. Dre's "sergeant."


title: Real Muthaphuckkin G's

text: The music video, written and directed by Eazy-E's longtime Ruthless video director Marty Thomas, was shot in Compton, California. It opens with aerial shots of Compton streets and scenes of lowriders, gangsters, and the metro Blue Line. There are numerous cameo appearances: Kokane, Rhythm D, Cold 187um, Dirty Red, Krazy Dee, Steffon, H.W.A., DJ Slip from Compton's Most Wanted, Young Hoggs, Blood of Abraham, K9 Compton, and Tony-A.


title: Real Muthaphuckkin G's

text: Once Eazy-E, on camera, raps, "All of a sudden, Dr. Dre is the G thang / But on his old album covers, he was a she-thang," shown is a photo of Dre on a World Class Wreckin' Cru album cover, predating N.W.A, wearing a white, sequined jumpsuit and detectable makeup. Related cover photos appear several times during the video. On the other hand, nearly closing the video, in Eazy's hand, artificially blurred out, is perhaps a pistol while he alleges that if disobedient, Dre would get popped by Suge Knight's Smith & Wesson.


title: Real Muthaphuckkin G's

text: Previously, in Dr. Dre's music video for "Fuck wit Dre Day," actor and comedian Anthony "A. J." Johnson parodies Eazy-E as "Sleazy-E." In the "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" video, A. J. reprises the Sleazy-E role. As Eazy-E's music video opens, still jittering, Sleazy stands roadside, holding up the sign "WILL RAP FOR FOOD". But Eazy's posse, including Dresta and Knocc Out, chase him through town, and finally pull him into van. As the video closes, Sleazy lies, apparently dead, at his original, roadside spot. The clean version's video closes instead with Sleazy, running again, falling flat at a "Leaving Compton" sign.


title: Real Muthaphuckkin G's

text: Although paid in advance, Johnson failed to appear for his second of two days shooting. Eventually, he publicly confirmed the speculation that he had been threatened by Death Row or by its associates. Johnson explained that Suge Knight had summoned him to his office and threatened him with a gun, eliciting A. J.'s agreement to abandon the video shoot. Johnson informed Eazy of the threat, and recommended fellow comedian Arnez J to replace him in the video.


title: Mélanie Thierry

text: Mélanie Thierry began her career as a model in France, then moved into acting. She began with a series of roles in French productions, and at the age of 17 appeared in the internationally distributed "The Legend of 1900". She also appeared opposite Rufus Sewell in two episodes of the BBC costume drama "", playing the king's French mistress Louise de Kérouaille.


title: Mélanie Thierry

text: Mélanie Thierry will be the President of the 2021 Camera d'or that will award a first feature film selected at the Festival de Cannes.


title: Madhur Mittal

text: Madhur Mittal (born February 20, 1991) is an Indian actor. He is best known for his character 'Tito' in the TV serial Shaka Laka Boom Boom and his performance as Salim Malik in the film "Slumdog Millionaire", which won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 2008 and for which he won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.


title: Madhur Mittal

text: In 1997, Madhur won "Boogie Woogie" a popular reality-based dance show on television. Shortly after, his family moved to Mumbai where he joined AVM High for his schooling and Madhur forayed into acting and dancing on stage in charity shows, cultural events and film-award ceremonies. He traveled the world performing in over 950 stage shows. As a child actor he worked in well known Hindi films like "One Two Ka Four", "Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye", and more recently "Say Salaam India". He has also acted in several TV shows including "Shaka Laka Boom Boom", "Kasauti Zindagi Ki", "Jalwa", "Chamatkar", "Prithviraj Chauhan" and "Dastak".


title: Madhur Mittal

text: Madhur Mittal's role in "Slumdog Millionaire" has helped him to gain worldwide attention. To prepare himself for the role of Salim in "Slumdog Millionaire" after being cast he hung out with some of the ‘gangsters’ in Mira Road "to get into their heads". Director Danny Boyle gave him a series of the Godfather to watch as that had a crazy brother in it. Also, he had an accident which led him getting 12 stitches which helped with the rough look, he said. He had to grow his hair long, increase his skin tan and lose weight to act as Salim.


title: Madhur Mittal

text: Though Mittal gave a very powerful performance in "Slumdog Millionaire" as Salim, he was kept away from the spotlight, the focus instead set firmly on the lead couple of the film. When asked about his absence from the studio-generated hype, he shrugs: “The studio wanted to promote it as a love story.”


title: Madhur Mittal

text: In 2008 he was nominated for the Black Reel Awards of 2008 for Best Ensemble and in 2009, along with the entire cast of "Slumdog Millionaire" he won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the 15th Screen Actors Guild Awards. He was also set to be present for the 66th Golden Globe Awards and the 15th Screen Actors Guild Awards.


title: Madhur Mittal

text: Mittal plays Anwar Razdan in the second series of "Kidnap and Ransom" which aired on ITV1 from 23 February 2012.


title: Madhur Mittal

text: Most recently, he starred in the Disney film "Million Dollar Arm" as Dinesh Patel and received good reviews for his performance as the villain in Maatr (2017).


title: Madhur Mittal

text: Mittal, in the year 2020, did a web series named "High" on the OTT platform "MX Player" and gained some good reviews for that role.


title: Pakyong Airport

text: Spread over , the airport is located at Pakyong about 31 km (22 mi) south of Gangtok. At 4,646 ft, Pakyong Airport is one of the five highest airports in India. It is also the first greenfield airport constructed in the Northeast India, the 100th operational airport in India, and the only airport in the state of Sikkim.


title: Pakyong Airport

text: Inaugurated on 24 September 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, commercial flight operations started 4 October 2018. Upon its opening, major media across the globe praised its engineering and described it as one of the most scenic airports in the world. However, commercial flight operations have been hampered by low visibility due to poor weather conditions, being originally planned and designed as a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Airport. Due to these visibility issues along with agitation from the local villagers, strip area issues and inaction by local administration, the airport's only commercial passenger airline SpiceJet temporarily suspended flight operations to the airport effective 1 June 2019. After a suspension of 19 months, flight operations by SpiceJet resumed on 23 January 2021, following the establishment of Required Navigation Performance (RNP) approaches.


title: Pakyong Airport

text: Prior to the construction of Pakyong Airport, Sikkim had been the sole state in India possessing no functional airport. Previously, the nearest airports used to access Sikkim were Bagdogra, located (and a five-hour drive) away in the neighboring state of West Bengal, and Paro Airport in Bhutan.


title: Pakyong Airport

text: The project to develop Pakyong Airport was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in October 2008. The Punj Lloyd Group was awarded the contract to construct a runway, taxiway, apron drainage system, and electrical work for the greenfield airport in January 2009. The foundation stone for the greenfield airport was laid by the then Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel, in February 2009.


title: Pakyong Airport

text: The project was initially slated to be completed by 2012, but protests by local villagers, demanding proper rehabilitation and compensation, had resulted in suspension of work in January 2014. The AAI intervened and held discussions with agitating villagers and paid part compensation allowing work to resume in October 2014. However, in January 2015, work came to a halt once again as villagers took to protests. In July 2015, AAI and the State Government signed an MoU with AAI, promising to shift the affected households by 15 August so that AAI could resume work from October 2015. These protest-related delays and landslides upslope of the runway resulted in suspension of work twice, escalating costs from to . Maximally ecological slope-stabilization techniques were used to remedy the landslide situation.


title: Pakyong Airport

text: On 5 March 2018, an IAF Dornier 228 landed on the completed airstrip, becoming the first aircraft to land at Pakyong.


title: Pakyong Airport

text: SpiceJet had been awarded the Pakyong to Kolkata and Guwahati sectors under the second round of bidding for the Government's UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme in January 2018


title: Pakyong Airport

text: and it conducted a trial landing of its Q400 aircraft after getting approval from DGCA for M/s SpiceJet at Pakyong on 10 March 2018. The airport received its commercial operating license from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on 5 May 2018.


title: Pakyong Airport

text: On 5 December 2019, 35 families affected by the airport's construction signed off on a joint agreement and accepted the first installment in compensation for their loss of land bringing years of protest to a close.


title: Pakyong Airport

text: The airport was built by the AAI at an estimated cost of 605 crore featuring a runway and a long taxiway connecting it to an apron measuring that can accommodate two ATR 72 aircraft at a time.


title: Pakyong Airport

text: A terminal building measuring with a capacity of 100 passengers, a car park for 80 vehicles and a fire station cum Air Traffic Control Tower was constructed by Ms PABSCON. Navigation facilities include DVOR, High Intensity Runway Lights (HIRL), Aerodrome beacon, and a PAPI.


title: Pakyong Airport

text: The land for the airport was carved from the mountainside using massive geotechnical 'cut and fill' engineering works. These state-of-the-art geogrid soil reinforcement and slope stabilisation techniques were employed as traditional retaining structures and embankments were ruled out as being unfeasible. Italian geotechnical company Maccaferri given consultancy services to execute the project that envisaged a wide, long corridor on which the runway and airport buildings were to be constructed. The company, which completed the project with partners Mott MacDonald and Punj Lloyd, won the 'International Project of the Year' award at the Ground Engineering Awards 2012 for its work in constructing high reinforced soil walls and slopes at the site.


title: Pakyong Airport

text: Although initially praised by worldwide media upon its opening as being "a breathtaking piece of engineering on the roof of the world" offering arriving passengers "one of the most dramatic airport approaches on the planet", the airport's commercial flight operations have since been disrupted by poor weather conditions affecting flight visibility. In December 2018, 21 of SpiceJet's 31 daily flights (nearly 70% of its schedule) were forced to divert to Bagdogra (up to a five-hour drive away) because Pakyong "lacked the requisite navigation equipment for low-visibility situations", being a Visual flight rule (VFR) Airport as originally planned as per MOU 2002 & MOU 2015 among Civil Aviation GOI, Tourism Deptt Govt of Sikkim and AAI. Currently, Pakyong requires at least 5 km (5,000m)under Visual flight rule (VFR) conditions for Non-Schedule Airlines. For schedule flight operations by SpiceJet Required navigation performance (RNP) procedure was approved by DGCA with visibility requirement of 2,400m.


title: Pakyong Airport

text: On 1 June 2019, SpiceJet, the airport's sole airline providing commercial passenger service, temporarily suspended its once daily Kolkata-Pakyong-Kolkata flight due to "unpredictable weather in Pakyong which results in very low visibility", having earlier suspended the other daily service between Pakyong and Guwahati. Airline officials also cited the approaching monsoon season's aggravating effect on flight operations when announcing the service suspension. SpiceJet earlier conveyed that they will restart flight operation with effect from winter schedule i.e., 27 October 2019, however, the flight operations remained suspended for the rest of the year and 2020.


title: Pakyong Airport

text: In addition to fluctuating weather, adequate basic strip area (western side) issues have also hampered commercial flight operations. The basic strip, which is mandated to be a minimum of 75 m wide, is only 40 m in western side & 80m wide Eastern side along 2 km long. Contractors have been "unable to take up Civil works to extend the stretch of basic strip and erect a strong RCC Retaining wall with anchoring system" because the State Government of Sikkim at the time had not compensated few of the affected landowners. On 5 December 2019, it was reported that 35 families affected by the airport's construction had been offered a compensation of 20.6 crore by the State Government and that there would be support in ensuring the full completion and operation of the airport. On 18 November 2020, a trial landing was conducted at the airport by SpiceJet involving a Required navigation performance (RNP) procedure and commercial flight operations resumed on 23 January 2021 after a suspension of 19 months. Upon its resumption, the first ever Delhi-Pakyong direct flight started from 23 January 2021 while flights to Kolkata resumed on 1 February 2021.


title: Pakyong Airport

text: Pakyong Airport has snack bar, Prepaid Taxi counter for passengers within its premises. Prepaid taxis can be availed on a very reasonable rate to visit nearby cities like Gangtok, Namchi, Mangan, Pelling etc. or any other tourist places of Sikkim on hiring basis. The airport is just 1 kilometre away from NH717A at Pakyong.


title: Pakyong Airport

text: As Pakyong Airport sits approximately 60 km (37.28 mi) from the India-China border, it is considered strategically important. In March 2018, the Indian Air Force (IAF) was the first to land an aircraft, a Dornier 228, at the airport. And in January 2019, an IAF Antonov-32 transport plane arrived "in an effort to boost the transportation of troops and material to this region." At present security is being provided by State government of Sikkim as per MoU dated 30.6.2015 signed among Government of Sikkim, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India and Airports Authority of India.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: Jacques Mesrine (; 28 December 1936 – 2 November 1979) was a French criminal responsible for numerous murders, bank robberies, burglaries, and kidnappings in France, the US, and Canada. Mesrine repeatedly escaped from prison and made international headlines during a final period as a fugitive when his exploits included trying to kidnap the judge who had previously sentenced him. An aptitude for disguise earned him the moniker "The Man of a Thousand Faces" and enabled him to remain at large while receiving massive publicity as a wanted man. Mesrine was widely seen as an anti-establishment Robin Hood figure. In keeping with his charismatic image, he was rarely without a glamorous female companion. A two-part film, "Mesrine", which came out in 2008, was based on Mesrine's life.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: Jacques René Mesrine was born in Clichy, near Paris on 28 December 1936 to a couple of blue-collar origin who had moved up in social class. As a child, he witnessed a massacre of villagers by German soldiers. His parents had great aspirations for their son and sent him to the prestigious Catholic Collège de Juilly where his friends included the likes of musician and composer Jean-Jacques Debout. Mesrine was an extremely unruly pupil and he was expelled from Juilly for attacking the principal. He went on to be expelled from other schools and fell into the lifestyle of a juvenile delinquent, much to the dismay of his family. In 1955, at age 19, he married Lydia De Souza in Clichy; the couple divorced a year later. Drafted into the French Army, he volunteered for special duty in the Algerian War as a parachutist/commando. While participating in counter-insurgency operations, Mesrine's duties are said to have included the killing of prisoners. Although he disliked military discipline, Mesrine enjoyed action and was decorated with the Cross for Military Valour by General Charles de Gaulle before leaving the army in 1959. His father was later to claim that the time in Algeria had brought about a noticeable deterioration in Mesrine's behavior.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: In 1961, Mesrine became involved with the Organisation armée secrète. He married Maria de la Soledad; they had three children but later separated in 1965. In 1962, Mesrine was sentenced to 18 months in prison for robbery (his first prison sentence, although he had been a professional criminal for a number of years). After being released, Mesrine made an effort to reform: he worked at an architectural design company where he constructed models, showing considerable ability. However, a downsizing in 1964 resulted in him being laid off. His family bought him the tenancy of a country restaurant, a role in which he was quite successful, but this arrangement ended after the owner paid a visit one evening to find Mesrine carousing with acquaintances from his past. The lure of easy money and women proved impossible for him to resist and he returned to crime. Overcoming some suspicion about his relatively middle-class background, Mesrine began to establish a reputation in the underworld as a man who was crossed at one's peril.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: In December 1965, Mesrine was arrested in the villa of the military governor in Palma de Mallorca. He was sentenced to six months in jail and later claimed that Spanish authorities believed he was working for French intelligence.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: In 1966, Mesrine opened a restaurant in the Canary Islands. In December of the same year, he robbed a jewellery store in Geneva and a hotel in Chamonix. The following year, Mesrine robbed a fashion store in Paris.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: In February 1968, he fled to Quebec with his then mistress, Jeanne Schneider, and worked as a housekeeper/cook and a chauffeur for grocery and textile millionaire, Georges Deslauriers for a few months. An argument Schneider had with Deslauriers' long-time respected gardener led to both being dismissed. They then attempted to kidnap Deslauriers, but this scheme failed when a supposedly strong sedative had no effect on Deslauriers.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: On 26 June 1969, Mesrine and Schneider fled to the US. On 30 June, Evelyne Le Bouthillier, an elderly lady who may have given them refuge, was found strangled. A couple of weeks later, on 16 July, Mesrine and Schneider were arrested in Texarkana, Arkansas on information supplied by an accomplice and extradited to Quebec.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: Mesrine was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the bungled kidnapping; he escaped a few weeks later, but was rearrested the next day. Mesrine and Schneider were acquitted of the murder of Le Bouthillier in 1971. With Jean-Paul Mercier, Mesrine cut through the wire to escape again on 21 August 1972 with five others from the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul prison. Mercier, a wanted murderer, and Mesrine then robbed a series of banks in Montreal, sometimes two in the same day. By this time it was apparent that Mesrine did not have a typical criminal attitude towards minimizing the danger of being caught. Deeply resenting the way he had been treated in the prison, Mesrine and Mercier made an extremely risky attempt to precipitate a mass break out from the maximum security block of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul on 3 September 1972. However, their own break-out had caused perimeter security to be greatly increased and they found the area swarming with armed guards. There was a shoot-out in which two guards were seriously injured and Mercier was wounded before they managed to get away. The boldness of escaped convicts returning to attack a prison infuriated Canadian law enforcement; the escapade predictably led to a hugely increased effort to arrest the duo.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: A week after their foiled attempt to free the prisoners, Mesrine and Mercier went for a target practice session, taking Mercier's girlfriend along. But the location, though three miles down a dirt track through the forest, was far from being truly remote and the noise of them blasting away at targets all afternoon could be heard in the town of Plessisville where there was a Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife station. When Mesrine and company drove back along the track, two forest rangers, Médéric Cote, aged 62, and Ernest Saint-Pierre, aged 50, were waiting. The rangers were armed but their jobs had mainly involved enforcing hunting and firearms regulations, and in any case, there was no reason for them to expect that the men who had been making themselves conspicuous by such a disturbance would actually be wanted escapees. Realizing they were not policemen, Mesrine submitted to a search of the car, but on finding loaded guns in the rear, the rangers informed them that they would have to follow their car back to Plessisville. While Mesrine was trying to talk them out of this, Cote, possibly alerted by the sight of the arsenal of weapons, suddenly recognised the pair, whereupon Mesrine and Mercier shot both officers dead.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: Mesrine continued robbing banks in Montreal, and even covertly gained access into the US again for a brief stay at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, before moving to Caracas, Venezuela.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: By the end of 1972, Mesrine had returned to France, where he resumed robbing banks. On 5 March 1973, during an argument with a cashier in a coffee bar, Mesrine brandished a revolver and seriously injured a police officer who tried to intervene. He was arrested 3 days later. In May, he was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment – which, considering his record, was lenient for the time and place – to be served at "La Santé" maximum security prison where escape was thought to be impossible. In a plan likely formulated even before his arrest, Mesrine took a judge, who sentenced him on another matter in the past, hostage with a revolver (recovered from the courthouse lavatory where it had been hidden by an accomplice) and escaped. After being at large for four months, he was arrested in his new Paris apartment on 28 September 1973, on information supplied by an associate who wanted a reduced sentence. Mesrine was returned to "La Santé" where he covertly wrote and smuggled out an autobiography, titled "L'Instinct de Mort" ("Death Instinct"), in which he claimed to have committed upwards of forty murders, a number thought by some to be a considerable exaggeration. The appearance of Mesrine's book resulted in France passing a "Son of Sam law", designed to stop criminals profiting from the publication of their crimes.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: "La Santé" was seen as escape proof. In his escapes from his Canadian prisons, Mesrine had required little more than wire cutters and a very high degree of audacity. During this incarceration, however, he faced security far better than any he had defeated before. A report noted that Mesrine had been seen doing exercises in his cell and was behaving like a man who had received good news. On 8 May 1978, he produced a gun, stole keys and, with François Besse (a highly accomplished escaper in his own right), and another man, Mesrine got out of a cellblock and into a fenced-off yard walkway. They had a grappling iron with them and Mesrine forced some workmen with an extending ladder to bring the ladder along. The trio unlocked a yard gate in an inner wall; an armed guard was taken by surprise at his post. The men then reached an isolated part of the 14 metre (46 ft) high exterior wall (which would have presented a considerable challenge without the ladder). They hooked the grappling iron onto the top of the ladder and slid down the rope. The third man over the wall was shot dead by police in the street outside. Mesrine and Besse hijacked a car and evaded the police cordon; they had become the first men to escape from La Santé.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: Mesrine and Besse robbed a Paris gunsmith four days after their escape from La Santé. On 26 May 1978, the duo robbed the Deauville Casino of 130,000 francs, but the police arrived as they exited. Around 50 shots were exchanged and Mesrine was wounded, but the duo made a getaway. Mesrine and Besse eluded the subsequent massive sweep of the area by taking a farmer and his family hostage and forcing him to drive them to safety. Subsequently, the kidnapping of a banker netted them 450,000 francs in ransom. Despite his position as "French public enemy number one" ("l'ennemi public numéro un"), Mesrine was featured on the cover of the 4 August 1978 "Paris Match". In an interview inside, he threatened the Minister of Justice. By remaining at large in the Paris area, despite his notoriety, Mesrine appeared to be making a fool of the law and the state; the "Paris Match" interview was the last straw. The police agencies hunting Mesrine were pressured for results from the highest echelons of government.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: This proved to be difficult, not the least because of rivalry between the various agencies. The usual informants were of little use as Mesrine generally avoided contact with the criminal underworld. Moreover, he was adept at disguising his appearance and allaying suspicion from members of the public: he reportedly went for a drink with his neighbours and laughed when one said he "looked like Mesrine". Mesrine travelled to Sicily, Algeria, London, and Brussels, and back to Paris in November 1978, where he again robbed a bank. Objecting to Mesrine's proposed kidnapping of a senior judge, and not sharing his desire for revenge against the system, disassociated with Mesrine and later disappeared. Besse was finally captured in 1994; he was paroled in 2006.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: Mesrine's next exploit occurred in November 1978. It was a daring attempt to kidnap a judge (who had sentenced him) as part of a campaign to get maximum security prisons closed. His accomplice was captured but Mesrine escaped by running downstairs past several policemen telling them "Quick! Mesrine's up there!" A young policeman posted outside was found handcuffed to a drainpipe weeping. On 21 June 1979, Mesrine kidnapped millionaire real estate mogul Henri Lelièvre and received a ransom of six million francs.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: Mesrine made good copy for the press, clowning for the camera and asserting that his criminal activity was politically motivated.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: Jacques Tillier (a former Directorate of Territorial Security policeman) had written disparagingly about Mesrine in the French far-right newspaper "Minute" but on 10 September 1979, he went, rather incautiously, to a clandestine meeting with Mesrine on the promise of an interview. The incensed Mesrine had other plans: he shot Tillier in the face, leg and arm. Tillier survived the ordeal, although he lost the use of one arm. During his contact with Mesrine, Tillier discovered the identity of Mesrine's accomplice.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: The special gendarme unit tasked with finding and capturing Mesrine found it impossible to track him down directly. Eventually, by using information supplied by Tillier, they ascertained the licence number of the car that a woman named Sylvia Jeanjacquot, believed to be Mesrine's mistress, had used and checked parking tickets which it had received months previously. These tickets indicated that she had been frequenting a certain district without any obvious cause. Undercover patrols combed the area and a man fitting Mesrine's description was spotted walking with a woman believed to be Jeanjacquot on 31 October 1979. One officer who had seen Mesrine at court confirmed the identification by noting Mesrine's distinctive build. The couple were followed home and their building watched around the clock.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: Two days later, on 2 November 1979, the couple left the apartment for a weekend in the country, taking Jeanjacquot's pet poodle with them. Mesrine and Jeanjacquot had reached Porte de Clignancourt on the outskirts of Paris, when the gold BMW they were driving was boxed in at the entrance to an intersection. Police marksmen in the rear of a lorry immediately in front of their car threw open a tarpaulin. Reportedly, in the instant before the gendarmerie opened fire, Mesrine's eyes were described as being so shocked they seemed to be bursting from his head, as he realized he was trapped. Twenty rounds were fired at point blank range. Mesrine was struck 15 times. A coup de grâce was then administered with a pistol. Sylvia Jeanjacquot lost one eye and suffered lasting damage to her arm. Her pet dog was killed.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: French police announced that their operation was a success and received congratulations from then President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. There were suggestions in some media publications that Mesrine may have been shot without warning in a way which amounted to extrajudicial killing, but the police pointed out that he had sworn that he would never surrender and that, as well as having a gun on him, Mesrine had been armed with two grenades which were taped together and adapted so they could be brought into action instantly.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: Sylvia Jeanjacquot underwent multiple operations and served more than two years in prison before being ultimately acquitted of any crime. Mesrine's former defense attorney, Maître Malinbaum, continued for 30 years to fight for a judicial investigation into the events surrounding Mesrine's death at Porte de Clignancourt and to have the French state held accountable for what she saw as the assassination of her client.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: By law, Mesrine could not profit from "L'instinct de Mort," but the publishers had received a threatening letter from him in 1979 demanding payment nonetheless. "L'instinct de Mort" was republished in 1984 by Champ Libre Editions, The founder of Champ Libre, Gérard Lebovici, was a gifted entrepreneur, influential in the French film industry, and known for his fascination with criminals. Lebovici adopted Mesrine's daughter after her father's death.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: On 5 March 1984, the body of Gérard Lebovici was found in the Avenue Foch underground car park. He had been shot dead, with the bullet wounds forming a square: a traditional underworld sign for a contract that has not been fulfilled. One theory is that Lebovici may have been killed by a close associate of Mesrine's with whom Lebovici may have had an appointment on the day of his death.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: A film about Mesrine; "Mesrine", was released in 1984. It featured Nicolas Silberg in the title role and was written and directed by André Génovès.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: Hard rock ensemble Trust dedicated two tracks ("Le Mitard" and "Instinct de Mort") to Mesrine on their 1980 album "Repression".


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: Punk group The Blood recorded a track titled "Mesrine" on their 1983 "False Gestures For A Devious Public" LP. There is also a Quebec-based grindcore band named Mesrine.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: In the French novel, "Les Rivières Pourpres", the protagonist, Niémans, is implicated in Mesrine's assassination.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: A two-part film, "L'instinct de mort" (English title: "Mesrine: Killer Instinct") and "L'ennemi public No. 1" (English title: "Mesrine: Public Enemy No. 1"), recounting Mesrine's career and starring Vincent Cassel in the lead role, was released in France in 2008 and in the UK in August 2009.


title: Jacques Mesrine

text: Jacques Mesrine, Richard Cobb People and Places, Oxford University Press 1986. Essay appeared as review of Carey Schofield, Mesrine, The Life and Death of a Supercrook (Penguin) in the Times Literary Supplement, May 1980.


title: Nunc dimittis

text: The Nunc dimittis (), also known as the Song of Simeon or the Canticle of Simeon, is a canticle taken from the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke, verses 29 through 32. Its Latin name comes from its incipit, the opening words, of the Vulgate translation of the passage, meaning "Now you let depart". Since the 4th century it has been used in services of evening worship such as Compline, Vespers, and Evensong.


title: Nunc dimittis

text: The title is formed from the opening words in the Latin Vulgate, “"Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine"" ("Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord"). Although brief, the canticle abounds in Old Testament allusions. For example, "Because my eyes have seen thy salvation" alludes to Isaiah 52:10.


title: Nunc dimittis

text: According to the narrative in Luke 2:25-32, Simeon was a devout Jew who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem for the ceremony of redemption of the firstborn son (after the time of Mary's purification: at least 40 days after the birth, and thus distinct from the circumcision), Simeon was there, and he took Jesus into his arms and uttered words rendered variously as follows:


title: Nunc dimittis

text: The King James Version (1611) contains the same text as the Book of Common Prayer, except for the last line (), which simply reads "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."


title: Nunc dimittis

text: Friedrich Justus Knecht draws the conclusion from this passage, that ""belief in Jesus Christ drives away all fear of death."" He writes:


title: Nunc dimittis

text: Simeon now rejoiced at the prospect of death. Such a sensation was hitherto unknown in Israel. “Pious Israelites closed their eyes in death, weary of life and submissive to God’s will; not altogether hopeless, but full of horror of the future. Death was a thing to be feared, and each new day of life which was granted was looked on as a gain” (Grimm). But all at once every thing was changed. Holy Simeon had seen the Saviour, and was now ready to die joyfully. In fact, he did die very soon after; a pious tradition even goes so far as to say that he died before he left the Temple. He was thus the first to take the joyful news to Limbo that the Saviour was born and the day of salvation at hand.


title: Nunc dimittis

text: Roger Baxter reflects on this passage in his "Meditations", saying: "Oh that you would also bid farewell to all earthly things, and say with the Apostle, 'But I am straitened — having a desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ.' (Phil. 1:23.)"


title: Nunc dimittis

text: The Nunc Dimittis is the traditional 'Gospel Canticle' of Night Prayer (Compline), just as Benedictus and Magnificat are the traditional Gospel Canticles of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer respectively. Hence the Nunc Dimittis is found in the liturgical night office of many western denominations, including Anglican Evensong in the 1662 "Book of Common Prayer", Compline (A Late Evening Service) in the 1928 "Book of Common Prayer", and the Night Prayer service in the Common Worship, as well as both the Catholic and Lutheran service of Compline. In eastern tradition the canticle is found in Eastern Orthodox Vespers. One of the most well-known settings in England is a plainchant theme of Thomas Tallis.


title: Nunc dimittis

text: Heinrich Schütz wrote at least two settings, one in Musikalische Exequien (1636), the other in Symphoniae sacrae II (1647). The feast day "Mariae Reinigung" was observed in the Lutheran Church at J.S. Bach's time. He composed several cantatas for the occasion, including "Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin", BWV 125, a chorale cantata on Martin Luther's paraphrase of the canticle, and "Ich habe genug", BWV 82.


title: Nunc dimittis

text: In many Lutheran orders of service the "Nunc Dimittis" may be sung following the reception of the Eucharist. A 1530 rhymed version by , "Im Frieden dein, o Herre mein", with a melody by Wolfgang Dachstein, was written in Strasbourg for that purpose.


title: Nunc dimittis

text: Many composers have set the text to music, usually coupled in the Anglican church with the Magnificat, as both the Magnificat and the Nunc dimittis are sung (or said) during the Anglican service of Evening Prayer according to the Book of Common Prayer, 1662, in which the older offices of Vespers (Evening Prayer) and Compline (Night Prayer) were deliberately merged into one service, with both Gospel Canticles employed. In Common Worship, it is listed among "Canticles for Use at Funeral and Memorial Services" Herbert Howells composed 20 settings of it, including Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (Gloucester) (1947) and Magnificat and Nunc dimittis for St Paul's Cathedral (1951). A setting of the Nunc dimittis by Charles Villiers Stanford was sung at the funeral of Margaret Thatcher as the recessional. Stanford wrote many settings of both the "Magnificat" and "Nunc dimittis".


title: Nunc dimittis

text: Sergei Rachmaninoff wrote a setting of the Slavonic "Nunc dimittis" text, Ны́не отпуща́еши ("Nyne otpushchayeshi"), as the fifth movement of his "All-Night Vigil." It is known for its final measures, in which the basses sing a descending scale ending on the B♭ below the bass clef. A setting by the British composer Geoffrey Burgon featured during the end credits of episodes in the 1979 television adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (TV series).


title: Davao de Oro

text: Davao de Oro, officially the Province of Davao de Oro (; ), is a province in the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Nabunturan. It used to be part of the province of Davao del Norte until it was made a separate province in 1998.


title: Davao de Oro

text: The province borders Davao del Norte to the west, Agusan del Sur to the north, and Davao Oriental to the east. To the southwest lies the Davao Gulf. The first elected governor was Jose Caballero, formerly a lawyer for a mining group in the province. It was formerly known as Compostela Valley (shortened to ComVal; ) from its inception until December 2019, when a plebiscite ratified the law that proposed to rename the province to Davao de Oro.


title: Davao de Oro

text: Davao de Oro, the 78th province in the country, was created out of Davao del Norte Province by virtue of "Republic Act No. 8470", signed by President Fidel V. Ramos on January 30, 1998. The new province was officially named Compostela Valley. On March 7 of the same year, the law was ratified through a plebiscite conducted in the twenty-two (22) municipalities of the mother province.


title: Davao de Oro

text: The movement to create a new province by dividing Davao del Norte started in the 1980s during the time of Congressman Lorenzo S. Sarmiento Sr., himself the author of RA No. 6430. However, this was not realized until his death in the late 1980s. His son, Rogelio M. Sarmiento, who became his successor in Congress, pushed for the passage of the bill creating the province.


title: Davao de Oro

text: Upon consultation with the governor of Davao del Norte, Prospero S. Amatong, the province's other two legislators, 3rd District Congressman Rodolfo P. Del Rosario and 2nd District Congressman Baltazar A. Sator, and other provincial and municipal officials, it was decided that the addition of four municipalities, namely Maco, Mabini, Pantukan, and Laak to the proposed province would be the most ideal and equitable configuration as this would make both provinces on an almost equal footing in terms of area, population, and development opportunities. It was also decided that Nabunturan would be the capital town because of its more central location.


title: Davao de Oro

text: The name originally proposed for the province was "Davao del Norte", the former name, or so it was thought, of the mother province. However, the House of Representatives’ Reference and Research Bureau, which conducted the research and legal work on the creation of the province, found out that the mother province continues to be officially referred to as "Davao del Norte" in most official documents including the 1987 Philippine Constitution despite the passage of "RA No. 6430" on June 17, 1972 renaming it as "Davao Province". Tedious technical and legal issues needed to be resolved before the name could be adopted. The proposal was thus shelved and the name finally agreed upon was "Compostela Valley", referring to the great fertile plain in the heartland of the province.


title: Davao de Oro

text: The origin of the province’s inhabitants came from the ethnic tribes of the Mansaka, Mandaya, Manobo, Mangguangan, Dibabawon, Aeta, Kamayo, Davaweño and Kalagan. Similar to the history of other Mindanao provinces, most of the present populations of the province are descendants of migrants who came from Luzon and Visayas islands during the pre-war and post war eras. The bigger wave of immigrants came during the time of President Ramon Magsaysay wherein the policy of attraction adopted by the national government was to offer parcels of land to tenant-farmers. Although a virtual melting pot, the Visayans (mostly Cebuano-speaking) are the dominant group in Davao de Oro.


title: Davao de Oro

text: New, as it is, Davao de Oro has achieved a distinction of sorts with the succession of three governors during the first four months of its existence. The first governor of the province was Prospero S. Amatong, the three-term governor (1986-1998) of the then undivided province of Davao del Norte, who held the position only for a day. As provided for in the law creating the new province, "incumbent elected officials (of Davao del Norte) are given option to serve the remainder of their term in Compostela Valley," Amatong took this option and assumed the governorship of the then-Compostela Valley on March 26, 1998. The following day, he resigned and filed his candidacy for the congressional seat of the 2nd district of the new province. The governorship was turned over to Luz M. Sarmiento, by virtue of a presidential appointment.


title: Davao de Oro

text: Luz M. Sarmiento, wife of then Congressman Lorenzo S. Sarmiento Sr. served the province from March 27, 1998, to June 30, 1998. She was succeeded by Jose R. Caballero.


title: Davao de Oro

text: Jose R. Caballero, a practicing lawyer and former vice governor of then undivided Davao Del Norte (1988-1992) was the first elected governor of Compostela Valley.


title: Davao de Oro

text: Arturo T. "Chiongkee" Uy is the fourth governor of Compostela Valley. He first served the province as member of the 3rd Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Compostela Valley (2004-2007) before he was elected as governor in the May 2007 national and local elections. Among his first acts as governor is the forging of a genuine unity among political leaders and among all sectors in the province in order to have synergy in crafting the province's development and the delivery of public services. He is now serving the province in his second term of office as governor as he ran for the post unopposed during the May 2010 national and local elections.


title: Davao de Oro

text: In 1955, the barrio (barangay) of New Sabonga was transferred to the municipality of Compostela from the municipality of Asuncion.


title: Davao de Oro

text: On June 23, 1957, then President Carlos P. Garcia signed Republic Act No. 2038 which separated Compostela from Nabunturan. The first Mayor appointed by President Carlos P. Garcia was then Mayor Pio P. Galenzoga, one of the pioneer settlers.


title: Davao de Oro

text: In the same year the sitios of Kao, Magkagong, Margosan, Matilo, Magangit, Cabacungan, Tigbatinao and Camanlangan were constituted into a barrio known as Santo Niño.


title: Davao de Oro

text: At the time, Compostela was an incongruous mixture of wooden-roofed houses concentrated along the Agusan River which was properly known as "dungguanan" (embarkation). This area later became its center of trade and commerce or Poblacion.


title: Davao de Oro

text: A Senate bill officially renaming Compostela Valley to "Davao de Oro" was passed in 2019. Provincial officials led by Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy sees this as an opportunity to clear up confusion with its geographic location, with the province's name sometimes associated with Cagayan Valley and the town of Compostela in Cebu, and associate it further with fellow provinces in the Davao Region. They see this also as an opportunity to market the province better for further investments. The plebiscite was held on December 7, 2019, with the majority of participants voting in favor of the name change.


title: Davao de Oro

text: Davao de Oro covers a total area of occupying the northeastern section of the Davao Region. The province borders Davao del Norte to the west, Agusan del Sur to the north, and Davao Oriental to the east. To the southwest lies the Davao Gulf.


title: Davao de Oro

text: The majority of the inhabitants are migrants from Cebu, Samar, Bohol and other Visayan provinces. The cultural minorities in the province include the Kalagan, Mansaka, Mandaya, Dibabawon, Mangguangan and Manobo groups such as the Atta, Talaingod, Langilan, and Matigsalug Manobo.


title: Davao de Oro

text: Arnold Bajo is the most successful defender of the poor minorities, especially the Mandayas. He died in a battle while defending the poor. According to legends, 40 days after his death, his bodily spirit was infused into the statue of Ara-Araba, the local tribe's god of harvest. From then on, he was worshipped as a god by the members of the Mandaya tribe.


title: Davao de Oro

text: The primary language spoken in the province is Cebuano. Secondary languages include Kalagan, Mansaka, Mandaya, Ata Manobo, Dibabawnon, Tagalog, and English.


title: Davao de Oro

text: Roman Catholic is the predominant religion of this province forming 74% of the province population. Other significant religious minorities include Protestants which form 15% of the province population and Iglesia Ni Cristo which form 2% of the province population. Other religions are divided between Islam Sunni and Animist


title: Davao de Oro

text: Davao de Oro was billed as the second richest province in the Philippines by the Commission on Audit by year 2017. That year, its provincial government posted a record high of ₱18.75 billion worth of assets, the largest in whole Mindanao. As of 2019, with an increase of ₱20.099 billion worth of assets, it remains the richest province in Mindanao. The economic drive which brought the province to this status was caused by numerous business establishments, banana plantations, and vast gold and silver mines across the province, further augmented with its up-to-date transportation infrastructure.


title: Davao de Oro

text: The province possesses one of the largest gold deposits in the Philippines, with 10 out of its 11 towns having one or more gold mines, the largest of which is at Mt. Diwalwal in the town of Monkayo. The town of Nabunturan, the provincial capital, is also home to the biggest gold ring in the Philippines, "The Solidarity Ring."


title: Davao de Oro

text: The main sources of livelihood in the province are agricultural products such as rice, coconut, cacao, coffee, papaya, mango, pineapple, durian and banana. Some residents in the province have fishponds and culture their own fish like tilapia and milkfish.


title: Davao de Oro

text: Davao de Oro is headed by its governor as the chief executive. The vice governor is the presiding officer of the Davao de Oro Provincial Board, the province's legislature. Each municipality elects its own mayor, and a vice mayor presiding its Sangguniang Bayan.


title: Davao de Oro

text: The province is represented by two representatives in the House of Representatives of the Philippines, each coming from a congressional district.


title: Davao de Oro

text: The province's Regional Trial Court meets in Nabunturan. It has one branch under the Eleventh Judicial Region.


title: Slave Play

text: Slave Play is a three-act play by Jeremy O. Harris about race, sex, power relations, trauma, and interracial relationships. It follows three interracial couples undergoing "Antebellum Sexual Performance Therapy" because the black partners no longer feel sexual attraction to their white partners. The title refers both to the history of slavery in the United States and to sexual slavery role-play.


title: Slave Play

text: Harris originally wrote the play in his first year at the Yale School of Drama, and it debuted on a major stage on November 19, 2018, in an Off-Broadway New York Theatre Workshop staging directed by Robert O'Hara. It opened on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre on October 6, 2019. In 2019, "Slave Play" was nominated for Best Play in the Lucille Lortel Awards, and Claire Warden won an Outstanding Fight Choreography Drama Desk Award for her work in the play. The play has been the center of controversy due to its themes and content. At the 74th Tony Awards, "Slave Play" received 12 nominations, breaking the record set by the 2018 revival of "Angels in America" for most nominations for a non-musical play, though it did not receive any awards.


title: Slave Play

text: Act One begins at McGregor Plantation, a southern cotton plantation in pre-Civil War Virginia. The first act chronicles three private meetings and sexual encounters of three interracial couples. The play begins with the song "Work" by Rihanna playing in the McGregor's overseer cottage. Kaneisha, a slave, begins to twerk to the song when Jim, a white slave owner, walks in holding a whip. Jim is repeatedly uncomfortable when Kaneisha calls him "Master," but berates her for not cleaning the room better and throws a cantaloupe on the ground and tells Kaneisha to eat it. As Kaneisha eats the cantaloupe, she begins to dance again, which confuses and arouses Jim. The overseer then initiates sex with Kaneisha. When she asks to be called a "nasty, lazy negress," he instead proceeds to perform cunnilingus.


title: Slave Play

text: The scene transitions to the boudoir of Madame McGregor, the wife of Master McGregor. Madame McGregor, or Alana, calls upon Phillip, her mulatto servant, and asks him to play the fiddle. Phillip begins to play Beethoven's Op. 132. Alana stops him, calling European music boring, and asks him to play "negro" music. Phillip plays "Pony" by Ginuwine and Alana dances, then initiates sex, saying she is under Phillip's mulatto spell. She then uses a dildo to penetrate him, asking him if he likes being in the woman's position. Phillip replies that he is unsure.


title: Slave Play

text: In the McGregor's barn, Gary, a black slave, is in charge of Dustin, a white indentured servant. Gary taunts Dustin, finding their allocation of power amusing. Gary kicks Dustin down, calling him lesser than other white people. The song “Multi-Love” by Unknown Mortal Orchestra begins to play. The two fight before they engage in sexual intimacy. Gary has Dustin lick Gary's boot clean; this causes Gary to orgasm. He suddenly starts crying and cannot be comforted by Dustin.


title: Slave Play

text: The scene shifts back to the other couples. Phillip keeps playing music that Alana does not like on his fiddle and Kaneisha and Jim are engaged in sex. Kaneisha asks again to be called a "negress." Even as Kaneisha nears orgasm, Jim stops participating when Kaneisha calls him "Masta Jim". Jim then switches to speaking in a British accent and tells Kaneisha that he is not comfortable with the situation. Jim uses his safeword, "Starbucks," to end the encounter.


title: Slave Play

text: Suddenly, new characters in modern clothing, Patricia and Teá (also an interracial couple) come into the room. They recommend for the three couples to meet back at the main house soon. It is revealed that in reality the characters are modern couples participating in a role-playing exercise meant to improve intimacy between white and black partners.


title: Slave Play

text: The second act is dedicated to a contemporary group therapy session among the three couples to treat their inability to experience sexual pleasure. The therapists, Patricia and Teá, speak through affirmations and academic jargon for most of the session. They are on Day Four of the therapy, which focuses on fantasy play.


title: Slave Play

text: Dustin begins by noting that Gary came, which he could not do before, but Gary counters that Dustin was uncomfortable in making his whiteness hyper-visible. Alana enjoyed the release of the fantasy and asks Phillip if he enjoyed it too, noting that he got an erection when he had trouble before. Jim keeps interrupting speakers with laughter; Teá asks him to share, especially since he was the one who said the safeword. Jim is confused and overwhelmed by the therapy. Teá clarifies that the therapy, titled Antebellum Sexual Performance Therapy, was designed to help black partners feel pleasure again with their white partners. Jim is uncomfortable playing the role of the slave overseer and demeaning his wife, and believes the experience is traumatizing and ruining his relationship with Kaneisha. Kaneisha feels frustrated and betrayed that Jim did not give what she asked of him.


title: Slave Play

text: After Patricia and Teá read back to the group what they have said, Alana points out that mostly white men are speaking. Dustin insists that he is not white. Dustin and Gary get back into an old argument over Dustin wanting to move into a more gentrified neighborhood. Dustin refuses to label himself as white, and Gary feels that through this he erases Gary's identity. Phillip, who has not spoken much, says that the therapy seems fake to him. Alana speaks over him, still upset about Jim saying the safeword.


title: Slave Play

text: Patricia and Teá explain the origins of Antebellum Sexual Performance Therapy in treating anhedonia, with Patricia speaking over Teá. The couple shaped it as their thesis together at Smith and then Yale. They are foregrounding the study both through their experiences in their own relationship and their academic background. They state that anhedonia is caused by racial trauma passed down through history: black partners may be unable to enjoy sex with their white partners because of “Racialized Inhibiting Disorder." Teá previously experienced anhedonia with Patricia, and it was through fantasy play that she worked out her racial trauma. Symptoms associated with Racialized Inhibiting Disorder include anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and "musical obsession disorder."


title: Slave Play

text: Phillip says none of his partners are able to see him as black and he struggles with being mixed race. Gary realizes that the song he often hears, “Multi-Love”, was imagined due to "musical obsession disorder." Kaneisha says she felt in control during the fantasy play, but Jim took that away from her by using the safeword; Gary agrees but Phillip does not. It is revealed that Phillip and Alana met because her ex-husband had a cuckold fetish, and that when Phillip was with her under those pretenses, he felt sexually excited because he was viewed as black by her husband. Alana insists it had nothing to do with race, and now that they are in a committed relationship Alana views him as a complex person. Alana breaks down. Gary confronts Dustin, asking why he always says he is not white. Gary questions why they are still together, and he and Dustin almost get into a fight before Patricia and Teá break it up.


title: Slave Play

text: Jim starts to read something he wrote on his phone. He does not understand why Kaneisha looks at him with disgust, like he is "a virus," nor does he know what he is supposed to do. Kaneisha realizes that "virus" is the description she has been searching for, referencing the diseases introduced by Europeans which decimated the indigenous peoples of the Americas. She says she knows now that she cannot experience pleasure because she cannot forget her disgust with Jim's race. She confronts Patricia and Teá, saying they are wrong: the problem is within the white partners, not a disorder within the black partners. Kaneisha is overwhelmed as “Work” by Rihanna begins playing again.


title: Slave Play

text: In the third act, "Work" plays as Kaneisha is packing in a room and Jim comes in. Kaneisha says that what she needs isn't better communication, but for Jim to simply listen. Jim is silent as Kaneisha recounts how they met, and then times in her childhood when she had to visit plantations on school field trips. As the only black girl, she felt a need to act proud for her "elders" watching her. She says she fell in love with Jim, a white man, because he was not American. Jim begins to initiate foreplay and the music rises while Kaneisha continues that the relationship went downhill three years ago, when she stopped feeling sexual pleasure because she began to see him as foreign and frightening. She saw Jim's whiteness and power, and that he also has "the virus", because though he is not American, he benefits from being white while being unaware of the privilege that whiteness gives him. She says that Antebellum Sexual Performance Therapy and the fantasy play gave her a sense of peace because she feels the elders watching her again; the elders do not care that she is with "a demon / who thinks he’s a saint", but simply want the two of them to "know" he is a demon.


title: Slave Play

text: Suddenly, Jim calls Kaneisha a "negress" and gags her; the music stops. Jim returns to performing his slave owner role, dominating and insulting Kaneisha. She silently consents to continue, but when Jim initiates forceful sex she struggles free and screams the safeword. She begins to cry, then laugh, and Jim cries as well as they comfort each other. Kaneisha stands and thanks Jim for listening.


title: Slave Play

text: "Slave Play" deals with the themes of race, sex, power relations, trauma, and interracial relationships. Lapacazo Sandoval wrote that the play provides a real look at racism in America, especially in how racism persists even past the abolition of slavery. The play attempts to uncover current racism and microaggressions through the lens of slavery. Aisha Harris, writing for "The New York Times", said the play “bluntly confronts the lingering traumas of slavery on black Americans." Through the reoccurring theme of psychoanalysis, Jeremy O. Harris examines how slavery still impacts both the mental states, and the relationships, of black people in the present.


title: Slave Play

text: By staging a conversation between slavery and the present, the play uses the theme of time and history to depict how the trauma of slavery persists. As Tonya Pinkins writes, racism does not have a safe word in the play, and throughout the narrative, white characters are forced to recognize their historical and social locations in relation to their partners. The play dwells on the impact of black erasure in interracial relationships. Throughout the narrative, the white partners are incapable of recognizing, or naming, their partners race, rather it is because of guilt, or because they get defensive. By placing sex and racial dynamics in juxtaposition through the Antebellum Sexual Performance Therapy, the play makes whiteness, and white privilege, hyper visible in interracial relationships. Soraya Nadia McDonald points out that the play works to uncover racial innocence. Racial innocence is the concept that white people are innocent of race, and therefore they are racially neutral. By placing the white characters in the position of the master, the mistress, or the indentured servant, the play makes whiteness visible to the white characters.


title: Slave Play

text: Author Jeremy O. Harris has said that he wrote "Slave Play" during his first year at the Yale School of Drama, from which he graduated in 2019. In October 2017, a production of "Slave Play" was presented at the Yale School of Drama as part of the annual Langston Hughes Festival.


title: Slave Play

text: The play was announced for the 2018-2019 season of the New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) and was taken into the development program of the National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. Later that month, Robert O'Hara, who had known Harris since his brief studies at De Paul University and was one of his teachers at Yale, was announced as director. At the end of July 2018, the first public reading of the work was held at the conference.


title: Slave Play

text: Previews of the production at NYTW, under the patronage of the production company Seaview Productions, began on November 19, 2018. Due to high demand, the duration of the show's run was extended before the official December 9 premiere, with the final performance being postponed from the original closing date of December 30, 2018, to January 13, 2019. Over the next two weeks, tickets for all performances sold out.


title: Slave Play

text: On September 18, 2019, the play ran and hosted a Broadway Blackout night where the audience consisted of only black identified artists, writers, or students. The play began its Broadway run at the John Golden Theatre in October 2019. The play opened its 17-week limited Broadway engagement on October 6, 2019, and closed as scheduled on January 19, 2020. Harris and his team promised that 10,000 tickets would be sold at $39 in an effort to diversify the crowd.


title: Slave Play

text: In June 2020, the producers and creative team of "Slave Play" made a donation of $10,000 to the National Bailout Fund and released a statement in support of Black Lives Matter.


title: Slave Play

text: In September 2021, it was announced that a new engagement of the play will run at the August Wilson Theatre from November 23, 2021, to January 23, 2022, with plans to then transfer to Los Angeles. Most of the cast is slated to return, with the exception of Joaquina Kalukango, due to a prior commitment to the pre-Broadway run of "Paradise Square"; she will be replaced by Antoinette Crowe-Legacy, who originated the role of Kaneisha at the Yale School of Drama. The producers said they intended to repeat their previous efforts to sell 10,000 tickets for $39 each.


title: Slave Play

text: Critical reception of "Slave Play" has been polarized. Due to themes revolving around sexuality and slavery, reviewers have either defended the play or criticized it. In particular, Harris believes that making a play palatable would be buying into respectability politics, and reviewers such as Tim Teeman and Soraya Nadia McDonald have noted how "Slave Play"'s explicit content is utilized to critique racism in the United States.