Fans of the hit HBO period drama, The Gilded Age welcomed Christine Baranski to The Elms on Thursday, August 7th. The consummate actor brought light and humour, and insight to her character, Agnes van Rhijn. In season three of The Gilded Age, we see Mrs. van Rhijn adjusting to her new role.
On Sunday, August 10th, Members of the Preservation Society and guests watched the finale of The Gilded Age season three, on the back lawn of The Elms.
Members and guests encouraged to bring a picnic, with some arriving in The Gilded Age attire with bling and tiara in tow. Everyone brought their smiles, excitement and joy!
A Conversation with Christine Baranski
Christine Baranski grew up in a Polish family in Buffalo NY. However, she married into a Gilded Age family. Her late husband, Matthew Cowles had ties to the Drexel Family.
Most people in banking and finance will remember Drexel Burnham Lambert. They went defunct in 1994 due to insider trading, junk bonds and shady business practices. This is what happens to businesses when they operate in secret, and one department doesn’t know what the others are doing.
Baranski spoke about her “aunt Bessie” a Gilded Age Socialite who married a gay man, and protected his secret for twenty-three years. She told Julian Fellowes the story and sent him the book, King Lehr and the Gilded Age.
When she heard the rumours that Julian Fellowes was doing The Gilded Age, she introduced herself to Lord Fellowes at an industry function. A similar story to Sam Waterston during his visit to Rosecliff. Moreover, if you want something badly enough, go after it!
As for van Rhijn, Baranski channelled her mum. Additionally, her resilience helped shape her character, after losing all her wealth to a swindler in season two. Baranski’s mother worked at a factory, retired at 70 and battled three different cancers. Likewise, Baranski surrounded by strong, gifted women, entered the theatre inspired by her Polish grandmother who had a comedy show on the radio.
Baranski auditioned for the new drama division at Juliard, but waitlisted because of her lisp. The school recommended that she cap her teeth and practice her “Ss.” Eventually John Houseman accepted her into the programme.
When asked how she handles her fame, she said that young actors should not hurry to become famous. They should do the work.
Christine Baranski at The Elms: Audience Q&A
Most of the audience Q&A was on point, however…
One audience member did not have a question, but instead wasted everyone’s valuable time with a non-sense no question. Apparently she met a young woman out and invited her to the event and wanted all of us sitting there to meet her. If there ever was a daffy audience award, this person would surely win.
Afterwards, there were no more audience Q&A.
Hospitality Notes
The Social Diary has attended Preservation Society Newport Mansions events for the past five years. Whilst the ticket prices keep climbing, the quality of food and service keep going down hill. We remember when the holiday dinner was $250, now it’s $600, yet the quality just isn’t there. The same goes for the “flashy” events like Sam Waterston at Rosecliff and Christine Baranski at The Elms. Whilst these events are important as promotional tools, average folks can’t afford them.
These price disparities discussed by forum members during the webinar on Monday, in addition to a guest at the Sam Waterston dinner expressing the same.
The Social Diary knows how fortunate we are to attend premiers, soirees and garden parties. With privilege comes immense responsibility and accountability.
Additionally, whilst the Sam Waterston affair had tray-passed morsels, the Baranski event offered their usual fare of Crudités and nothing else. If you are a “teetotaler” club soda was your only option. It wouldn’t surprise us if they spent all that money towards the fancy sit down shindig inside The Elms, post event, with only the invited in attendance.
There is nothing wrong with “invitation only” events, as we have attended several and refused one, The Elms Carriage House1 opening reception. However, public events should also benefit from “attention to detail” as well.
There was no parking at the Elms either, only for handicap, but we always have our secret parking hideaway. It also helps when you have a dedicated team.
The Gilded Age Finale Notes
What was the point of registering for this event is anyone’s guess. Whilst the seating was first come, first serve, no one checked in. So anyone off the street could have occupied a space meant for a registered member. And they did! We all received this confirmation email after registering. Rather pointless!
Several forum members pointed this out as well. They received this email on August 4th that the screening was “At Capacity.” They also questioned why The Preservation Society didn’t do their due diligence checking “registered” members into the screening. Hopefully they don’t claim their “phantom” members count to impress HBO.
- The Social Diary does not condone theft by employers. Stoneacre is not a “trusted” partner and The Preservation Society of Newport County should have done their due diligence before handing them the contract. In 2023, Stoneacre Hospitality owners, Christopher Bender and David Crowell were ordered to pay over $550K in “back wages, withheld tips and damages to their employees.” ↩︎
“Additionally, the restaurant group must pay a 1% annual interest fee in each category, compounded yearly on unpaid balances, amounting to a total of $571,596 in payments by March 2026.” (Source: Providence Business News)
