“” is downright mean Television shouldn’t hurt this footmen who serve them. much. The show’s creator, Julian The most recent episode of Fellowes, an actor in his “Downton Abbey” – for those keep- own right, imbues each of ing score, Episode Four of Season these characters with Three – reduced my perfectly nor- extraordinary depth and mal 14-year-old daughter to a weep- detailed humanity. Any ing, shoulder-wracking, can’t- actor would be grateful for Saga” and “Upstairs/Downstairs” breathe-gasping pool of tears. the chance to play any of these peo- (both available on Netflix). She is no wimp. She can out-hike ple and a number of great actors are As you’d expect from Public her brothers, and out-hit them, too, given the chance. Broadcasting Service television, the should they start something. Very is the redoubtable show is even educational, sort of. little makes her cry (angry, sure, but (there is no other word for the regal Real-life events – the sinking of the not weepy). This is a girl who did woman) Violet Crawley, Dowager Titanic, World War I, the suffra- not cry at “Bambi” for goodness Princess of Grantham. With the dry gettes – impact the action, but they sake (she was angry at the hunters, wit and elegant delivery of an never bother anyone enough to get sure, but not weepy). Oscar Wilde creation, she has the in the way of romance or a new, fab- gravitas, grace and withering pres- But by my watch, “Downton ulous frock or hairstyle. Dame Maggie Smith is Violet Crawley and is Marie Craw- ence of a battleship. Abbey,” Episode Four of Series If it sounds like a soap opera, that’s ley in “Downton Abbey.” Elizabeth McGovern doesn’t get Three, caused my daughter to cry, because it is a soap opera. But what enough credit for her Cora, a a grand soap opera, the perfect way nonstop, for a full 27 minutes and 12 be spoiling anything. It would be a late and fried up on a stick, the per- flighty woman, more object d’art to spend an hour, so long as you seconds. That’s a record, beating my public service. I’d be doing you a fect combination of high-minded art than fully realized human being. It don’t mind having your heart occa- daughter’s previous record by, oh, favor, because I guarantee that if you and low-minded romance novel. No takes an actress of depth to con- I’d say 27 minutes. start watching the series from the wonder so many people love it. vincingly play a woman who only sionally broken. Episode Four, If you follow the BBC-produced beginning (it’s available on iTunes), Set in the earlier days of 20th-cen- appears shallow. There is steel in Season Three was not the first time series and saw the episode, then you won’t stop watching. And that tury Britain (not just England, mind Cora, and spite. It’s exactly what a it has made my daughter cry, or my you know what I’m talking about. means that you, too, will one day get you, Ireland and Scotland are repre- woman of her background and wife, or my mother. (As for me, I Horrible, right? to Episode Four, Season Three. sented), the show is a costume drama class would be at that time and manfully confess to nothing.) If you don’t watch the show and Why should you or have to go about the lives and loves Lord McGovern is perfect in the role. Suffice it to say that the show’s didn’t see the episode, I’m tempted through something like that? Grantham, his wealthy American- Among the staff, Jim Carson is a producers are lucky you can’t file a to tell you exactly what happened. Brilliantly written, produced and born wife, Cora, Countess of stalwart standout as the abbey’s complaint to the Federal Com- Unless you enjoy being shocked, performed, “Downton Abbey” is Grantham, their three daughters resolute butler, Carson, a man munications Commission for emo- having your guts wrenched out and gourmet junk food; the best ingredi- (don’t ask, I’ll start crying), and the even more desperate to hold onto a tional distress. Or sue. Counting your feelings trampled, I wouldn’t ents in the world dipped in choco- vast number of butlers, maids and past than the lord and lady he just my family, we’d have a class- serves. As for Lord Grantham’s action suit. daughters (Mary, Sybil and Edith The fact that we can’t wait to see … ah, dear Sybil), I still can’t talk the next episode just shows how ter- Restivo inspires with storied workshop about it. It’s too soon. ribly dangerous and addictive televi- The Mother Lode Storytelling Guild presents “Stories Produced by the BBC, “Downton sion can be. Well-lived” from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Angels “Stories Well-lived” Abbey” is reminiscent of several Camp World Mercantile. The public performance is fol- previous “Masterpiece Theatre” Reach Jonathan Shapiro at lowed by a workshop conducted by Cynthia Restivo. offerings, most notably “The Forsyt [email protected]. Nationally recognized storyteller Restivo performs WHEN: 4 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday stories from her life that convey universal messages. performance with workshop after- Her performance skills run deep. She began as a stage ward actor and toured Europe with the International Theatre Company. In the mid 1990s she joined creative forces WHERE: with storyteller BZ Smith as the tandem storytelling Angels Camp World troupe the Story Quilters, which gained considerable Mercantile, 1267 S. Main St. national attention during a 14-year run. (Highway 49), Angels Camp Restivo has performed storytelling programs exten- sively throughout the United States. Most recently she COST: Performance is free; $10 was the master storyteller for Humboldt County’s Storytelling Festival by the Sea. Since 2005 she has donation for workshop worked in San Joaquin County as the storytelling and MORE INFO: Continued on page 28 532-7697

Continued from previous page Grafted males like Fairmont, long time; when they fall on the Autumn Gold or Saratoga are the ground, they look like someone most common varieties available scattered gold under the tree. in nurseries. There are some rare Ginkgo biloba trees have long dwarf varieties like Jade Butterfly, been a subject for bonsai enthusi- Munchkin and others sold through specialty nurseries. asts and these trees do well in pots. There are trees and there are trees, Seedlings are sometimes avail- but nothing is quite like a ginkgo. able, but there is no way that I know of to tell if you have a male The male ginkgo biloba tree flower Reach Don Urbanus at dur- or female tree until it flowers. is an unusual part of the plants. [email protected]. Sierra Lodestar February 13 - 19, 2013 25