Costume challenge

OK, so there is something to be said about the creative mind--the one that is compelled to make things, take on the challenge of representation of what previously existed only as text or thought. This desire that propels one to stay up until 2AM finishing things that are only to be seen briefly-perhaps even overlooked--while on stage.

New to costuming, I have to say "thanks" to Mark and Mel for keeping me busy. I thought it would be "fun" to costume. I thought I might even get to see nice-looking, naked men(Gay or straight, no matter), maybe even cop a feel on occasion(sorry--it's true). While this may be so, fun and feel-ups abound, I have to say the N-Man Fetlocks have nearly done me in: FFFFu'kin' fetlocks. Never a subject of a Bowie song--surprisingly enough--"design fetlocks" should be next-year's Project Runway ultimate challenge: the one that sends designers screaming from the Runway and ready to hold Tim Gunn hostage backstage.

Not the cloven-hoof part--the solution for those came to me while resting and the image of my son Wilem getting an arm cast, after a deranged woman in a blue truck ran him over 3 years ago, occurred to me: "plasterwire and mesh--that is what I will do!" Not even the color, since I found the best faux fur as soon as I went shopping--there it was and it would work under black-light. A Satyr-sign of sorts, a goat-footed good omen, perhaps? Damn my optimism and sense of invicibility!

What has hit me hard and fast is the difficult reality of designing what is essentially footed-fur pants, to be stripped off in 30 secs or less, and easily climbed into while looking less-than comical--read: spooky or disturbing. We are talking FUR pants here--I mean fetish-world niche aside--what is the demand for these? There is no frame of reference except for a few horse-happy freaks who have posted "me as a fawn" Satyr-type You Tube clips. They don't really feature the design drawbacks, and definitely not any reference to the SMELL after a brief wearing--now I know that "ass" is indeed a scent-adjective and , yes, "it" IS the smell that precedes, announces the presence of, and it is not a welcoming wafting fragrance.

So, I have to hand it to James since he handed it to me, OK. We became "well-acquianted" so to speak while I was literally in his pants. He WILL suffer for his art, but I can attest that he does indeed posses the balls needed to pull fur-pants off, and on, and off and on, and even look quite creepy for the few seconds he appears in fetlocks on stage. I plan on catching the final shows--by then the animal smell will be most authentic and hopefuly the full-effect(faux fur and scent) will be frightening. Maybe this production of "The Witchhouse" will be the beginning of a "pandemic" rush for fetlock inspired fetish-wear? We'll see . . .