The freaks band together on Halloween to put on a show
It sounds like a plot for an episode of the Little Rascals. You know, the kids need a new clubhouse or something, so they put on a show. Now picture that show filled with suggestive nudity, profane humor, musical numbers and baked goods. You get Late Nite Curiosities.
I’ve been trying to get out more to see the happenings in Jersey City. Specifically those staged by Arthouse Productions. They’ve been doing these various events for years, but I’ve only recently infiltrated their circle. And very glad I did at that.
Tonight was a special Halloween version of their Late Nite Curiosities. I made my way to the top of the old St. Francis Building, on the south-east corner of Hamilton Park in Jersey City. A fine space that feels eerily tonight like an abandoned hospital. On second thought, that’s appropriate.
Greeted by empty, quiet hallways and a slow elevator that opened on to another empty, quiet hallway and into a large room sparsely adorned with hanging ghosts, bats, giant heads and blood spatter. I walked thru a large wall of curtains and into the main room where there were the many baked goods, beverages and anxious spectators hoping to win the costume contest.
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A menagerie of performers took over the stage set like something out of a red-light district hay ride. The evening was hosted by Arthouse Madame Christine Goodman with a penchant for spanking guests and a robot alien in a tutu called Cybernetica (aka Jack Halpin) with a desire to be a standup comedian.
The music was provided by DJ Purple Stuff who had the added and unique brilliance of an honest to god theremin. I mean seriously, who other than Jimmy Page ever plays this thing? A wooden box filled with electronics, out of which a couple of antennas sense hand positions to control pitch and volume. It’s not your average instrument, to say the least.
The performers tonight ranged widely and wildly.
Label Reader: Dramatic readings of product labels with hilarious results.
The Velvet Kitten: Classic burlesque a la Bettie Page and a stolen kiss for me … ok not really stolen considering she was my girlfriend.
The High Roller: Trippy, beat narrative of a transdimensional airline (with flute).
Some Woman: Honest memories of teen love … or was that lust?
Sarah & Baby Trig: Sarah Palin tries to shoot an apple off of her baby’s head, misses and cries, “I can’t be vice president, I’ll just shoot the country in the head!”
Rubber Ducky: A reworking of the Sesame Street classic, but this time sung from the ducky’s point of view, pining for Ernie’s attention.
Vulva Van Der Tramp: Sexy, stripping mummy who gets whisked away by death.
Rusty Trombone: An erotic, gender-bending go-go dancer.
Miss Pam Prin & Lady Di-Amel: Bickering drag strippers reminiscing the good old days back at the drag club in a Broadway style number.
See Also:
Photo Gallery
Arthouse Productions
