Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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M“| \T" they said it “Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble ... ” / % THE THREE WITCHES ■ •« » ' SHAKESPEARE'S‘MACBETH' Dressed to kill From the silly to the scream-inducing, eye-catching Halloween costumes require creative thinking, fresh ideas and lots of shopping By CARRIE GIVENS THE GAMECOCK Put on your witch hat, don your angel wings or throw on a Dracula cape. Halloween is fast approaching and whether you decide to be creative or grab last year’s costume, just make sure you have one. Costumes are as essential to Halloween as carved pumpkins, black cats and trick-or treating. And this year there are many new costume ideas to add to the usual stock. If you are a “Simple Life” fan, Paris Hilton or Nicole Ritchie may be an appealing costume choice. “Newlyweds” watchers may coerce their boyfriend/girlfriend to go with them as the pop culture duo of Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. The many summer and fall movies have also provided a plethora of costume options. There’s Catwoman, Spider man and Van Helsing. Don’t forget the wizardry powers of Harry Potter, Gandalf and Frodo’s gang of hobbits. First-year classics student Sarah Orr is still indecisive about her costume. After paying a visit to Hip-wa-zee, she is trying to decide whether to be a hippie because they had “some really nice dashikis that would go nicely with some Jesus shoes and bell bottoms.” Orr added that Hip-wa-zee also had a “couple of dresses that looked like they came out of a ‘40s night club that were pretty neat.” Hip-wa-zee is located in Five Points, and, Orr said, has “all sorts of really, really random things.” Stores like Wal-Mart, Target and Party City have plenty of Halloween costumes, but they do not have “pink go-go boots right next to the zoot suits and the fake dreadlock hats,” Orr said. Second-year biology student Suchita Pancholi said Hip-wa-zee is a place to buy or rent this year’s costume. Other good places to find costumes are thrift stores and in the deep crevices of your closet. If all else fails, don’t discount generic costume standbys. “There’s the ever popular cowgirl, and I know several people who are going as action-adventure stars,” Orr said. Pancholi predicted the Halloween would scare up the regular mix of “vampires and prostitutes.” As any veteran trick-or-treater or Halloween partier knows, Halloween costumes can get a little unusual. And unusual is not always defined as cross dressing guys dressed as medieval “One year one of my friends dyed his hair green, wrapped himself in tin foil, and went as old ham.” SARAH ORR FIRST-YEAR CLASSICS STUDENT princesses from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” or girls dressed as cane wielding pimps. “One year one of my friends dyed his hair green, wrapped himself in tin foil, and went as old ham,” Orr said. Pancholi was creative last Halloween and went out as Ms. Smartie Pants. She just taped a lot of Smarties candies to her pants. Although neither Pancholi nor Orr have finalized their Halloween costumes, but they are looking forward to dressing up in style. Remember that this Sunday is Halloween, and many people will choose to celebrate on Friday and Saturday. That gives you just enough time to find a killer costume. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu 1 KYLE MCANDREW/THE GAMECOCK Choppers at the Wal-Mart in West Columbia look for Halloween costumes. You can find your standard :ostumes here along with decorations and candy. SHOW REVIEW PHOTO COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS Pianist and vocalist Amanda Palmer with Dresden Dolls bandmate and drummer Ben Viglione. This Boston duo is inspired by cabaret. Dresden Dolls rebel against pop punk with rock ‘n ’ roll Dresden Dolls at Headliners, Saturday ★★★★★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆ By ANNA HUNTLEY THE GAMECOCK The Dresden Dolls, a Boston-based duo comprised of pianist/vocalist Amanda Palmer and drummer Brian Viglione, are revolutionaries, striking out against pop punk, generic retro revivalism and “dirrty” pop. The Dolls’ weapon of mass destruction? Their brand of musical originality — their self-described “Brechtian punk cabaret.” Although the Dresden Dolls have stepped from the underground scene into the light of the mainstream, the crowd at Headliners on Saturday evening was sparse—no more than 30 people. That didn’t inhibit the Dolls’ kinetically charged performance. With white face paint and theatrical black make-up, Palmer and Viglione crafted a reproduction of the cabaret scene in pre Hider Germany. Onstage, their chemistry was nearly tangible, the performers drawing upon each other’s energy. As for the energy itself, it was at hurricane force. Palmer’s voice ranged from kittenish to throaty, from a whisper tot a veritable shriek, keeping with the shifting moods of the lyrics and the melodies she would sometimes bang out, sometimes coax out of her piano. Viglione didn’t just play the drums — he finessed the drums until drummer and drum set became a single entity. What Viglione and his drums created was more than the backup to Palmer’s vocals and piano chords. Rather, it was a co conspirator, an accomplice. The music was German Weimar-era cabaret with punk in its hyperactive insolence, sliced with irony reminiscent of German author Bertolt Brecht’s satirical operas. The standout songs that evening began with the opening “Good Day,” which crept slowly, sweetly into a near hysterical crescendo. “Coin-Operated Boy” was the Broadway play “Cabaret” staged under a big top with hints of vaudeville — an amusing romp that retained its sense of sarcasm. “Gravity” was darker, deeper, with Palmer’s vocals taking on the resonance of a young Marlene Dietrich. Also notable were “Half-Jack” with its vocal hook, the MTV-ready dissonance of “Girl Anachronism” and a strong cover of Faith No More’s “War Pigs.” Hide your Strokes album, those Britney MP3s, that new Good Charlotte CD. The Dresden Dolls are leading a rock ‘n’ roll revolt and they want you. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatnres@giiym.sc. edu Fright Factory scares up support for Harvest Hope ByJENNI DILLARD THE GAMECOCK This year among the regulars is a new haunted house that will help fight hunger in addition to scaring its visitors. The Fright Factory is a professional haunted house set up by several area builders. All proceeds will go to helping the Harvest Hope Food Bank, a non profit organization that distributes food to those in need. The idea for the haunted house has been something costume wonder John Woodard and his friend, haunted house veteran Charles Tidwell, have been toying with for a while. “For years I have built very elaborate costumes to compete at Halloween costume competitions at various clubs around town,” said Woodard, a USC graduate. “Charles has worked on several haunts around town but had never built one from the ground up. This has been one of his goals in life since he was in high school and he’s very excited about it.” The Fright Factory is the result of that collaboration, a haunted house sure to leave its patrons with nightmares for a good cause. “We built a lot of our props and costumes so you’ll find things here that you won’t see anywhere else,” Woodard said. “Visitors can expect a mix of live action, animatronics and mechanical effects. The house is a walk through, the first one in Columbia in some time.” Harvest Hope is dedicated to collecting food and educating people about hunger in the community. The organization serves 18 counties in central South Carolina and distributed more than 20 million pounds of food in 2003. “They are having a hard time right now keeping up with the needs of the community,” Woodard said. “Harvest Hope has been wonderful to work with and we’ve been very happy to be associated with them.” Besides Woodard and Tidwell, many others have contributed to the success of the haunted house. “My friend Michael Sindler painted the mural in the front room,” Woodard said. “Another friend of mine, Wendy Brinker, and her business partner Jonathan did our advertising campaign. My friend Bill Deal, the only major costumer in Columbia that I’ve never beaten in competition helped out with several projects in the house. My friend Neil Scott of the band lower case b has helped out with sound. My fiancee, Dawn McKechnie, a World Con master class costumer, has also lent her talents to this project.” So far the feedback from the community has been successful. “We opened Friday night and response has been very good, everyone who went through had a good time,” said Woodard. “I’m proud of our house and I think it works well.” Woodard is optimistic about the Fright Factory’s future. “We hope if we do well enough to continue next year,” he said. The Fright Factory is located at 2616 Alpine Road and is open today through Sunday from 7 p.m. until midnight. Admission is $10. Because of the fright factor, it is recommended for ages 12 and up. The cost is $8 tonight and Thursday for anyone who brings a food donation, and a costume contest will be held Sunday at 5 p.m. More information can be fourid at www.thefrightfaaoty.net. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc. edu DVD REVIEW Rolling Stones join the ‘Circus' “Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus” ★★★★★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆ By SHANA TILL THE GAMECOCK The time capsule has been exhumed. The Rolling Stones’ “Rock and Roll Circus” was released for the first time on DVD Oct. 12. The concert has been available on VHS and CD since 1995, but the public has had to wait what seemed an eternity to see footage from the December 1968 performances. As part of Mick Jagger’s concept, the Circus was supposed to air on BBC as a television special. Some speculate the Stones felt outdone by The Who, but whatever the reason, the program never aired. Now, the Circus is digitally remastered from its original 16mm format and remixed in 5.1 surround sound. Perfectly encapsulating an era when “it seemed that rock ‘n’ roll would inherit the earth,” the Circus includes acts of legendary magnitude. Amid acrobats, fire-eaters and flying-trapeze acts, Jagger plays ringmaster for an audience of swinging London hipsters. The energetic vibes are contagious even through a camera lens, and the inevitable end of the spirit of the 1960s is blissfully and painfully apparent. In the center ring, the Stones flaunt the hits of that particular time, including “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” Most of the songs come from the album released at the end of the ‘60s, “Beggar’s Banquet.” Jagger seduces the Circus-goers with his trademark spastic front-man antics during songs “Parachute Woman” and especially “Sympathy for the Devil.” At the climax, Jagger pulls off his shirt to reveal a devil painted on his chest as he writhes across the stage. The Stones also perform the classic “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” from “Let it Bleed!” At another point, Richards and Keith opt to tone things down a notch for an acoustic version of “No Expectations.” The Stones give the Circus a proper finale with “Salt of the Earth” and end in a sing-along and dance party with the audience. The program’s opening acts are equally mesmerizing. . As perfect :ompliments to the Circus, these include: Jethro Tull, The Who, Marianne Faithfull, Taj Mahal and focal contributions by Yoko Ono. Legend has it that Tull was chosen over in appearance by Led Zeppelin. Another circulating rumor is that fohnny Cash was asked to be a guest 3Ut was unable to attend. One of the most mind-blowing Matured acts is the rock monster of :ollaboration, referred to as The Dirty Mac. Comprised of Eric Clapton, Mitch Mitchell, Keith Richards and John Lennon, the group 3erformed their rendition of the Beatle’s “Yer Blues” from the White Mbum. To add incentive for those who ilready have the Circus on VHS or CD, the DVD includes extra bonus Matures. One of these is a present-day nterview with Pete Townshend. There are also three previously inreleased songs from Taj Mahal and in interview with a, 13-year-old anatical Circus-goer. Aside from the DVD’s additional eatures, or “sideshows,” the program Previously released on CD and DVD, the Rolling Stones’ “Rock and Roll Circus” is now available on DVD. The DVD includes concert footage and new special features like an interview with legendary rocker Pete Townshend. allows a rare glimpse at Brian Jones in his last months. The Circus footage reveals Jones in one of his last recorded performances before his death less than a year later. The release of “Rock and Roll Circus” on DVD welcomes a new audience. The DVD showcases the genre’s classic trademarks, such as Townshend’s windmill, Keith Moon’s drum bashing, the swagger of Jagger and Richards and the overall mindset that good ole rock ‘n’ roll could save your soul. Comments on this story ? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc. edu