Nov 05, 4:03 pm
Another lacklustre Halloween in Britain has come and gone. Religion and ritual aside, I find it a shame that this festivity has never really taken off over here. I remember my brother and I dressing up when we were kids, dancing around our local estate with our buckets, knocking on doors and always feeling stumped whenever anyone said ‘trick’ - we could never think of any. Of course, these days a trick will likely cost you a brick through a window or a nifty stab wound to the chest if the papers are anything to go by. I don’t know enough to comment on that. All I know is that nobody swung by my abode on October 31st, and I find that a shame. Halloween gave me a lot of joy as a child, and I doubt future generations will be given that opportunity.
Still, if Halloween is passé, we can still celebrate the less celebrated Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. As celebrated in Tim Schafer’s wonderful Grim Fandango. It’s a traditional Mexican holiday, a time of remembering and rejoicing, celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of November. Of course, to a uncivilised westerner like me, this just means an excuse to induldge in two of my favourite fancies - going to the pub and hearing live music. This is Dia de los Muertos, Kilburn-style, dancing, drinking, music and burlesque!
“Rainbows and daffodils and kittens...”
Burlesque is a peculiar blend of satire, performance art, and mild striptease (emphasis is on the tease rather than the strip.) It’s been around since the 1840’s, almost eradicated in the 1930s, and has had something of a chic revival in the 21st century. People from all walks of life come to see these performances (of both women and men), anything from classic striptease to modern dance to theatrical mini-dramas to comedic mayhem. In this case, the burlesque was mixed with live bands playing spookey music. True, it wasn’t your typical trick or treat festivities, and it wasn’t even held on Halloween night, but it was nice to let my hair down and get with the fake cobwebs and plastic glowing pumpkins. I even got a packet of chocolate skeletons from a bucket! You can’t say fairer than that.
A couple of pictures from the night. Burlesque performer Leila Domini on the left. Myself and singer friend Danni McCormack on the right
Gypse Rose Lee, a famous burlesque entertainer (1911 - 1970)
