Malice in Wonderland | Suite101.com

Posted by
Amanda Woods
Aug 31, 2009

Every year, my neighbours throw a Halloween party that raises the bar in every way. The costumes are incredible, the atmosphere is electric, the music is perfect, and I usually spend the night in awe of the elaborate and hilarious creations that surround me.

For the past four or so years, I've been planning to go to the Halloween party as Malice in Wonderland. I've had visions of my twisted version of Alice, carrying a bloody sack with the white rabbit's ears poking through. What can I say, she just snapped.

Every year I've run out of time to do the outfit justice and so have gone with something else. Now that Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland is on the way (and oh, I can't WAIT to see that one!) the pressure is on to get my Malice out there before Alice overload next year.

So I find myself trawling ebay for the pieces I'll need to pull the costume together, and can't wait to see what my neighbours have up their sleeves. It's lucky it is such a fantastic party, because otherwise the sting of not being able to be in New Orleans this Halloween would be all the worse.

I love New Orleans. It has an incredible energy, and where better to spend Halloween than in a city that's full of ghosts, where everyone knows how to party.

I've always enjoyed looking around graveyards, though in more of a daylight, "isn't that an interesting epitaph" way than in a Buffy stalking the graveyards by night way. It was in New Orleans that I went on my first official cemetery tour, and it was a fascinating glimpse into the entire area's history, and unlike any graveyard I'd been in before, or have visited since.

When I was putting together my story about Halloween in New Orleans I discovered that not only was I going to miss out on the cemetery tours this Halloween, and the incredible parties throughout the city (including the gay and lesbian Halloween New Orleans party that you can see in the photos below), but that I would also miss out on the chance to see Kiss AND Jane's Addiction in the one place.

Here's hoping the stars will align and I'll have that opportunity another time, but for now, I'll just have to be jealous of all of those people who managed to get tickets to Voodoo Fest in New Orleans over the Halloween Weekend.

Meanwhile, over in Mobile, Alabama, one of the best value festivals I've ever heard of is about to get underway. When I first discovered that BayFest gives punters more than 125 acts performing over nine stages over three days and nights for just $35, I found it hard to believe. Even harder to believe when you consider those acts have included legends such as BB King and the Beach Boys, and that this year the Steve Miller Band will be rocking downtown Mobile.

For those who prefer to spend their time enjoying the works of great playwrights rather than great rock and rollers, Columbus, Mississippi has the Tennessee Williams Tribute Weekend.

This year the incredible Olympia Dukakis will be part of the Tennessee Williams tribute. The Academy Award winning actress has said that the first time she played Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire was a pivotal moment in her life.

I'm actually counting the days until I see another great in Streetcar. In exactly one month from today I'll be seeing Cate Blanchett play Blanche DuBois, and oh... I love that woman on stage, (and on film for that matter).

But back to Olympia Dukakis... I think the time has come for me to dust off my copy of Steel Magnolias and grab a packet of tissues. That film would have to be one of my all time top ten, and the entire cast gets me every time. Including the incredible Dolly Parton. If you're a Dolly fan and have ever considered visiting South Eastern United States, make sure you travel to the Smoky Mountains and take in Dolly Parton's very own theme park, Dollywood. And yes, it is as good as you imagine.

So for now, I sign off, and send a ghoulishly good time to all of those people around the world who are looking forward to dressing up and getting into the party spirit this Halloween. With a special You Go Ghoul! to all of those who get to do it New Orleans style.