University Daily Kansan - Monday, September 15, 2003

Troupe says 'I do' to fetishes, S & M

 

A wedding day begins so innocently. “I do’s” are said, lips are locked, then three vampire-esque women in gothic clothes and stark white make-up drag the bride out of the honeymoon suite and tie down the groom. The women proceed to pour candle wax on the new husband while he struggles, though he secretly enjoys it.

It’s a typical wedding-day scene, at least for Lawrence’s own fetish troupe, Contra Naturam, whose members have no problem turning a pure-white event into the ultimate blood-red, sexual shindig.

On Saturday, the troupe's most recent Bottleneck performance began with an innocent marriage ceremony, but progressed into one of Lawrence’s darkest events of the year, complete with vampirism, bondage and gothic dance music.

“Yes, scary, nightmare, vampire faces,” said troupe leader Jericho van de Velde, giving direction to the performance in a rehearsal hours before the show.

The fetishists, who wished to be referred to by stage names only, morphed the bride, played by troupe member “Ion,” into one of their own as she watched her husband get tied to a cross and be abused.

She got in on the action herself, laying down at her husband’s feet submitting herself to beatings and being eaten by the other gothic women. The groom, played by “Armitage,” hopelessly struggled to free his arms as he watched in horror.

The happy violence came full circle as the favorite wife-turned-vampire helped prey on fresh meat, “Tuesday.” The women beat the new girl, spraying “blood” on the audience in the first row.

But this wasn’t the type of audience to shriek in horror, nor were they going to be left out.

Attendees’ attire varied from tight leather to street clothes, and the troupe members invited the crowd to test out their toys after the show.

After the cast took its bow, van de Velde stressed safety to anyone interested in pursuing the bedroom techniques on stage.

“If you go home and want to try some of these things,” he said, “Well then, we’ve succeeded.”