There was a lot of anticipation for Skullduggery, not only was this the first band launch of the season, we were also privy to sketches and prototype teasers leading up to the big reveal of all the sections and this was a band endorsed by Peter Minshall himself!
The designs for Skullduggerry are certainly different, save one section they do not fit the bikini and beads formula nor, for me, do they quite fit in with the Minshallesque and Mc Farlane artsy “Marse” costumes. Skullduggery’s costumes are a birthing of Halloween caricature, rock wild child, Dia de los Muertos and fanciful whimsy spiced up with some Trinidad flavor and truth be told I like it.
And while I might like the overall effect of the costumes I do think that there are some issues that need to be addressed, as I saw it, looking on as a potential masquerader. Some of the costuming material looked cheap, Vie que Vie’s green T Shirt dress seems like something I can whip up at home. I am not liking the use of plastic chains which to me screams Halloween prop shop and cheapens the overall look of the costume.
The elaborate bustier, hoop skirts, wings and tutus create impact but one has to wonder how practical they are for the road when it took three people to dress the model! The overwhelming use of black coupled with layers of clothing , including long pants for men, might be a turn off for some worried about the heat; for me I would just adjust the costume to suit the temperature! And finally some of the section translations were a bit too literal Two Face with the smiley face could either be seen as witty or campy and the eyeball festooned Mal Yeux can really creep one out if you suffer with a case of Trypophobia. I also thought Mamaguy looked a bit odd as it was the only costume with feathers and beads.
The stand out costumes for me were: Soucouyant, a temptress with just the right mix of Vamp, sexiness and Goth. I wish the top hat was as big as the prototype, but the detail on the bra and waist band is spot on and I absolutely LOVE that tulle bustle; my number one pick if I were playing in this band. Ironic that the most naked costume is also the crowd favourite, ent ? Jagabat is another one of my favourites, LOVE the wings! Sketelleton was close to the sketch, though I preferred the look of the corset type bustier to the full bustier, this costume had impact, but I am not too sure how you would even attempt to use the restroom with all those pieces to take off and put back on! As far as male characters go I give top marks to Horn and I think ALL Trini men should rush and sign up in that section!
Which brings me to the sections I liked but not necessarily loved first being Horn Chile .Juvenille looking costume channeling the perky, punky inner child, I get it, don't love it. I liked Ratchifee, it looks like a precocious character from a Tim Burton movie and the back pack is a cute idea. Baa John was one costume I did not get quite the interpretation from with a first look but the barbed wire, cowboy hat and T Shirt with an eloquently positioned skulled hand giving the middle finger finally drove home the point to me, interesting but I prefer the male version. I may be in the minority but I do like Greese-han, both male and female. I got a fancy sailor vibe from the male and it is pretty creative to construct an entire costume made from fake paper money! In the same vein I like the concept of Maco with the use of the newspaper (waterproof I hope) not too sure about the execution.
The duds for me were Bacchanal Woman, what happened, I had such high hopes for this costume from the description but it turned out looking like my granny’s church hat coupled with her shower curtain draped around a body! And as much as I wanted to like Blight, I just could not get past the white FUR (loved the leggings on the female and the caution tape makes sense here however). Bamboozle is another costume whose interpretation was lost on me, it looked like a person stuck in a painting ! I did not like Bol’face, the shade of green did not do it for me, neither did the wastepaper basket headpiece, sorry.
Overall I can foresee that some tweaks to the costumes may be needed for practical reasons. Masqueraders also want comfort on the road and some of those costumes are not looking road ready in my opinion. On impact the band will surely bring something different to the streets of Port of Spain. Not every band could or should be looking identical and I disagree with the critics who opine that the band looks like Jouvert. Skullduggery never set out to be bikini and beads or the second coming of Peter Minshall; they stayed true to their vision and format from day one and much respect to them on that one (though they need to take Mamaguy back to the drawing board for it to conform).
Minshall’s last presentation Sacred Heart was a stripped down pair of chaps, jeans and a puffy heart necklace; I think if the critics could love and embrace that presentation they can surely see something redeemable in Skullduggery’s first offering.
3 comments:
Saucy,
This, I must say is a VERY interesting start to the Carnival Season in Trinidad.
From all appearances, I sincerly hope it gets better!!!!
Having gone to the launch myself, not having seen the teasers before, I was a bit SHOCKED, and after the 2nd costume, I was ready to leave, but decided, say what the heck, Rudder and Roots still had to come on stage, so that alone was worth my $100 !
In short, there are 2 sections that make the grade ..... Soucouyant, and the one with the money printed all over it....and even in that section, the female outshines the male.
At the end of the presentation, I thought I was at a band launch for J'overt Band....I could stretch it and say it could have been for a Monday Night mas band.
These comments are not made from the point of view that it is not "bikini, beads and feathers mas", but as one of the commenters from your earlier post said, better things than this MARSE have come out of my ...... !!!! (Remember, I quoted eh people, I EH SAY IT!)
So, all in all, concept - I get it - I think !
I think they need to revisit some of the costumes. as you said, the materials that were used cheapened the costume....cut-up T's and skelletons on everything...come on...OVERKILL !!!!
Well, that's my 2 red cents !!!!
Thanks for the work u put in Sauce!
still think it looks like a cheap costume for halloween or jouvert. I would never venture in playing in this band even if they gave me a costume free or paid me.
Post a Comment