12B the university daily kansan
sex on the hill
monday. september 15,2003
The fetish fun began as the troupe tied down the struggling groom and poured hot wax over his body.
Troupe says 'I do' to fetishes, S & M
Story and photos by Eric Braem
ebraem@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
A wedding day begins so innocently. "I do's" are said, lips are locked, but then, there's nookie to get. For a scene that usually takes place on virginal white sheets in a honeymoon suite, a woman in gothic clothes and stark white makeup doesn't usually fit in.
Add in whips and wax, and it's anything but typical.
But Lawrence's own fetish troupe, Contra Naturam, regularly transforms such scenes into the ultimate blood-red wedding ceremony.
On Saturday, its most recent
"Yes, scary, nightmare, vampire faces," said trump leader Jericho van de Velde, giving direction to the performance in a rehearsal hours before the show.
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.
She got in on the action herself, laying down at her husband's feet submitting herself to beatings and being eaten by the other
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.
But don't worry, audience members weren't angry, nor were they left out.
"If you go home and want to try some of these things, well then, we've succeeded."
Jericho van de Velde
Contra Naturam troupe leader
Attendees' attire varied from tight leather to street clothes, and the troupe members invited the crowd to test out their toys after the show.
gothic women. The groom, played by "Armitage," hopelessly struggled to free his arms as he watched in horror.
After the cast took its bow, Jericho stressed safety to anyone interested in pursuing the bedroom techniques on stage.
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 fake blood on the audience in the first row.
"If you go home and want to try some of these things," he said, "Well then, we've succeeded."
Contact Contra Naturam at www.contranutram.com, which is scheduled to be up Friday, or contranaturam@hotmail.com.
Edited by Katie Nelson
Top: "lon," the fetish show's bride, got in on the action while her lover was helplessly tied up. Above: Contra Naturum's fetish show started out with a semi-nineteen wedding and honeymoon scene with performers 'lon' and "Armitage."
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