Janet Silvera, Gleaner Writerm
LEFT: Queen of Clubs, Natalia Pershina and King of Clubs, James Ransome were part of a group of four couples depicting a deck of cards. RIGHT: The Spanish invasion Halloween style, (from left) Marina Bonta as the she-devil, Nairobis Pierna, the tigress, Alejandro Loiza, Lucifer himself and Haixora Owen at Groovy Grouper's Halloween party last Saturday night. - PHOTOS BY JANET SILVERA
WESTERN BUREAU:
SPINE-TINGLING, SPOOKY fun and outrageous personas replaced some inhibitions, as the most unassuming of people became party animals at Groovy Grouper's Halloween party last Saturday night.
Costumes depicting ghosts, witches, goblins, Dracula, super heroes, seductresses and even bandits, have been wholeheartedly adapted for the October calendar event now embraced by Montego Bay residents.
And last weekend, they seemed hungrier than ever for a party with a difference. So, on their knees they reportedly knelt in prayer for the skies to clear and clouds to disappear and allow them - if only for a few hours, a respite. The gods answered the supplications because by 7:00 p.m. the rain ceased.
CARESSING DOCTOR'S CAVE
Saturday night the rains had ceased and Groovy Grouper's Rondene Tomlinson, dressed as every man's schoolgirl fantasy, was able to welcome her guests.
Caressing the wooden structure on the world famous Doctor's Cave Beach were the effervescent Ann Chang garbed as Wonder Woman, complemented by her husband Ray 'Big Bamboo Superman' Therrien, who blatantly cheated Brian 'Batman' Jardim out of a bigger cup.
Also in the limelight were two sexy gypsies, Paola Byles, her task was to steal jewellry, while her friend belly dancer, Racquel Dadlani played 'trick or treat' with the waistline. Next to the vivacious two, were Aroon Dadlani reincarnated as Elvis Presley and John Byles as a cross between a blonde and blue-blooded cowboy.
It didn't take much for Ian Dear to present himself as Caesar Augustus; all he needed was a golden crown and a white sheet draped around his body. Dear's partner in crime Triston Garcia Alvarado and wife Laura were his constituents.
Accompanying the electrifying costumes, '70s and '80s music pumped, martinis flowed as if there was no tomorrow and the guests ate up all the words to the hit song, 'Ain't No Stopping Us Now.'
STIMULATING THE EYES
To stimulate the eyes and whet the appetites, the most innovative crew of Natalia Parshina and James Ransome along with their six friends decked as the king, queen and clubs of the card pack, appeared, making a grand entrance while playing 'poker' with the senses.
June Pollack represented a purple avenger, Sheilagh Jardim and Joan Lee two of the sexiest females at the party were simply seductive. Mark Hart was Hugh Hefner and his wife Candace, a cocktail waitress, Juliet Ostermeyer brought Nephatiti to life; Katrin and Patrick Casserly were cute in their after-skiing outfits, Denny Chandiram showed Zorro a thing or two and his wife Veena was a pirate's wench.
FRISK OFFERS
Devon Dobson was Count Dracula, Kathy Dear, a fallen angel, Lyn 'Madam Rogue' Langford served love portions, while her husband Brian the Drug Enforcement Agent (DEA), offered to frisk The Gleaner writer.
Devil's advocates, Marina Bonta and Alejandro Loiza, and a tigress by the name Nairobi Pierna, represented the Spaniards of the second city.
Others at the party which ended somewhere between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. included Yoli and Gobind Mahtani, Hoixara Owen, Cheryl 'hot' Atkinson, Pauline Haughton and Rose Lee, Maurice Whittingham and Serena Lue, Bruce HoSang, April Parchment, Natasha and Theresa Parchment, Kim and Andrew Burke, Ann Chen, Cecile Levee, Clive Lee, Chrissy Marzouca, Michelle Tulloch, Katherine Rajpaul and Karla Keene Shand.
