2009 LABYRINTH OF JARETH BALL in Los Angeles report

Since its release in 1986, Labyrinth, the Jim Henson fantasy movie starring David Bowie and a young Jennifer Connelly, has developed a particularly passionate cult following. Every summer since 1997, the Labyrinth of Jareth Ball in Los Angeles has brought together hundreds of fans for two nights of surreal, sexy merriment inspired by the film.

Attendees devise their own elaborate costumes, and everywhere you look there are wonders to see. This year we were lucky enough to attend, and our full report is presented below.

The fairyfolk were out in force. This was just one of the lovely creatures fluttering through the night air on wings of wire, nylon and glitter.

This young lady was quite striking, with a dress made of red feathers and those startling anime eye contact lenses.

There were quite a few big green goblins running around, playfully bopping guests on the head with blunt instruments. It was sort of cute. Sort of. The IRS apparently stands for Infant Retrieval Service. They have their own website, even. I don't pretend to understand what it was all about, but if you want an infant retrieved, I guess these are the goblins to call.

Another IRS goblin. Something to bear in mind: it was a hot, July night. The girls in their little fairy outfits were sweating. Under pounds of makeup and thick layers of clothes and junk, the goblins had to be dying from dehydration... No wonder this poor goblin looks too tired to retrieve any infants!

There was a squad of steampunks on the scene. This gentleman's gun could shoot smoke rings. At least that was one way to keep the IRS goblins at bay.

This steampunk carried a large, heavy-looking clock on his back. All night.

Here be dragons. And their girlfriends.

Spawn was there. Turns out that huge cape makes it really complicated to get up and down the stairs.

There were several stilt-walkers out on the dance floor. People 12 feet in the air, wearing long robes so they couldn't see their feet. Dancing, on a darkened dance floor crowded with drunken revelers wearing pointy viking helmets, swords, and other things you really wouldn't want to fall on top of. There were no fatalities while we there, but it's safe to assume there were at least a few stilt-related concussions in the course of the evening.

One of the bunny go-go dancers who performed onstage with the band Gram Rabbit. The band was good, with a fun, '80s sound. And go-go bunny girls are never a bad idea.

A troupe of dancers performed, including a few who were lowered down from the wings to do elaborate aerial acts.

This photo doesn't really do this rockman suit justice. In person it was like seeing Stonehenge lumbering across the dance floor at you.

The inevitable furries were also in attendance. This appears to be some sort of shaman wolf thing.
Yikes, the Red Death has shown up! That's our cue to beat it out of here...

Got a tip for Monsters and Rockets? Want to contribute to the site? Send us an email.

Technocrati tags: [Labyrinth of Jareth]