MARTIN #2
The Trials and Tribulations
of Baba Yaga
image by Monkhooroi Solongo
by Martin J. Manco Each Halloween, I try and come up with a costume that is so incredible even people who don't know whom or what I'm supposed to be are impressed if only by the look and work. The problem with such high standards is that you often have to come up with something wildly different each time. I was walking through a costume shop, looking for inspiration, when I saw some decorations around the house, like odd fences and tattered curtains. My mind flashed to the fence and hut of Baba Yaga, the witch who is practically everywhere in Russian fairytales, and her chicken-footed hut. I realized I had to do this, like a holy mission. While I'd say the project over all was a success, I had a number of fails along the way to making my Baba Yaga costume. First, I - 52 -
decided to construct her hut (to be worn in a modified sandwich board manner) out of science fair project posterboard, but I despite my measurements, when I started cutting and assembling the hut, it immediately started to go wrong. I ended up with slanted walls, and the back wall attached more awkwardly to the ceiling than the front wall. "Ok," I thought, "... It is supposed to look ramshackle, so this is fine." Then I started running out of the red trim for the roof and sides, and it was the last they'd had in stock and it was the day before the costume party. So I chose not to use it on the back of the hut. Then, while I found some amazing bird feet shoe covers for the chicken feet, I couldn't find bird or reptile style pants anywhere closer than the U.K., so I ended up wearing slacks.
