#headless lady

[reilukah]

--- large sketchpage for redsorrows @ FA 

I simply cannot express how much fun doing this skektchpage was lmfao. 

FA // twitter // prices

[figliodicaterina]

[babblingbrooksnbooks]

In October 2022 I did a drawing challenge but I never posted it on here 😅

Anyway, here is Day 1: Pumpkin

[artdumpter]

Trying a new art app

Think it came out pretty well

[artdumpter]

Headless lady is back!!!

[loppestredoodles]

A headless woman with a sword

2/18/19

[dimespin]

Is there any mellifarian folklore related to headless lady moths?

For those just tuning in, this is a headless lady moth, a species of moth that mimics the appearance of melliferian bees, but because melliferians have big brainy heads and moths do not, they conspicuously lack the head part of their disguise. Because of this, the bees call them headless ladies.

Folklore varies from hive to hive. Many hives tell stories about a worker bee daughter of the folkloric hero First Bee, who transgressed some sacred bit of bee morality by killing her sister or laying eggs, and was punished for this by being beheaded and cursed to fly forever without being able to find her way home.

Others tell stories of some other bee, a random worker from the past, beheaded in battle and so spiteful she went on fighting. And they say she’s still out there, thinking the war is still going (where’s a flashlight to put under your chin when you need one). Hives that have actually fought with other hives often spice this story up with authentic stories of bees continuing to fly or walk without their heads (melliferians have a huge neural ganglion in their thorax, it’s almost a second brain, so this sort of thing is possible, if only briefly)

Finally, some tell stories about the moths themselves - stories about how Moth (as a folklore character) was jealous of their colors, or cleverly wore their colors as a disguise when one day First Bee’s hive was so badly in need of protein for their children that they went hunting, only for this moth to slip away because of that split second confusion.

Or even that young foragers get called away by these moths and become lost forever, like children following fairies.

All very appropriate for halloween!

[thewidowstanton]

Interview: Alexandra Boanas, aka Yvette, The Headless Lady

Liz Arratoon meets soprano Alexandra Boanas, who has a music degree and an MA in performance from the University of Hull. Though she sings regularly at private and corporate events all over the UK, she has also been magically transformed into a 1950s sideshow queen for Jon Marshall’s Sideshow Illusions. She often plays Yvette, the Headless Lady, and now turns herself inside out to become Miss Elastina and No-Middle Myrtle in Sideshow Illusions' Dr Phantasma's Ten in One Show. Alexandra is the partner of the multi-talented ‘Dangerous’ Steve Collison – Jon’s business partner, who also appears in the sideshows – and mother to their daughter, Flossie.

The Widow Stanton: The story of the rediscovery and renovation of Jon Gresham’s original sideshow Illusions by Jon Marshall and his team has been well-documented but how did a soprano get the chance to join in? Alexandra Boanas: It was through Jon and Steve. I’ve always had an interest in all aspects of theatre and musical performance. After I met Steve I started touring around with him and seeing each sideshow take place, and moaning on to him, ‘Please let me be in it, please let me be in it’, until finally he said: “OK,then.” I was given a go as Yvette, The Headless Lady, and I’ve done it ever since.

TWS: Will you explain the set-up of these classic sideshows? AB: Normally there is the patter that goes on outside to lure the audience in and it’s normally Jon and Steve who explain what is going to happen and what amazing feats people are going to see inside… The fronts are painted with beautiful old illustrations of the illusions. From the outside talker, it’s built up to be this bizarre sight… that they won’t be able to believe their eyes and it’s something that they can’t miss out on. Then everyone comes in to a darkened room and the shows are introduced.

TWS: How is the Ten in One different? AB: It’s on a stage in a darkened room. It’s amazing. There’s a bally platform at the front with all the banners about what acts are inside. So there’s a sword-swallower, No-Middle Myrtle and Miss Elastina. Each act is introduced and we all walk on to the bally platform. There’s some fire juggling and a taster of what people are going to see inside. Then we all go off and the audience come in to the most amazing music. Steve and I open the show, then each act is presented. There are ten different stages inside a sort of a marquee area and the audience is directed where to go. It’s a promenade show so the audience don’t stay in one place. It’s really exciting. There’s quite a lot of surprise in it as well so they don’t know what coming next. One minute there’s Steve in the centre balanced on his unsupported ladder, then there’s a sword swallower, then I’m there next to the blade box. It’s quite up-tempo. TWS: I know with The Headless Lady you have to sit still for a very long time… AB: It’s horrendous, honestly! There were a couple of shows we’ve done that did test whether I wanted to continue. I’m quite arachnophobic and I was sitting in a show once, the show was on and I know I can’t move. I felt a tickle across my neck and I just thought, ‘I can’t cope, what am I going to do?’. I couldn’t shout for Steve cos the audience was still there. I was wriggling around trying to work out what was happening and out of the corner of my mouth sort of shouting to Steve to help me. But there was no choice. I had to just sit there. Sometimes there’s a downside to working with Steve, because once I’m in position I have to rely on him for food and drink, as well. He has been known to leave me sitting in the chair and I’ve been going, ‘Steve, Steve, Steve!’ TWS: So you need some stamina. It sounds really good fun though… AB: It is good fun but there are different circumstances. We did a show one Hallowe’en and it was the coldest I think I’ve ever been. After every show Tim Cockerill and Steve would come and give me… we had hot water bottles and kettles and sleeping bags and I had to get all wrapped up before the next show started. Talk about showbusiness, it’s not the most glamorous from time to time. We’re often in muddy showgrounds… with the shows running all day. Once the Portaloos were on the other side of the fairground… Sometimes I find myself in these showgrounds and I think, ‘Oh my goodness…’. It’s a good job I enjoy doing it. TWS: You never get the chance to burst into song with these women, then? AB: No, but the music in the Ten in One and the way Steve and I open the show it’s as good as having a good sing. We get the audience clapping and it’s a really rousing piece at the beginning. It’s good fun. But I’m still singing at other gigs. Obviously I can’t travel as much as I did because Flossie’s only three months old but I’m still doing corporate entertainment and that sort of thing… weddings… I’m also head of music at a primary school. I’m passionate about the children singing and I get the staff involved. We’re building up a good reputation locally for the singing and the school.

TWS: I’m wondering about Flossie, this showbusiness baby. Is there not an Electric Baby sideshow…? Do you have any plans to have you, Steve and Flossie in a nice little sideshow? AB: Yes, we do. I know you’ve got to let the child grow up and develop her own interests and so on, but I think it would be hard to avoid showbusiness in our family. She’s going to come to the Ten in One. I’m not sure how she’s going to cope with all the wigs and the make-up but I expect she’ll be fine. It would be brilliant to have a family show. We’ve had discussions about incorporating her… Steve’s going to start a motorbike act. She might become a bit of a daredevil. [Steve Collison was a very successful child motorbike stunt rider.] TWS: So, it’s all done by magic… now come on Alex, it’s just you and me, how’s it done? AB: [Laughs] I obviously can’t say. However, I will say that the shows I haven’t been in, I still don’t know how they work, and I don’t want to know. That spoils it for me. I love the magical side of everything Jon and Steve do but unless I’m involved in it I don’t ask and I don’t want to know. Sideshow Illusions’ Dr Phantasma’s Ten in One Sideshow takes place at the 4th Tattoo Tea Party, EventCity, Manchester on 28 February – 1 March 2014

www.sideshowillusions.com magiccarpettheatre.com www.tattooteaparty.com

Twitter: Alexandra @alexandraboanas; Steve @dangeroussteve1

Follow The Widow Stanton on Twitter @thewidowstanton