He's 3m-tall and clad in black from horns to hooves. He accessorizes with chains and studs, carries a cat o' nine tails and swings a meter-long strap-on that shoots sparks. He's Gimp Boy the Nightclub Spanker, and he wins any costume contest hands-down.
He's also just one incarnation of James Orange, a 31-year-old New Zealand native who has lived in Bali, Indonesia for the better part of a decade. Among Orange's dozen alter egos are a giant mosquito, an alien monster, a devil and even a giant "hologram."
But partygoers in Taipei know him best as the dominator from another dimension that waded into the crowd during Kenting's spring weekend this year and again at Tiesto's set in April. He's also whipped partygoers into shape at Luxy on a couple of occasions and will return to Luxy for Halloween this Saturday to scare the bejesus out of us all.
"I've always been a performer," Orange said in a telephone interview from Bali, Indonesia. "Once it's in your heart, you can't do anything else."
A tailor by trade, Orange said that in the month after the nightclub bombing in Bali on Oct. 12, 2002, he began his life on stilts.
"I was looking around and everyone was depressed," he said of the time. "I had some friends who were stilt-walkers and I thought, `OK, I've got to do it!'"
In the tailor shop where he runs his business specializing in clothing and bags, Orange went to work stitching together his first silver-spangled alien monster outfit.
"I threw on the stilts and walked outside and there was an instant traffic jam," he said. "I saw everyone smiling, yelling, whooping, cheering and it totally changed the whole atmosphere. ... It was what we desperately needed around here. ... People need to smile."
It also makes Orange smile a lot, too.
"It gives me an opportunity to be absolutely insane! I'm a Gemini and basically have many alter egos. One in particular humps anything that moves."
He's not alone in the insanity. Orange works with a crew of some 20 people -- some of them tailors with his clothing business -- that design, craft, cut and stitch the costumes and even perform with him in shows that have traveled around Asia.
"We've got everything from sexy security girls, butterfly girls and army girls. But our main thing, our kicker, is our huge fire shows," Orange said. "We put on the most incredible fire shows you'll ever see."
They've taken their shows throughout Indonesia, to Malaysia's Formula One races, Singapore's annual Zouk Out festival, Japan, Australia, and, of course, Taiwan.
"The people in Taiwan are insane!" Orange said. " I've never had more fun than at Kenting this year -- good people. Gimp Boy was kept busy down there; they're well into spanking. He was impressed!"
Look for Orange at Luxy on Saturday. He'll be the tall, dark gentleman with a meter-long endowment. And don't think you'll be safe by staying home Saturday. "Gimp Boy the Nightclub Spanker is going to be sitting around in Taipei," Orange said. "So beware on the streets during the day!"
TRICKY TREATS
★ Luxy -- A hip-hop "spooktacular" in the Galleria with guest DJ Enferno. Dr Evil and Mini Me (read: Daryl & Reason) along with SL, Saucey and others in the Lotus Room. Very special appearance by Orange Boy (see main). Sip the mysterious "evil drink" that's been concocted for the night and try to win NT$12,000 costume prize. Runners-up can win phones, Gameboys, etc. "Everybody wins!"
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