To: Lizzie Tudor who wrote (9950 ) 10/18/1998 4:38:00 PM From: Zoltan! Respond to of 67261
Monica and Bill are everybody's Hallowe'en treat By James Langton in New York THE most popular Hallowe'en costume in America this year includes a black beret, dark wig and navy blue dress with a stain that at first glance might be mistaken for spinach dip. "In fact we use spirit gum," said Paul Blomb, who has put together the complete Monica Lewinsky outfit for about $70 (£42) at the Abracadabra costume store in Manhattan. It includes patriotic knee pads in red, white and blue. Monica's companion will be wearing a President Clinton "Pinnochio" mask with a long nose, a cigar and a pair of boxer shorts decorated with red hearts. Mr Blomb said: "People came in asking for the outfits so we put a package together and they've been selling like crazy." Weary of the endless newspaper and television coverage of the White House scandals, Americans are able to extract a little revenge by satirising President Clinton and the cast of the Starr Report with the annual Hallowe'en Bacchanalia next week. While presidential rubber masks are easily obtainable, manufacturers have shied away from a Monica-model largely because, as a private citizen, she is not covered by the American Constitution's provisions on freedom of speech. But the Cesar mask company in New York has converted its "witchy woman" mask and dubbed it The Intern. "We can pretty much make a mask of anyone we want," a company spokesman said, "just as long as we don't mention them by name". Reports across the country told a similar story. The Boston Costume store said its biggest seller this year is a beret. A spokesman said: "We're also seeing strong sales in blue dresses, conservative suits, brown and black wigs and, of course, fake pearls."All of our ghosts, ghouls and skeletons are taking a back seat to Monica and Bill." Other topical personalities include the Special Prosecutor Ken Starr and Linda Tripp, the "friend" of Miss Lewinsky famous for her taped telephone calls and unusual hair. A Linda Tripp lookalike contest in a Washington bar produced a surfeit of blonde wigs with the roots dyed black with magic marker. For the ultimate "Bill and Monica" experience, however, it will be difficult to top the now-notorious Hallowe'en "Hell House," a series of terrifying morality tableaux staged by Christians in Denver. Traditional scenes of drug addicts and Aids victims will be joined this year by a replica of the Oval Office depicting the sins of lies, lust and adultery. Pastor Keenan Roberts said: "There will be a scene where the President is on the phone saying, 'I don't care what you have to do to make me look good, lie if you have to,' while the Spirit of Lying moves about the room. And, yes, at the end, Monica will be there."telegraph.co.uk :80/et?ac=000118613908976&rtmo=Q3SwzwmR&atmo=66au4hCJ&pg=/et/98/10/18/whal18.html