The Fall of the Republicans - The Vomitorium

Vomitorium 2004 was a huge success. Hundreds of people, including many random passerbys, lined up along 2nd avenue in front of the St Marks Church to watch the Roman style bachelor party. The performance took place outside in front of the church – on the steps, and part of the large sidewalked area in front of them. There were Roman republicans partying it up orgy style, while all the time touting the benefits of war, controlling the people, and keeping the peasants poor, ignorant, and in fear. It was a left-wing event if there ever was one.

It wasn’t the politics that got people cheering though. It was the naked people, body painted and acting like statues, the hookers, the fire twirlers, the gluttony, and most of all the loud, puking Romans (rich Republicans). The Roman actors gorged themselves with food (donated by various local restaurants like Kate’s Joint and Sanctuary), and puked, and ate some more, and puked, and downed large amounts of alcohol and puked and puked…all before your very eyes. The larger the puke, the louder the cheer.

I didn’t think I was going to be able to handle it, but went anyway because one of my friends was a puker. It ended up being a lot better than I thought. Actually, it was fun. For a while I had the front-row center position, which proved extremely dangerous when the giant container of puke almost spilled over into the crowd. Standing about a foot away from the the fire-lit hula hooper wasn’t the smartest thing I ever did either.

The point of it all? Mainly to compare current American society with the fall of the Romans, and to mix it up a little before the RNC.

Vomitorium2004 was also the official kick-off of the East Village Howl Festival. I think they said they’ve got over 400 events scheduled for the next week, including The Three Terrors.

Check out their site for more info.

And for more on the history of the Vomitorium, read Kate Moss’ History of Vomitorium Crockery.