Let Them Eat Pork

Pork Filled Players instill a sense of liberté, egalité and mocha latté for all

BY DAWN-THANH NGUYEN
Examiner Contributor

What does the Pork Filled Players and the French people have in common, besides the love of pigs? Oink. Oink. The newest late night show, Let Them Eat Pork: Liberté, Egalité, Mocha Latté pays tribute to Bastille Day with outstanding storytelling by none other than our adored president, George W. Bush.

Instead of relying on fuzzy memory to explain the history of Bastille Day from the perspective of our "French fry friends, President Bush reads to the audience from a book with the cover "My First Word." The impersonation is hilarious and sets the mood for the rest of the performance.

For those not in the know, Bastille Day is the day the French people gained freedom as the Americans stormed Normandy on July 14, 1789. Wait! Isn't this interpretation a bit off and somewhat biased here? When in doubt, just wave an American flag.

The Pork Filled Players' hour show is packed with original, funny mini-story-lines ranging from hate crimes towards the oppressed rich minorities to a preview of the new blockbuster, "Gridlocked! The Gary Locke Story."

Many of the stories will make your sides ache, depending on where you fall along the twisted line of warped humor with a politically left bent, and an instilled sense of liberty, equality and mocha latte for all. Let's face it. We are in Seattlecountry and many of us (yes, you and me) would prefer to go a day without justice than a day without mocha lattés!

Audiences are reminded of Seattle's now deceased, beloved 17-year-old red panda Wei-Wei (pronounced way-way) from Wuo Bian China, who is reborn in Let Them Eat Pork as a Seattle Police Department hostage negotiator. So madly beloved is Wei-Wei that the line between love and bestiality become sickly blurred. I have to admit, this appears to be more than a bizarre love triangle.

The name Pork Filled Players is more than just a local Japanese supermarketlunch menu - it is Seattle's second oldest sketch comedy troupe founded in 1992 Representing the Repertory Actors Theatre (ReACT) production are six multitalented Asian-American and Caucasian actors and actresses: Brian Beckley, Virginia Gabby, Maggie Lee, Edward T. Tonai, Owen Yen and Yvette Zaepfel.

Not forgetting its Asian-American roots the Pork Filled Players sprinkles storylines that remind the audience that we are far from being race-less and we should not forget our Asian-ness. To the horror of his Caucasian parents, an adoptee "comes out" not as a more easily acceptable gay man or even serial murderer, but god-forbid, an "Asian-American" and even begins dating another "Asian-American."

The play on diversity in the workplace hits a funny bone as Monica is accused by her employer of being "Asian-less" and nothing more than a lemon meringue cheesecake - yellow on the inside, white on the outside. Why doesn't she date only white men? And where are her Hello Kitty accessories?

Recanted recent newsworthy issues include Bush's new cabinet members: Secretary Death - Death; Secretary of Agriculture - Famine; Secretary of Plague - Pestilence; and Secretary of Defense - Donald Rumsfeld. Hey, how did he survive the cut?

Some older issues brought to light include the irony of the airport screeners' mistreatment of granny with the knitting needles and the no smoking within 20 feet of the restaurant law and air vent clause.

For those less politically inclined, the Ferris wheel scene, the S&M slave scene, the I date with "feline kitty" scene, or perhaps the cool, ultra-sleek and thin cell phone scene will still entertain. Even if you grew up reading "Charlotte's Web" and fell in love with Wilbur, or other smart pigs, "Let Them Eat Pork" is a must see for all, vegans and veal-lovers alike.

Performances are Fridays, Saturdays. 10 p.m., following ReACT's "Six Degrees of Separation." Richard Hugo House (1643 11th Ave., Seattle) from July 14 - 29. Tickets: $9/$6 for students/seniors. www.ticketwindowonline.com www.porkfilled.com (206) 325-6500.

You'll laugh yourself into convulsive coughing watching this show

by Rajkhet Dirzhud-Rashid
SGN A&E Writer

Let Them Eat Pork
Pork Filled Players
Richard Hugo House
July 14 to 29

I kept thinking to myself, 'that's my favorite one, no, that's my favorite, no...', and as I watched one after another zippy, little vignettes by Pork Filled Players, in their new show, 'Let Them Eat Pork', I decided they were all hilariously funny. Okay, some were less funny, but even those that were just a little funny, were still entertaining as hell.

My favorite had to be the 'Girl Raised by Ocelots', if only because the actress (cute redhead, Yvette Zaepfel) had the moves of a cat down pat. And I think all of us who owned cats. the audience agreed, as we were laughing ourselves into coughing fits. I also liked the 'Not So Great Mistress' skit, where a supposedly tough 'dom' is given a lesson by her bottom in better techniques, and the remixed version of 'Old Man's Story' was even funnier this time.

Keep in mind, there is nothing in the program with these titles, it just seemed like the ones I'm giving them would have fit, if they'd had titles. But most enjoyably, this particular version of the long-running comedy show has not a dull moment, and the whole show moves along at lightning speed, and you will be howling with laughter the whole time.

For information on times and ticket prices, call: 325-6500, or go online to oink@porkfilled.com. Also, on the 21st and 22nd , the Players are joined by Canadian-American group, Assaulted Fish, so go and enjoy both groups and laugh until you cry.


			Let Them Eat Pork Pork Filled Players instill a sense of liberté, egalité and mocha latté for all BY DAWN-THANH NGUYEN Examiner Contributor What does the Pork Filled Players and the French people have in common, besides the love of pigs? Oink. Oink. The newest late night show, Let Them Eat Pork: Liberté, Egalité, Mocha Latté pays tribute to Bastille Day with outstanding storytelling by none other than our adored president, George W. Bush. Instead of relying on fuzzy memory to explain the history of Bastille Day from the perspective of our "French fry friends, President Bush reads to the audience from a book with the cover "My First Word." The impersonation is hilarious and sets the mood for the rest of the performance. For those not in the know, Bastille Day is the day the French people gained freedom as the Americans stormed Normandy on July 14, 1789. Wait! Isn't this interpretation a bit off and somewhat biased here? When in doubt, just wave an American flag. The Pork Filled Players' hour show is packed with original, funny mini-story-lines ranging from hate crimes towards the oppressed rich minorities to a preview of the new blockbuster, "Gridlocked! The Gary Locke Story." Many of the stories will make your sides ache, depending on where you fall along the twisted line of warped humor with a politically left bent, and an instilled sense of liberty, equality and mocha latte for all. Let's face it. We are in Seattlecountry and many of us (yes, you and me) would prefer to go a day without justice than a day without mocha lattés! Audiences are reminded of Seattle's now deceased, beloved 17-year-old red panda Wei-Wei (pronounced way-way) from Wuo Bian China, who is reborn in Let Them Eat Pork as a Seattle Police Department hostage negotiator. So madly beloved is Wei-Wei that the line between love and bestiality become sickly blurred. I have to admit, this appears to be more than a bizarre love triangle. The name Pork Filled Players is more than just a local Japanese supermarketlunch menu - it is Seattle's second oldest sketch comedy troupe founded in 1992 Representing the Repertory Actors Theatre (ReACT) production are six multitalented Asian-American and Caucasian actors and actresses: Brian Beckley, Virginia Gabby, Maggie Lee, Edward T. Tonai, Owen Yen and Yvette Zaepfel. Not forgetting its Asian-American roots the Pork Filled Players sprinkles storylines that remind the audience that we are far from being race-less and we should not forget our Asian-ness. To the horror of his Caucasian parents, an adoptee "comes out" not as a more easily acceptable gay man or even serial murderer, but god-forbid, an "Asian-American" and even begins dating another "Asian-American." The play on diversity in the workplace hits a funny bone as Monica is accused by her employer of being "Asian-less" and nothing more than a lemon meringue cheesecake - yellow on the inside, white on the outside. Why doesn't she date only white men? And where are her Hello Kitty accessories? Recanted recent newsworthy issues include Bush's new cabinet members: Secretary Death - Death; Secretary of Agriculture - Famine; Secretary of Plague - Pestilence; and Secretary of Defense - Donald Rumsfeld. Hey, how did he survive the cut? Some older issues brought to light include the irony of the airport screeners' mistreatment of granny with the knitting needles and the no smoking within 20 feet of the restaurant law and air vent clause. For those less politically inclined, the Ferris wheel scene, the S&M slave scene, the I date with "feline kitty" scene, or perhaps the cool, ultra-sleek and thin cell phone scene will still entertain. Even if you grew up reading "Charlotte's Web" and fell in love with Wilbur, or other smart pigs, "Let Them Eat Pork" is a must see for all, vegans and veal-lovers alike. Performances are Fridays, Saturdays. 10 p.m., following ReACT's "Six Degrees of Separation." Richard Hugo House (1643 11th Ave., Seattle) from July 14 - 29. Tickets: $9/$6 for students/seniors. www.ticketwindowonline.com www.porkfilled.com (206) 325-6500. You'll laugh yourself into convulsive coughing watching this show by Rajkhet Dirzhud-Rashid SGN A&E Writer Let Them Eat Pork Pork Filled Players Richard Hugo House July 14 to 29 I kept thinking to myself, 'that's my favorite one, no, that's my favorite, no...', and as I watched one after another zippy, little vignettes by Pork Filled Players, in their new show, 'Let Them Eat Pork', I decided they were all hilariously funny. Okay, some were less funny, but even those that were just a little funny, were still entertaining as hell. My favorite had to be the 'Girl Raised by Ocelots', if only because the actress (cute redhead, Yvette Zaepfel) had the moves of a cat down pat. And I think all of us who owned cats. the audience agreed, as we were laughing ourselves into coughing fits. I also liked the 'Not So Great Mistress' skit, where a supposedly tough 'dom' is given a lesson by her bottom in better techniques, and the remixed version of 'Old Man's Story' was even funnier this time. Keep in mind, there is nothing in the program with these titles, it just seemed like the ones I'm giving them would have fit, if they'd had titles. But most enjoyably, this particular version of the long-running comedy show has not a dull moment, and the whole show moves along at lightning speed, and you will be howling with laughter the whole time. For information on times and ticket prices, call: 325-6500, or go online to oink@porkfilled.com. Also, on the 21st and 22nd , the Players are joined by Canadian-American group, Assaulted Fish, so go and enjoy both groups and laugh until you cry. FAQs \| Reviews \| Past Shows \| Bios \| Next show \| Home For more info, email