Seattle Gay News: Those edgy guys and gals from Pork Filled Players are back and better than ever
by Rajkhet Dirzhud-Rashid SGN A&E Writer
In the Mood For Lard, Pork Filled Players at NW Actors Studio thu Feb. 26
Ed Tonal and Mok Moser play a Gay couple whodoanoverly PCnumber ontheir straight friends Tony Colinares and DixiLee, and Emmy Walker and Yvette Zaepfel do a wonderful spoof on Gay marriage a la The Godfather. Excited? You will be if you go and see the newest Pork Filled Players comedy cabaret show, In the Mood for Lard, now on stage at the Northwest Actors Studio.
The very funny and politically tongue-in-cheek show opened last weekend, and was filled with both old and new fans of the troupe's over the top comedy variety. And what a show it was, with everything from the foolishness of the war in Iraq to the lighter side of Gay marriage being given a comic tweak by these marvelous pertormers.
I particularly liked seeing Ed Tonai (who's been with PFP from the beginning) stretch his substantially solid comic talent in skits about relationships and the perils of abstinence, both of which were dead on funny. And it was good seeing veteran Northwest Asian American Theatre member Tony Colinares back on stage. I really miss NWAAT and it's good to see that at least one group is keeping the love alive for Asian and Asian-American actors in this town. Take my advice, it you're as depressed about the Bush administration's latest assault on social programs and everything good about the world as we know it, then this show will cheer the heck out of you.
For information on tickets and times, call (206) 325-6500, or go online to www.porkfilled.com or email them at pr@porkfilled.com. You won't be sorry you did.
International Examiner
Pork Filled Players:
New show is trimmed of all excess lard
BY JUDITH VAN PRAAG Examiner Arts Writer
Since I don't eat pork, and a sense of humor is so subjective, I almost turned down the assignment to write a review about the latest performance by the Pork Filled Players. I'm glad that I let go of my culinary and thespian prejudices, and watched "In the Mood for Lard (make lard not war)," by the Northwest's longest running Asian American sketch comedy group.
Not only did I get out of bed one early Sunday morning to watch the Players rehearse, PFP got me - an old couch potato - out of the house on a Saturday evening, only to find a wonderful array of couches to choose from at the Actors' Studio Cabaret Space.
Afraid that I would get too cozy and comfortable with the danger of drifting off (besides, I didn't have someone to cuddle with), I chose a straight-backed chair in front of a church bench where two Russian ladies and their male companion had planted their tush for the evening.
The words sketch comedy may throw you off, after all, something sketchy is usually superficial, without depth, not much more than an idea. While in reality sketch comedy is quite the opposite and may be compared to a good base for a sauce; a lovely stock, skimmed off fat, then reduced to its essence. Sketch comedy at its best will throw you off, because the unexpected happens, and what you do get makes you smile, or laugh, or roll over.
There's no need to worry about falling asleep when the Pork Filled Players present their goods. Actress and writer Yvette Zaepfel (whose only Asian credentials consist of a 10-day childhood trip to China) called the house to attention - we weren't going to be left behind while the actors did their spiel. According to the eager "Yeah!" in response to Yvette's question, "Are you willing?" everybody was ready to be entertained.
With great aplomb Yvette introduced former child actor Ed Tonai, ("The Baseball Bunch"), as "One Hot Cook", and Mok Moser (Theatre Babylon's "Jesus Christ Superstar"), as the man who knows how to please a woman. What might have been mistaken for a vulgar gesture was immediately understood as something far more mundane when Mok handed Yvette what I imagine she had asked him to get at the store. I don't want to give away any jokes, but that was the first of a double, mood setting, entente, if there ever was one. And the audience ate it up.
In PFP's 15th show, veteran actor/writer and assistant director Tony Colinares ("Northern Exposure"), and veteran actress Dixi Lee (of "Sex in Seattle" fame) are joined by Bellevue High School junior Emmy Walker, a promising young actress who didn't miss a beat.
Aided by excellent comedic timing, the group members swept the audience along through about 30 short scenes. From the "Ten Second Iron Chef" to the "Vice Prevention Squad' issues range from interracial marriage to old folks reflecting on their life. The text is lean - trimmed of all excess lard - and the Pork Filled Players show enthusiastic dedication to their chosen art form. And that's exactly what makes an audience agree to follow performers all the way.
As much as I wished to maintain the role of critical reviewer, I just couldn't keep a straight face. Backed by the laughter of the Russian Trio behind me (and what a challenge to make people of another culture laugh!), I had as much fun as any other person in the audience. An hour and a half after the team started, I was surprised to see them take their bows.
Compliments go to director Linda Lombardi, for whom this was the first venture into the world of sketch comedy, to co-founder, executive producer/writer "bad ass stage manager" and sound guy Roger Tang, for keeping his comedic baby alive and kicking, as well as lighting designer/writer Maggie Lee who put everyone in the right (day or night) light.
The Pork Filled Players perform "In the Mood for Lard" (make lard not war) every Friday and Saturday until Feb. 26 at 8:00 p.m. at the Northwest Actors' Studio, 1100 E. Pike St., Seattle. Tickets are $12 general, $9 students/groups/ couples in love. For tickets call (206) 3256500 or visit www.ticketwindowonline.com.
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