November 08, 2004
Penny Arcade
Not long ago I got to see Miss Penny Arcade 'in concert'. A performance artist...havent' really encountered one before.
Her first show, which I didn't see, seemed to have a lot of dancing, a lot of music, a lot of strobe lighting and a gaggle of gay men running around in their black pants (for you colonials, pants = underwear).
Her second show, was a bit different...
I don't know what I was expecting. I suppose something smutty and offensive. I once stumbled by accident, to her site while looking for Penny Arcade (comic strip). I'm not going to look up her site now, beucase I'm in a public place, but if I recall correctly, I thought it was porn.
Yeah. Look up penny arcade. I'm not linking it here. Sorry.
At any rate, I guess I was expecting lewd, offensive, and generally unacceptable behaviour. But what I actually saw was some pretty funny stuff.
She did a stand up routine, and, being from New York, felt free to let loose about W. Bush.
She went on about gays, and how they all blame their parents for hating them becuase they're gay. Her reply was, 'Hey! You think you had it bad? My parents just hated me, and I never knew why. At least yours had a reason.'
Her other complaint...War-inspired-Fashion. New cargo trousers, available in Navy Blue, Air Force Grey and the ever popular camouflage. 'They give us these cargo pants...you know...to make war "cool", and then they dress them up with high heels: so you can hide, but you can't run."
Hilarious.
Overall, I found her to be funny and witty. The musical interludes was a bit weird...her partner played the sitar. I don't think it fit very well with the show, but some of the bits were good.
Aside from lack of rehearsal (she had apparently written the show that day) and the weird interludes, I'd say 'Go see it!'
Oh, and a word of warning. If you offend easily...well...prepare to be offended ;)
