A Penguin by any other name . . . . would still smell as fishy?
All kidding inside, we were pleased as punch-drunk to feature a sketch co-written with our guest star, Patrick Flynn, in Webisode 44.
We first learned of his website, UnknownPenguin.com, through Twitter, and after viewing a few of the site’s comic films, we felt a strange attraction to this like-minded no-good-nik.
Flynn is alleged to be an ‘award-winning playwright and screenwriter.’ He directs the site’s many short films, corralling working actors from both coasts to star in them.
And so it is with pride (and malice aforethought) that we present this non-exclusive sample of the pickin’s at Unknown Penguin.
I doubt Ken Nordine considers himself a comedian, but I’m sure he’d admit to abundant helpings of inspired whimsy in his work–and that is why we salute him.
Born with an instantly recognizable sonorous voice, Nordine began in 1950s radio as a DJ, but it was when he went freelance as a commercial voice-over artist that he had the freedom to develop his trademark poetry-over-jazz style, which he christened Word Jazz.
When I heard a Word Jazzprogram in the 1980s (on NYC’s WBAI), I instantly recognized his voice from TV commercials, particularly an award-winning series of Levi’s Jeansads.
Word Jazz had expanded over the years to include alter-ego-voices that turned monologues into dialogues (or sometimes a third Nordine voice would make it a tri-alogue), with weird, trippy synthesizer backgrounds laced with odd sound effects.
I listened, enraptured and gasping for breath, as Nordine played a microbe who divides and then talks to the new microbe that split off from him: “hey . . you look just . . like . . me!”
That weird spaced-out humor made Word Jazz an instant favorite, and Ken Nordine a huge influence. We dedicated Webisode 30 (Pyramid) to Nordine, and spoofed Nordine’s style at the beginning of the show:
Here’s an example of Nordine’s weird magic, a classic piece called “Infinite O’Clock”, with video art by a fan:
Our Host bounces almost all-the-way-back from throat surgery, thanks to the fearless intervention of the Amazing Betty. Then he unwittingly learns about something called hyper-local news from a representative of the nicotine patch.com.
Next we tackle the whole “improb” conspiracy, with writer/director and sometime improviser Patrick Flynn. After introducing a new marketing campaign for a major bovine charity known as “the Heffer“, we kick our reporter to the curb outside Baltimore’s ultra-cool Atomic Books, to talk publishing with store manager Ben Ray(who is played in this sketch by his understudy).
…is, luckily, recovering from minor surgery which took place last Thursday.
We now provide a world-exclusive, detailed illustration of what happened. Be fore-warned, it is extremely graphic in nature, and may be unsuitable for people with a fragile . . . oh, hell, it’s not all that gross. Let’s just post it, shall we?
Mr Delirium is recovering swiftly, thanks to the Amazing Betty’s top-notch care and the well-wishes of our thousands of fans. Thank you all.
At each performance of the 10×10 show, audience members were given ballots and asked to rate their favorite three of the ten 10-minute plays. Mr. Delirium’s “Survey Pro” closed the first half of the show.
Yesterday’s matinee was the close of the 3-week run. Mr Delirium had the pleasure of joining the cast, directors, and two playwrights for a Talk-Back session with the audience after the show. It was then that the final tally of all the Audience Votes was announced, much to Mr. Delirium’s furiously-blushing delight.
Congratulations to the contest winner Andy Grigg, for his play “The Litnus, the Treasure, the Grumpus, and Dave”, and to fellow Baltimorean Sharon Goldner for her third-place finish with “Bazookas”.
Many thanks to the FPCT for their unique 1ox10 festival, which opened up a whole new slice of Baltimore’s creative community to us! (and gave us an excuse to re-use the cupcake pic!)
Mr Delirium is flattered and pleased by the kind words his short play “Survey Pro” (part of Fells Point Corner Theatre’s 10×10 Festival) has received from two theatre sites:
BroadwayWorld.com says Survey Pro is “a clever spoof” with “well-timed and witty” dialogue. In addition, reviewer Lori Weglein singles out actress Anne Shoemaker for her inspired work in Survey Pro and Andy Grigg’s delightful “The Litnus, The Treasure, The Grumpus, and Dave.”
DC Metro Theater Arts writer Amanda Gunther says Survey Pro Director Howard Berkowitz “sets the stage perfectly” and that the play is “one of the most enjoyable comic displays in the festival”.
Mind you, these two reviews had plenty of nice things to say about the other plays and cast members! Our congratulations to the fine cast and crew of the 10×10 . . the production is still running, but this is the last weekend! Go, now!
A Penguin by any other name . . . . would still smell as fishy?
