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The Capitol Steps and Spoonerisims
On Friday, April 20th, I attended the Capital Steps sold out show at Memorial Auditorium on UNC campus. The troupe unleashed a plethora of political jokes, songs and skits, living up to it's reputation as cutting edge, satirical entertainment at it's best. I met Elaine Newport, producer and head writer, who has been with the Capital Steps since they originated in 1981. Several days later I enjoyed a long phone conversation with her. One of their most popular bits is a monologue of spoonerisms entitled "Lirty Dies." A spoonerism is formed by switching the first syllable of two or more words to change the meaning of the phrase. Here for your reading enjoyment is an excerpt to be read slowly and out loud.
Rog Bates
.Excerpt of Lirty Dies
C.2001, Strauss and NewportLemme tell you rht sroty of a November to remember, the most ridiculous vote in the history of the world.
Lemme say that again.
Lemme stell you the tory of rovemeber to december, the most vidiculous rote in the wistory of the hurled.
Who were cesidential prandidates. Gush and Bore.
What a lunch of boozers. Deedle-twee and deedle-twum.Bore is a pantsy-fants who says he invented the Neb and the Interwet.
He was cazing rash at a toodist bemple, with nudist buns.
But? He’s a sponagamous mouse. Just ask his tife, Wipper.
You know Wipper. She’s the gorny hurl who fook a toto,fook a toto, fook a toto?
She fook everybody’s toto.
Until Bore gave Wipper a smig booch. A lack on the smips. Slet and woppy.
There’s gonna be some sex-rated ex in the bubble dead of their hight wouse.And Gush? His QI is in the single sigits.
He couldn’t frick pants on a wap of the murld.
He makes Quanny Dale look like a Lobel Naureate.
When Gush was stung and yupid, he was skunk as a drunk.
He ended up in the penal pystem. For I.U.D.
Thank You, Thanks- RAH!!!
A Funny Group Climbs to New Heights
A concert review by Roger Bates
What musical group has been together for twenty years, have recorded twenty albums, have appeared on "Nightline," "Good Morning America," the "Today Show," "20/20," "Entertainment Tonight," have five pianists and more than twenty other members, and are known by every politician in Washington, DC? No, it's not Elvis and the Impostors. If you don't have a clue, you're not alone. Although probably as well respected in the world of political humor as Will Durst, Mark Russell, and Bill Maher, the Capital Steps are far from being a household word.
On April 20th the Capital Steps gave
a sold out concert at UNC's Memorial Hall. Most of the appreciative
crowd knew the Capital Steps from their albums and television appearances.
From the clever political satire and song parodies to the tongue in cheek
spoonerisms, barbs were hurled at every political affiliation. When asked
if he thought a statue of him would be erected, the troupe member playing
Bill Clinton respond, "It wouldn't be me if it wasn't." The
liberal crowd laughed especially hard at the "Bush" material, like the
bit about George Dubya appearing on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." The
drinking reference of "a thousand pints of light," and parodies like "Son
of a Bush" also went over well. The Steps even slammed
Strom Thurmond by resurrecting the Bee Gee's song "Staying Alive," renamed
"Keep Him Alive." Most of the references were funny
and up to date. About half of the Capital Steps material is written by
Elaina Newport, a founding member who is also the Producer. Three or four
others do the remainder of the writing, with everyone contributing ideas
from time to time. They strive to stay away from obscure material, usually
playing with Newsweek headlines and issues most everybody is familiar with.
They also strive to be bi-partisan because, says Ms. Newport, "It gives
you twice as many jokes and people like the
balance. Based in
Washington D.C., the majority of the group's members have worked in the
Capital City for different senate or house offices. This helps make the
humor self-deprecating in their eyes. Since they are and have been
part of the Washington scene, they feel they are laughing at themselves
to some extent. But primarily the Capital Steps help us laugh at
the dweebs, goofballs and, like us, vulnerable humans we have elected to
legislate for us. They do a great job casting levity on the serious
endeavor of running this country. The Capital Steps shows take place
in Washington at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center every
Friday and Saturday night. They also do quarterly shows on NPR, broadcast
to between one hundred and two hundred stations, as well as concerts at
different venues throughout the country. With twenty members, the group
can appear at two places at once just by dividing up.
The Capital Steps favorite audiences are Public Radio Audiences because "they get the jokes." They do lots of corporate events but find those audiences much tougher. Part of the reason is the corporate audience is not there by choice.
The nice thing about drawing your jokes from Capital Hill is there is never a shortage of material. The group says they have no problems making fun of politicians, who often attend their shows. About the only time they had a problem was the night Alfonse DeMatto got ticked off. And that was because they didn't have a song for him. Ms. Newport said the Capital Steps would like to come back to the Triangle soon. Gauging by the crowd's response at Memorial Hall, many people here in the Triangle would like that too. For great political humor and song parodies pick up the new CD by Capital Steps, just released last week. I'll be reviewing the CD in an upcoming issue of the Carolina Health & Humor Newsletter. And if you like to laugh while listening to good blues/jazz/pop, pick up my latest CD called LIVE WIRES, available through Carolina Health & Humor. (I'll skip the review which might be slightly bias.) You can also hear the song The Cary Blues by calling the WRAL request line at 860-1015.
To become a member of the Carolina Health & Humor Association, give a gift membership, register to attend the Certified Humor Presenter Workshops, or donate to the Carolina Health & Humor Association, please use the Membership/Registration form.
Ruth Hamilton
105 West Hwy. 54, Suite 265
Durham, NC 27713
Phone:(919)846-5739, fax(919)544-9627
e-mail: cahaha@mindspring.com
Web address: http://www.carolinahaha.org
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