Andy Warhol's Pork
Andy Warhol's Pork (also known as Pork) is the first and only play by Andy Warhol. It was directed by Anthony Ingrassia, produced by Ira Gale, and stage-managed by Leee Black Childers.[1][2] Pork opened on May 5, 1971, at La MaMa Experimental Theatre in New York City for a two-week run.[3] It was brought to the Roundhouse in London for a six-week run in August 1971.[4]
Synopsis
Pork was based on tape-recorded conversations between Brigid Berlin and Warhol during which Brigid would play for Warhol tapes she had made of phone conversations between herself and her mother, socialite Honey Berlin.[5]
The play featured Jayne County as "Vulva," Cherry Vanilla as "Amanda Pork," Tony Zanetta as a Warhol-analogue called B. Marlowe, Geri Miller as Josie, Cleve Roller, Julia Breck, and Suzanne Smith.[6][3][7][8] Other cast members included the "Pepsodent Twins" who, according to Jayne County, represented Warhol's boyfriend Jed Johnson and his twin brother, Jay Johnson.[9] According to a review of the London production, "[Amanda] Pork is estranged from her husband and attended by the Pepsodent twins, two boys alike only in their nudity and their pastel powdered genitals."[9]
Critical reception
Reviewing Pork for The New York Times, journalist Grace Glueck wrote, "All in all, it's a cozy bunch; take out the fornication, masturbation, defecation and prevarication with which 'Pork' is larded and you might have a certain similarity to the juvenile gang in 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.'"[3]
In London, the production caused a scandal. Geri Miller exposed her breast during a photo session in front of the Queen Mother's house and was arrested.[10] The British press panned the play.[11] Journalist Valerie Jenkins wrote for the Evening Standard that "Pork's redeeming essence is that it finds itself so ridiculous; from start to finish it demands not to be taken seriously; it's Warhol people debunking themselves."[12]
References
- ^ "Leee Black Childers Chronicler Of Drag Queens And Punks Dies". Artlyst. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
- )
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
- S2CID 59337107.
- ^ "Andy Warhol's PORK - Roundhouse - Celebrating 50 Years". 50.roundhouse.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
- ^ "Talk on the Wild Side: The Effect of Andy Warhol's PORK on the evolution of Glitter, Glam and Punk Rock". warhol.org. Archived from the original on January 26, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
- ^ "Reportage photo of Geri Miller as Josie, PORK by Andy Warhol, Roundhouse... 03..." Report digital. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
- ^ "Obituary: Julia Breck – TV and stage comedy actor who was a favourite of Spike Milligan". The Stage. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
- ^ a b "1971-05-09". White Crane Institute. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
- ISBN 978-0-8021-9276-9.
- ^ Jenour, Kenelm (1971-08-03). "Sex Show 'Pork' Is The Top Of The Flops". Daily Mirror. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
- ^ Jenkins, Valerie (1971-08-03). "Valerie Jenkins at the Round House". Evening Standard. p. 13. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
- OCLC 1031401746.)
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ Development, PodBean. "Tony Zanetta - talking Andy Warhol, David Bowie, Pork & much much more". www.c86show.org. Retrieved 2020-05-30.