BOARD MEMBERS DEFEND ‘PUPPETRY OF THE PENIS (Freep Em!)

Arlington, VA Sun Gazette ^ | 7/22/03 | Arlington, Virginia Sun Gazette

[Lazamataz]

uhhhhhhhhh......

I gotta go.

[chambley1]

Arlington Virginia County Board

countyboard@co.arlington.va.us

[Enterprise]

There has to be a Clinton joke in here somewhere.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I suppose the next question should be, how does one become a Penile Puppeteer? Is this something we could learn to do at home? And how do you get the puppet's arms to move?

[AD from SpringBay]

Even one County Board member, Chris Zimmerman, seemed unsure that Rosslyn Spectrum was the appropriate setting for the show.

Even a county board member was unsure about it? Well, when even a low level functionary of the local community has doubts . . . What happened to decency? Why do public funds get spent on this crap? We have the government we deserve.

[camle]

without lunatic boards like this, thes two perverts would be haunting subwsays in long trenchcoats exposing themselves to passersby.

[Tacis]

No problemo!!

It would be a very simple thing to force the democrats and other America-haters who support this show to back off and agree that it is not appropriate for a public venue. Simply require that they change the name of "Puppetry of the Penis" to include the word "Christian" and you can damn sure bet that the democrats will be quick to agree that it is not appropriate.

[Enterprise]

It's for the children.

See Dick. Dick can run. Run Dick run.

Jump Dick. Jump jump jump. Dick can jump high.

Dick can boogie. Boogie Dick. Boogie boogie boogie.

[TheCrusader]

This troupe was in Boston earlier this year, and they got some very sick coverage by the Boston Herald, (a major family newspaper, which showed a photo of one of the performers from the back side). This stuff is as sick as it gets. It shocks all moral sensibilities and insults human dignity. We have become a society of profane dogs. When local politicians start defending this deranged "entertainment" as 'freedom of speech', you know it's time to start reading about the fall of the Roman Empire - so you'll get another view at what America has entered into.

[Ditter]

Hummmmmmm This must explain the bizzaro picture I got via e-mail the other day. Disturbing to say the least.

[philosofy123]

The Vagina Monologue has been running for a couple of years with lots audiences. I don't see anything wrong with such show. I would not pay to see it, however, I watched the vagina monologue on HBO a few months back, and think it was entertaining--granted very crude, but entertaining. The puritanical-type people who think it is the end of the world should admit to themselves HOW MANY TIMES DID THEY TELL A DIRTY JOKE? Sex jokes are funny. Lighten up!

[Modernman]

Even a county board member was unsure about it? Well, when even a low level functionary of the local community has doubts . . . What happened to decency? Why do public funds get spent on this crap? We have the government we deserve.

I know the general counsel for Arlington County and occasionally do work with him. We talked about this, jokingly, a few days ago. It seems that the County actually can't prevent these guys from performing even if they wanted to. Legally, the performance venue is open to any group that meets certain criteria (insurance, fire code etc.). The way the rules are written, they could only forbid someone from performing if they were violating laws, which these guys don't seem to be doing (at least, not according to the Arlington PD). Anyway, no public funds are being expended on this- the County is just leasing space to this group.

[robertpaulsen]

"“We do not regulate legitimate art content,” Carlee said."

I bet they would if the "Penis Puppet" wore a Confederate flag. Or carried a toy gun. Or recited the Ten Commandments.

[grobdriver]

And how do you get the puppet's arms to move?

WHAT ARMS!!???

[Chad Fairbanks]

The PUPPET has arms - it's the ummm 'thing' that's controlling the puppet that is armless...

[alisasny]

I have to admit I saw this show in NYC last summer, Girlfriends 35th mid life crisis birthday. We laughed so hard we cried. This is so far from porn. Basically the crowd was made up of bachelorette parties a few married couples and us. The comic who opened the show was a brit and she was hysterical and fully clothed. I dont recommend this show to any of you but it was funny and we all had a good time.

[goodnesswins]

Sex jokes are told between friends, acquaintenances, family....THIS and the Vagina M is PERFORMED in public and shows that this society has lowered itself to merely public pubic prancing ...... a sign of a society in decline, IMHO.

[alisasny]

You have to buy a ticket.

[Enterprise]

I only saw a little bit of the monologues and I found it not entertaining. But you are correct, sex jokes can be very funny.

In the case of the Penis Puppets, I have absolutely no desire to attend. I won't be outside any given theatre with a protest sign however.