Taipei's newest expat amateur theatrical troupe, Outcast Theatre, makes its stage debut this weekend when it brings an adaptation of the comedy Polish Joke to the stage of the Living Room.
Formed three months ago by members of two of Taipei's leading expat amateur dramatic groups -- TADS and Phoenix Theatre -- Outcasts is headed by Paul Jackson, who has starred in over a dozen hugely successful productions for both troupes since making his stage debut in Taiwan in 1998.
Polish Joke was written by David Ives, whose one-act series of comedies, All in the Timing, was awarded the Outer Critics Circle Playwriting Award.
Ives' Polish Joke is a non-politically correct production. At times it will offend, at others it may annoy, but regardless of one's sensibilities Polish Joke is guaranteed to make even the most cynical of audience members laugh out loud.
The semi-autobiographical work explores stereotypes and the ethnic eccentricities of various nationalities through the eyes of Polish American Jasiu (Jackson) as he explores his roots and sets out to re-invent himself as a non-ethnic everyman.
Jasiu's journey begins in the Polish working class neighborhood of Chicago known as "da bush" and leads him to flirt with the priesthood, interview for a high-rolling corporate position and even take a look into his sexual fantasies.
Few nationalities and neither sex escape Ives' sharp wit and Jasiu's even sharper tongue. Men, women, Poles, Jews, the Irish and even Lithuanians all come under fire as the side-splittingly play unfolds.
The Outcast's production of Polish Joke is directed by Melanie Micco, who is a veteran of the local amateur theater scene and stars expat old-hands Peter Balfry, Josh Fairey, Maurice Harrington. It will also introduce newcomers Pam Dmytruk, Chris Garvin and Olga Grezlikowska to the amateur dramatics stage.
Audiences are asked to bear in mind that while tickets for the show cost NT$200 there is a surcharge of NT$300. The additional charge entitles audience members to either food or beverages totaling NT$300 from the Living Room's menu.
The play starts tomorrow at 7:30pm, and at 2:30pm and 7:30pm on Sunday. Running time is two hours. Admission NT$500.
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