AGENDA . Agenda Lead

Gong Hits

A benevolent gong show in West Philly? Chuck Barris would be proud.


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Published: May 19, 2010

Mark Stehle

GOING, GOING, GONG: Paul Kuhn (center) does his best Chuck Barris, with (from left), Erika Hicks, Newton Buchanan ("The Dancin' Creeper") and CJ Keller ("The Unknown Comic").

[ west philly's got talent ]

Canada. The majestic North. A place that brings to mind moose, the Mounties, half of a huge waterfall and boundless affection for The Gong Show? "I am from Canada and we only got, like, one channel, so this is the show I'd always end up watching," says Paul Kuhn, artistic director for Curio Theatre Co., about how the endless syndication and outrageous antics of the TV talent show sucked him in. He's hoping to create the same sense of fanaticism for Curio's first-ever Gong Show.

The Gong Show's original host and producer, Chuck Barris, is a Drexel grad, and Kuhn says he feels the West Philly tie. So Curio sent out the call for wacky acts, and teamed up with food and crafts vendors to help make the homage the same kind of zoo.

"Our first posting for acts got a hit almost instantaneously from a cordless drill ensemble. ... That's precisely the type of thing we are looking for," he says. "We've been asking for anything from belly dancing to pet tricks. Some guy called and asked if he could try to bore the audience to death."

Besides the West Philadelphia Cordless Drill Team's performance of "Music Through the Ages," patrons will watch comics, a sound-effects ensemble and more ambiguous acts like Fulzio: The Skinny Pavarotti. The winner will take home the $399.95 grand prize purse. "The joy is that every contestant has to have a sense of humor," say Kuhn. "If they're bad, they're going to get gonged off by the public. We actually have a joke contract for whomever signs up swearing they won't take it seriously and get offended."

Kuhn will be doing his best Chuck Barris, acting as host for the event, "for better or for worse." The whole shebang will help fund Curio's sixth-season productions and make the Calvary Center for Culture and Community — home to both Curio and the Calvary United Methodist Church — handicapped-accessible. Calvary pastor the Rev. John Pritchard will act as a celebrity judge alongside local real estate broker Liz Campion and Cedar Park Neighbors President Monica Alison.

But don't be fooled by all the civic pride, wicker baskets, good causes and popcorn for sale in the basement: Curio is aiming at an older crowd with an appreciation for the lampoon and a strong sense of nostalgia. "We're going to incorporate all sorts of elements from the original show, the unknown comic with a paper bag over his head, Gene Gene the Dancing Machine, a three-piece band providing the live music and rim shot when a joke goes off," Kuhn says. "We're definitely trying to capture the '70s cheesiness and carnival vibe."

(tom.tiballi@citypaper.net)

Curio Theatre Co.'s First Annual Gong Show Sat., May 22, 6 p.m. refreshments and arts and crafts, 7:30 p.m. performance, $15, Calvary Center for Culture and Community, 4740 Baltimore Ave., 215-525-1350, curiotheatre.org