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Pigging out: Comedy troupe pokes fun at swine flu, health care, Obama
Carroll County Times
11/5/2009
The Capitol Steps are shown performing a parody of George Bush and Dick Cheney.
After swine flu started making headlines, Elaina Newport said she took a necessary step that had nothing to do with hand sanitizer or immunizations.
She needed to find a pig costume.
When The Capitol Steps performs in two fundraisers for The Arc of Carroll County, the troupe will poke fun at anyone or anything making news.
The Capitol Steps are scheduled to perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Winters Mill High School in Westminster and 3 p.m. Nov. 15 at Century High in Eldersburg.
The comedy troupe, made up of mostly former Capitol Hill staffers, are constantly adding new skits and songs to keep up with the ever-changing news cycle.
Lately, swine flu, government health care and Barack Obama’s presidency have been targets.
Newport said troupe member Ann Schmitt is scheduled to don a felt pig costume and sing a parody to the tune of Peggy Lee’s classic, “Fever.”
“We’re not above dressing up in pig costumes and singing about it,” said Newport, who joked that wearing the felt disguise is a coveted role among The Capitol Steps’ female performers.
Many skits involve the exploits of President Obama.
Before The Capitol Steps’ Carroll County performances last November, Newport said it was difficult to create material for Obama, who she said had not yet made many obvious missteps.
Newport said she has plenty of material this year, including his Nobel Peace Prize victory. The Capitol Steps released “Barackin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” the group’s latest album, in October.
“It’s been easier this year … because of the issues surrounding him: the town meetings, the health care,” she said.
This is the eighth year The Capitol Steps have performed at The Arc of Carroll County fundraisers. Each time, the show is fresh and new because the content is always changing, said Donald Rowe, The Arc of Carroll County’s executive director.
“Every year, I’m hopeful that there is something interesting and funny to talk about,” he said. “A day later, something in the newspaper pops up, and I’m like, ‘oh, that’s what they’ll be talking about or singing about.’”
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