The S word. The F word. The C word. Don't forget the V word.
And then there's the other C word, and - of course - the P word.
Spewing off curse words and sexual references like a prison inmate, Margaret Cho represents nothing of this risqu?(c) vocabulary. She is, underneath the shock and surprise, simply brilliant.
Her current stand-up tour, entitled "Revolution," played to a packed Center for the Arts on Saturday night. Using any and every socially sensitive subject as her verbal playground, Cho's audience was reminded that stand-up comedy can be empowering and important, not just funny.
Some might regard Cho's choice of words as giving "too much information," or "TMI," as she mockingly imitated during her show.
"'Don't go there,'" she said, moaning an impression of some who have responded to her eye-opening humor. If "there" means delving into uncharted territory - a career move that made comic legends Richard Pryor and Lenny Bruce famous, by the way - then Cho is more than willing to go wherever "there" happens to be.
Her rant is comprised of commentary centered on racism, sexism, homophobia and conservatism. While "Revolution" is shorter on Cho's signature ethnic humor than it is on politics and social equality, she does offer some advice to violent pro-life demonstrators.
"I have a present for you," she said to those who oppose her pro-choice beliefs. She took a second searching for something in her back pocket.
"Here," she said, screaming as she pull out her middle finger. "I am so sorry I forgot to wrap it. I saw it and thought of you."
Her political jabs contributed to the ongoing trend of criticizing President George W. Bush.
Running down a list of commandments she points out Bush does not apparently adhere to, Cho rattled off what she sees as his shortcomings:
"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's," she said, pausing, "countries."
"Thou shalt not kill - for oil."
"Thou shalt not take grammar in vain."
Moving smoothly from one topic to the next, Cho didn't miss a beat; in fact, some of her monologues offered a tone and rhythm of a poet. Her San Francisco/California beach accent transformed seamlessly into a "valley girl" whine, while the next minute, she famously mocked her Korean mother's native accent with precision and hilarity.
Her open bisexuality plays an interesting role in her act as well. She never quite admits that she's either straight or gay, though she talks about sexual relationships with men and women interchangeably. She did bring up an interesting vacation, though, when she visited a lesbian resort.
"It was in the Bermuda triangle," she said, deadpanning. "They placed the electrical outlet so far away from the bed. I consider that a hate crime."
Cho celebrates her pride for the gay and lesbian community, and ripped on its stereotypes with ease.
"(Lesbians) have a vaginal OnStar system," she said. "They can navigate anywhere."
The topic of female genitalia didn't stop there, though.
At one point, she reminisced fondly of her recent experience as a midwife, assisting her friend throughout pregnancy and labor. Like a Jack Handy "Deep Thought," Cho was sincere and earnest in remembering the birth.
"It was so beautiful," she said with a sweet smile.
"And then poof, her p***y exploded." She admitted her motherly instincts just don't exist.
"I'm just not a breeder. I am baron. I am bone dry. When I see children, I feel nothing," Cho said. "I ovulate sand."
It might be easy for some to pass off the sensitive subject matter with a roll of the eyes or a blush of the cheeks. But Cho is the first person to admit that talking about sensitive issues is what Americans should do to bring about change in their lives.
" If I don't constantly give 'too much information,' if I 'don't go there,' then I'm not 'there' to begin with," she said.
If anyone in Saturday night's audience found it difficult marching in support of Cho and her one-woman army of racial and sexual equality, they may not have enjoyed themselves. And chances are, her "Revolution" isn't one they'd probably be party to anyway.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
