Mo
Juliana / Potbelly Pig
The “low riders” in the barn are Mo and Curly – the pigs. Their bellies almost drag the ground!
Both are a mix of the Juliana and Vietnamese Pot-belly breeds. They were born in Spartanburg, SC, on August 11, 2020, and came to NarroWay on September 23 of the same year. A staff member did an online search to find just the perfect piglets. Then she drove to Spartanburg to pick up these two squealing swine and bring them home in her car.
According to the breeder, they were used to being cleaned and cuddled and would be perfect for their new theatrical roles. On the contrary, it took a village to catch them, they had never experienced a bath and they preferred to create their own drama. If you still believe that pigs go “oink, oink,” you’ve never tried to bathe an angry pig! It must be from whence came the phrase “blood-curdling scream.”
Mo is black in color with random brush strokes of white that look like he ran into a freshly painted wall. He has a white triangle on his forehead, white on his feet and a white tip on his tail. He is squattier than his brother, Curly.
Mo is the bossiest and the grumpiest of the two. He initiates most of the brotherly squabbles and Curly is first to “give in.”
Mo likes people, but he is not as sociable as Curly. He allows Curly to first check out new situations. When he feels secure, though, he is more than happy to participate for a treat! Both he and Curly will “sit” and “follow” for their favorite goodies. Mo’s favorite activity is being scratched behind the ears and he especially loves a good belly rub. When you rub his belly for just a few seconds, he will collapse over on his side in hopes you will stay awhile and pet him more!
In the summer months, Mo and Curly stay cool by swimming in their pools. In winter, they bed down in a warm bale of straw and even have blankets and heat lamps inside.
Mo and Curly were specifically purchased to be stars in “Jesus, the Teacher,” where they play the role of pigs in the parable of the prodigal son. They were trained to walk to a specific stage location, but they were so slow that we had to move them to a rolling cart so the scene could go on.
Mo is also on stage for “The Emperor’s New Clothes” and “The Gospel According to Tennessee” and sometimes makes an appearance in “The Real Christmas Story.”