Play Review: “Mainland Education” by Scot Izuka

Play: “Mainland Education” by Scot Izuka
Starring: Tyler Tanabe, Shiro Kawai, Kathy Hunter, Julia Nakamoto, Christopher Takemoto-Gentile and the voices of Jason Kanda and Laura Bach Buzzell
Venue: Kumu Kahua Theater
Genre:  Comedy
Date Watched: Thursday, January 8, 2009
Showtimes:  Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm through February 8, 2009
Tickets:  $16.00 General, $13 Senior, $10 Student Admission.  Thursday night specials:  $13.00 General, $11 Senior, $5.00 Student.  Available at Honolulu Box Office

Synopsis (taken from the “Mainland Education” page on the Kumu Kahua web site)

Cultures mix, match and clash at the University of Kansas in the early 1980s. Jerome, a second-year graduate student, is a third-generation Japanese-American from Hawaii. His roommate Yan is Taiwanese and still struggling comically with the English language. They meet the outgoing and assertive Cathy, born and raised in the Midwest, and her roommate Rei, a Japanese national who speaks English well but with an accent. As the four spend time together, they attempt to surmount difficulties created not only by language barriers but also by national identities and cultural mores. Jerome is self-conscious about others’ interpretations of his Japanese appearance outside of Hawaii. He begins a relationship with Cathy but is later drawn to Rei, who is pressured by her parents about being with Jerome because, to Japanese people, he is a foreigner. As the school year progresses, the friends’ mutual understanding grows, but not without difficulties. Mainland Education is a Kumu Kahua world premiere.

Thoughts

Izuka crafts quite an emotional ride in “Mainland Education.”  At times it’s witty and funny as both Jerome (Tyler Tanabe) and Yan (Shiro Kawai) suffer from “fish outta water” syndrome adjusting to their experiences on the Mainland.  Kawai in particular was just hilarious as Taiwanese doctoral student Yan whose less than perfect English set-up for many the hilarious moment in a recurring gag throughout the play

On the flip side, Izuka crafts quite the drama that touched upon serious themes including race and relationships that often left me both on the edge of my seat at times with the strength of the drama as well as with a few uncomfortable flashbacks to relationships of my past and my friend’s past which I’d rather have not recalled.  In many ways the play for me comes across as either one of those old ABC After School Specials (with humor) or an episode of “Boy Meets World” with a local twist.

For my taste I found the play quite engaging.  The message of racial tolerance speaks loud and clear with the contrast between Jerome’s relationships with both the bubbly haole girl, English-major Cathy (brilliantly brought to life by Kathy Hunter) and reserved, Japanese national business major Rei (Julia Nakamoto).

Hunter’s performance as Cathy (who seemed more interested in earning her MRS than her English degree) was  emotionally powerful as I definitely went along the roller coaster ride with her through the dramas of her relationship with Jerome.

Tyler Tanabe’s performance of lead man Jerome was also a lot fun as we too went along his personal voyage of discovery as he sought to juggle the unenviable demands of finishing his graduate degree, finding a high-paying job and balancing (literally) his love life.  Jerome’s emotional tormet with his inability to achieve his goal (land a job) and find happiness with his love life and comfort with his views on race relations was very much palpable.

Julia Nakamoto’s performance of Rei was nicely done with her performance definitely heightening the drama.  (Note to self:  never scorn a woman — EVER).

Rounding out this talented cast is Christopher Takemoto-Gentile’s dual-performance as both a fellow student and Jerome’s job recruiter who subjects poor Jerome to the job interview and Thesis defense from hell.  Jerome’s interview scenes for me were actually among my favorite in the whole play (especially the Thesis defense).

In the “nice touches” area:  lots of cool 80’s songs (local and mainstream) punctuate the play thus building and ensuring the right mood.

The Verdict

“Mainland Education” is quite the emotional ride.  Izuka weaves together a powerful tale of race and relations punctuated with nice bits of situation comedy and a cool soundtrack to boot.  This talented cast of 5 pulls it all together to nice effect for an entertaining 2 hour ride!

The shows run through February 8, 2009 at Kumu Kahua Theater.  Tickets are available at Honolulu Box Office.

Highly Recommended!

Play Review: “Da Mayah” by Lee Cataluna

Play: “Da Mayah” by Lee Cataluna
Starring: Anna-Marie Love, Eddy Gudoy, Troy M. Apostol, Jarod Bilon, Stu Hirayama and Karen Hironaga
Venue: Kumu Kahua Theater
Genre:  Comedy
Date Watched: Sunday, September 7, 2008
Showtimes:  Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm through September 28, 2008
Tickets:  $16.00 General Admission.  Thursday night specials:  $13.00 General, $5.00 Student.  Available at Honolulu Box Office

Synopsis (taken from the “Da Mayah” page on the Kumu Kahua web site)

The newly-elected mayor of Hilo, Lester Perez (campaign slogan: “Do What He Sez!”), is not too bright, but his administrative assistant, second in command and mistress Sandralene Leialoha Ferreira, manages fairly successfully to keep him from making a complete fool of himself.

When Lester is blackmailed by a childhood friend, Derek Pang, Sandy enlists the aid of her gangster cousin Dukie and his hit man Stanton, who has “a rap sheet thicker than the Bible” and a crush on Sandy. The action takes us from the mayor’s office to Jazzmin’s Karaoke Bar and Washerette (“Karaoke solo $1.50, duet $4.00″), bringing to play assassination attempts, betrayals and bad plate lunches.

Thoughts

I didn’t have the privilege of seeing the original play a decade ago but I’m glad I got to see it now.  The play is just HILARIOUS with many a ROFLMAO moments.  Cataluna’s wit shines through as she pokes fun at local culture, government workers, current events and spoofs many a karaoke tune.

The play incorporates a generous amount of musical spoofs worthy of a Frank De Lima show (am I dating myself???) and the acting and vocal work by everyone shines through, especially star Anna-Marie Love as Sandrelene Leialoha Ferreira who was just brilliant in her role.

Troy Apostol’s role as Stanton the hit man definitely stole the show for my money though.  Stanton the Manton probably delivered the most LMAO moments of the film (aside from Sandralene herself) in his “Wile E. Coyote” like attempts to knock off Mayoral tormentor Derek Pang.  Cataluna’s screenplay just needed the “Acme” devices to get everything right.

On the “sad but true” side of the ledger, play Director R. Kevin Garcia Doyle probably put things best in his Director’s Notes (both from his original tenure in 1998 and the current 2008 productions).  To paraphrase Doyle’s words:

1998 Notes:  In regard to Mayah Lester Perez, “he represents all the ineptitude and the worst we think of politicians…he’s inarticulate…has questionable ethics…rewards his friends with high paying jobs regardless of qualifications…works with the underworld…cuts vital social programs…his Second-in-Command makes all the vital decisions…he’s helpless in face of economic woes…and ultimately he doesn’t give a damn about the folks who put him in office.”

2008 Notes:  “Wow, did Lee Cataluna totally call the last 8 years or what?”

The Verdict

“Da Mayah” is a brilliant play.  It is funny and witty and seeing a bigger than life slice of local culture is refreshing with the 8 billion references to local life and local events.  The music is contagious and the acting is top notch from where I sat.
Don’t miss this one.

Play Review: “Merchant of Venice” at 2008 Hawai’i Shakespeare Festvial

“If you prick us, do we not bleed?”

Venue: Art’s at Mark’s Garage
Watched: Thursday, August 28, 2008

The 2008 Hawai’i Shakespeare Festival (in its 7th year) wrapped up last weekend with “Merchant of Venice.” For me this was a play I was familiar with having studied the play back in either Intermediate or High School (don’t remember which grade it was but I’m sure it was either 8th, 9th or 10th grade.  It was a loooong time ago so sue me, lol). For me personally, aside from “Romeo and Juliet” and “Othello,” this is the one play of the Bard’s I’m most familiar with.

Plot Synopsis (taken from the Hawai’i Shakespeare Festival web site).

Merchant of Venice portrays Shakespeare’s 16th century world contrasting the aristocratic and romantic world of Belmont in which people risk everything for love and the mercantile world of Venice, the most powerful and liberal city state in Europe where people risk everything for profit; a world where male friendships encompass a wide range of feelings and loyalties and where men and women marry for romantic love; where greed and prejudice breed hatred, self-righteousness leads to revenge and uncompromising justice results in man’s downfall.

Shakespeare began writing a comedy but ended up creating Shylock, one of his first real tragic characters, turning Merchant of Venice into a tragicomedy.

For more on the play, peruse the ever excellent Wikipedia entry here.

Thoughts:

I enjoyed the experience. I rarely get to see Shakespeare performed live and in a setting like Mark’s Garage you are LITERALLY right up on the action. Like when I saw “Henry V,” I was in the front row so I was literally a hands grab away from the cast.

The costumes were quite exquisite and authentic (well, authentic to me anyway). The performances by the cast were quite captivating. In particular, I enjoyed Stephen Meads powerful and captivating performance of Shylock. When I read about Shylock in school he pretty much sounded like what Mead delivered. The rest of the cast all turned in great and entertaining performances as well. The female cast members were gorgeous (particularly Katherine Aumer-Ryan’s Jessica). A standout in the cast for me was D. Tafai’i Silipa’s role as Morocco. It was a bit part but he delivered the goods and was my favorite performance of the night, for my money.

The show has ended so you’re outta luck in seeing it if you wanted however I definitely encourage those of you who enjoy theatre and Shakespeare to keep next year’s Fest in mind.

Big kudos to Producer Tony Pisculli and the hard-working cast and crew of this year’s 2008 Hawaii Shakespeare Fest for two months of solid entertainment.

For those of you needing a Shakespeare fix, UH Manoa’s Kennedy Theatre will be presenting MacBeth in November.  Check out the Kennedy Theatre web site for dates and prices.

Play Review: “Henry V” at 2008 Hawai’i Shakespeare Festival

“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers…”

Dates: Ongoing August 15, August 16 and August 1
Tickets: $18.00 General Admission, $14.00 for Sunday Matinee
Venue: Arts @ Mark’s Garage
Watched: Thursday, August 14, 2008

In it’s 7th year, the Hawai’i Shakespeare Festival presents the works of the world’s most famous playwright for the Hawai’i community. “Henry V” is the 2nd of 3 plays being presented this season.

Not being very familiar with this particular work (as it’s not something we covered in school) I had the pleasure of going into this play with no real expectations and I was thoroughly impressed with what I saw unfold before my eyes in this 2.5 hour outing.

Play Synopsis (taken from festival web site):

To fulfill the promise of his transformation from idle youth to new-crowned king, Henry launches a war to reclaim France for England. Featuring some of Shakespeare’s most stirring speeches and culminating in the famous battle of Agincourt where the French outnumbered the English five to one.

If you want to know more about this play read the ever excellent Wikipedia entry on it.

Thoughts:

I was most impressed with the mood Director Tony Pisculli and the cast were able to create for the play. An all-female cast (an HSF tradition) performed the entire play to great effect. Being sit in a war period the costuming combined an ultra-cool modern/medieval look as the girl’s were dressed in combinations of modern BDU’s with Medieval era chain-mail and jackets which was just awesome!

Damned Spot Drums provided the “mood music” for the play with their ultra-cool percussive sound which only served to add to the militant mood of the play.

The entire cast turned in excellent performances but standing out in my mind in particular were the following. Elizabeth Wolfe’s lead portrayal of King Henry V was excellent as she very much carried the confident air of both Monarch and military leader. In the lead role Wolfe’s gets to deliver some very stirring dialogue, in particular her rouse the troops “Eve of Day of Saint Crispian’s” speech. The gorgeous Erin SuJan Kim moved the show along in fine fashion as the narrating Chorus. Shoshanna Douglas’ portrayal of Boy was also very moving and well-played.

The stage combat scenes were well done, in particular the climatic battle where the English triumphed against the French army. The choreography and lighting in that particular scene was very dramatic and awe-inspiring.

The Venue:

If you’ve never been to Mark’s Garage before it’s actually a very small “intimate” venue. As such you will be right up front in on all the action which only adds to the atmosphere of the show

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed HSF’s “Henry V” and definitely recommend it to any theater lover out there or for those who ever wanted to see one of the Bard’s works on stage