STAGE REVIEW
Local talent finds a voice in 'Super Secret Squad'

By Joseph T. Rozmiarek
Advertiser Drama Critic

•	'Super Secret Squad' 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through June 16 Kumu Kahua Theatre $16 — $5 536-4441

Like living history, we experience a new play forward, but understand it backward. The comparison works because history is simply the amalgamation of multiple life experiences. Live drama represents the same life flow, but as an artistic representation, and in theatrical terms.

Live theater also has the liberating license to be selective with facts and almost free rein to bend them through creative imagination, limited only by what an audience will accept as credible.

When a new play offers all this, and entertains us at the same time, we go away satisfied.

It's a pleasure to turn this perspective on Lee Cataluna's "Super Secret Squad," now in its premiere production at Kumu Kahua Theatre. Cataluna is fast becoming an established voice in Hawai'i, bringing to her writing a playful perspective on local behavior and rituals and an excellent ear for natural speech patterns and rhythm.

In this play, she also adds something else — a moralistic tone that not only illuminates past action, but suggests a new direction toward responsibility.

The element of personal and social responsibility has always been an undercurrent in her plays. In "Da Mayah," ordinary people expose political corruption. In "Aloha Friday," ordinary people stand up to exploitation by big business.

In "Super Secret Squad," ordinary people take on something much harder: an insidious and pervasive attitude. But she gives that attitude a name and a human context.

It's Wendell, and we must all be vigilant against him.

What Wendell represents doesn't become totally clear until the final scenes. But on the way, it's a fine opportunity to skewer local politicians and other authority figures.

There's no lecturing here; Cataluna's style remains that of giving the audience a good time. And the fun in this production comes from a quintet of lackluster students at the University of Hawai'i whose main preoccupations are playing music, talking story, and drinking beer.

These roles are excellently cast by director Keith Kashiwada and are brought to life as individuals by solid ensemble acting.

Togo (played by Daryl Bonilla) is categorically angry and ready to fight anyone, including his roommates. Duck (Squire Coldwell) is the brains of the group, hatching plans and implementing them with an ever-ready roll of duct tape. Wanga (Ely Rapoza) is the innocent lady-killer, simultaneously proud and shy about his amorous achievements. Boy (Maka) is simply a big hearted guy from Hana with two ready solutions to any problem — eat or play music. Liko (Eddy Gudoy) has taken nearly every university class, but can't declare a major.

Their run-on bull sessions lead to the theory that some mid-level official in any organization consistently keeps them from moving forward, whether it may be to set up phone service or register a car. He's Wendell, usually absent for jury duty, but always a dampening effect.

When Wanga's aboriginal carvings on the trunk of a venerable banyan tree keep it from being cut down, the guys make it their mission to right all obvious wrongs, one at a time. They rotate the Duke Kahanomoku statue to face the ocean, move vegetation lines at midnight to enlarge public beaches, and bring the Rainbow symbol back to their sports teams. Newspaper reports label it all as the work of a "super secret squad."

In Cataluna's script, intermission has us wondering whether the protagonists will stumble over a clear sense of direction. That happens in Act Two when the guys discover that Liko's small nephew (Sean James John) is being physically abused by his mother and her boyfriend. Their prankish causes turn serious as they risk kidnapping charges to save the little boy.

This brings a clear sense of purpose and the challenge of real maturity. The boys must each confront their inner Wendell and deal with personal reluctance to commit to a cause.

Excellent acting saves the turn from becoming preachy.

This is Bonilla's third lead role in a play by Cataluna, and he slides with great authority into another part of great macho bark, but no real bite. Gudoy is innocently confused and charming, and Maka is as naturally warm as a Hawaiian afternoon. Coldwell is hollowly autocratic and Rapoza deals with more introspection than he'd like to have. Young actor John also handles his nonspeaking role, although it seems to call for a youngster half his age.

"Super Secret Squad" is another success for Cataluna. It's also a good audience opportunity to watch local talent find a significant voice.