Korean aesthetic inspires colorful characters

The animal costumes of "When Tiger Smoked His Pipe," including those of an ox and a toad, have been designed to catch the eye of grade-schoolers. Photos by Brad Goda

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Plaster bandages were used to build Reb Beau Allen's tiger mask. 'When Tiger Smoked His Pipe' Korean folk tales adapted for the stage by Nora Okja Keller and Tae Kathleen Keller; produced by the Honolulu Theatre for Youth 1 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 and 25; Nov. 1 Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter $12 general, $6 for 18 and younger and seniors over 60 839-9885 Note: The show is recommended for children 7 and older.

The Honolulu Theatre for Youth production collects Korean folk tales and plays to the public starting Saturday at Richardson Theatre. It boasts eye-filling colors of the vibrant Korean palette, and revolves around the adventures of three animal characters. The production was adapted for the stage by novelist and Honolulu Star-Bulletin columnist Nora Okja Keller and Tae Kathleen Keller, her 10-year-old daughter.

"The challenge was to work within the framework of Korean folk tales, meaning a traditional feel for the costumes, but the costumes also had to be very comfortable to move in and be of fabrics that were wash-and-wear, since the show will travel throughout O'ahu and the Neighbor Islands. We did it all in our costume shop," said Cameron, HTY's in-house costume designer. She said her floor is her shelf, a mosaic of fabric swaths, garments in various stages of completion and remnants from her sewing projects.

The target audience — upper-elementary school youngsters — likely will focus on the adult-size animals in the tales: a tiger with a hat-and-face mask, portrayed by Reb Beau Allen; an ox, also portrayed by Allen; and a toad, played by Squire Coldwell.

Junior Tesoro, Cynthia See and Monica K. Cho Coldwell round out the cast. Tesoro takes on the part of Korean p'ansori, a centuries-old storytelling element in which he shifts from singing to chanting to talking. The technique has been seen in this country in the 2000 film "Chunhyang." Dr. Chan Park, one of Korea's foremost p'ansori practitioners, adapted, composed and directed the p'ansori part for HTY.

The tales — "The Tiger and the Rice Cake Moon," "The Ox Mask" and "Tukkebi, the Toad Bridegroom" — offer lessons on the perils of laziness, the wisdom of listening to your mother, and the danger of wishing for what you want, because of the chance you may get more than you can handle.

"My research showed that everyday Korean attire was light-colored, gray, neutral, so I built on this with each story, to create a special look," said Cameron. "But I think I was able to include the whole spectrum of colors in this show." Her pieces include the lively hues of Korean costume.

Her research included numerous Web sites on the Internet and visits to the Honolulu Academy of Arts. When she began sketching pieces, she relied on Park's input, too.

"I also watched that Korean historical show on the Korean TV channel," she said. "And I got hooked. Plus, the ideas for lots of hats came, too."

The animal costumes were particularly fun to create, Cameron said.

In addition, "because of the planned tours, the show required costumes with fabrics that would take the abuse of touring and daily washing," Cameron said. Silks, no; cottons, yes.

"And, of course, the comfort factor was at play," she said last week, when humidity and stickiness ran rampant.

The ox and toad masks have rattan frames, covered with cloth; the tiger mask uses plaster bandages.

"The design had to consider how the actors could speak," said Cameron.

"The tiger face mask offered a bigger challenge, since that one sits directly on the face, instead of over the head like the others. The trick was to counterbalance, make sure the half-mask doesn't slip down the face."

Late last week Cameron was still testing the wearability of the tiger mask.

Shoes were another challenge.

"Korean footwear is so distinctive — with limitations," she said. "They're canoe-shaped, and they don't sell these at Wal-Mart. And the costume changes are so fast, the actors don't have time to change shoes, so they have to be as neutral as possible."

A kung fu-type shoe, with an add-on toe, will have to do, she said.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.