Annual show original, compelling

By Joseph T. Rozmiarek
Advertiser Drama Critic

BullDog is a cast member and co-director of "Christmas Talk Story," an annual production by Honolulu Theatre for Youth. Brad Goda 'Christmas Talk Story 2004' When: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow; 3:30 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 19; 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 and 18 Where: Tenney Theatre, St. Andrew's Cathedral Admission: $16, $13, $10 Information: 839-9885

The concept has charm and immediacy. The theme centers on random acts of kindness and giving rather than receiving.

In Act 1 of the public production, which constitutes the version seen by school audiences, the lighter Christmas memories can wear thin.

Instead, our attention goes to Y York's "Lord of the Rings Christmas" where the family dog chokes upon swallowing an action figure from a present prematurely opened by a pair of greedy brothers.

But the boys' repentance is short-lived.

"Now we juss got to figgah out how fo rewrap da (present), how fo get um back undah da tree, and how fo ack surprise when we open um on Christmas morning."

A couple of the Act 1 songs also depart from the norm. There's a rap lament about getting only clothes and no toys as presents, and a compellingly simple "Go Tell It On the Mountain" sung a cappella by cast members BullDog, Jason Kanda and Janice Terukina. Accompanied only by clicking stones, an ukulele slapped — but not strummed — and the slippered feet of the band members thumping on the hollow stage floor, it's a pure and elegantly simple moment.

Act 1 ends with "The Twelve Days of Christmas," Hawaiian style, punched up by the cast feverishly whipping out cue cards for an audience sing-along.

The show's second act is done only at public performances and stretches the range of the material. Kanda works up some good audience participation with "Mum's Da Word" by Lee Tonouchi — a monologue centering on just the right flower for a young man to impress a young woman.

Terukina narrates her own story, "The Secret Present," in which a little girl with no money collects presents for her family from objects found around the house. And wintertime memories go over the top with "Healing Grampa Silva" by E. Shan Correa, in which Grandma puts too many dried chili peppers in her medicinal cabbage soup.

Yokanaan Kearns begins to push the traditional envelope with a near-death experience, "Da Most Dangerous Chreesmas Eva," and Gary Tachiyama takes memories to the edge of tragedy with his poetic "Cedric Said Where You Going."

"Christmas Talk Story" looks like it will continue to be with us for many seasons to come.