THE NIGHT STUFF
British duo puts outrageous spin on office life
By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
The ARTS at Marks Garage couldn't have asked for a bigger opening bang when British comedy duo Ridiculusmus played a week at the venue in March 2001.
Ridiculusmus' "The Exhibitionists" — at its most basic, a play detailing the whacked-out adventures of three attendants left in charge of an art gallery — was The ARTS' very first production. More importantly, though, it also became The ARTS' very first sold-out production. The after-effect? Near-instant legitimacy in the Honolulu arts community as a downtown performance space capable of drawing a loyal following with eclectic fare.
The wild and wacky guys of Ridiculusmus return to The ARTS at Marks Garage with seven performances of a new production, "Ideas Men," beginning Tuesday night.
David Woods and Jon Hough — the sole writers, performers and co-founders making up Ridiculusmus — return to Honolulu and The ARTS this week with seven performances of their latest, critically acclaimed creation, "Ideas Men." The production follows a couple of office drones as they slog through the funnier side of the tedious, micromanaged, soul-sucking minutiae of post-millennial white-collar life.
Think "Ideas Men" sounds an awful lot like a certain critically-beloved, sublimely-comedic British TV series called "The Office"? Think again.
The two drones here are enlisted by the corporate Powers-That-Be in an unnamed company to come up with ideas for "the next big thing." Lacking anything remotely resembling ability or desire to be creative, however, the duo instead get into increasingly outrageous in-office shenanigans. These include, but are not limited to, swivel chair races, obscene pictures on flip-charts, devious and devilishly funny role-playing and even a bit of violence.
Ridiculusmus calls the exhaustively chaotic, defiantly inexplicable theatrical creation "a merciless satire on contemporary office life and the industrialisation of creativity."
Uh-huh. Go discuss.
Showtimes are 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Advance tickets are $18; $20 at the door. Charge by phone at 545-2820. Performances also at 7 and 10 p.m. May 21-22, $20 advance, $23 at the door.
That Fonque music
To paraphrase the poet George Clinton, "If anyone gets fonqued up, it's gonna be you." The aural menu at tonight's opening evening of le Fonque at downtown's Mercury Lounge promises a lead entrée of funk-soul matched with electro-breaks, drum-n-bass, ragga and hip-hop. Guesting will be Nomasterbacks, Toki, Brazilifique beats by Freeform Sound Collective, Seeko, K-Ing, Chia and Monkey. Le Fonque drops at Mercury every second Friday of the month. From 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., at 1154 Fort St. Mall, No. 10. 21 and older only. Entry free before 11 p.m. and $5 thereafter.
Another Trip nearby
A few blocks makai of le Fonque, the Lightsleepers collective welcomes San Jose-based hip-hop crew Lip Service (Randy & Pseudo of JKC) to its monthly Trip The Lights at Studio 1. As always, the evening will feature open mike, art installations and turntablists, including Oliver Twist, Delve, KTC, Zack Morse and Naki. From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.; age 18 and older. Entry is $5.
Battle for BayFest
Know a band good enough to open for Liz Phair or Train at this year's BayFest? Each Saturday evening starting May 22, the Budweiser True Music Challenge Battle of the Bands at Wave Waikiki will pit three bands against each other for the honor of preceding one of two headlining acts at the Marine Corps Air Station July 4th weekend festival. Four competitions lead to a final battle June 26 to decide a winner. Get in by calling Janine Nakao at 550-9210, or e-mailing her at janinenakao@clearchannel.com. Also performing at BayFest will be country vocalist Jo Dee Messina. More information to come.
Slam Team chosen
Finally, congratulations to Kealoha, Selah Geissler, Melvin Borja and Travis T., the final poets standing at last week's First Thursdays Grand Slam at Studio 1. In an evening of inspired spoken word from all involved, the four were selected to represent Hawai'i at the National Poetry Slam, August in St. Louis, Mo. Two-and-a-half months of practice lie ahead. Good luck!
Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8005.
