Fables, farces, thrillers, drama take center stage

Advertiser Staff

On the stage front, there's truly something for everyone, including a popular musical with hit tunes, a couple of farces, a historical drama from Japan, a reflection on the war in Iraq and a few fables for youngsters. Some productions begin this weekend; others start up next week.

Here's a look:

'King' at richardson

"The King and I," starring Ray Bumatai and Tina Shelton, takes centerstage at Richardson Theatre beginning Thursday. The Rodgers and Hammerstein evergreen, about the king of Siam and the English school teacher who's brought in to tutor the king's wives and children, features songs such as "Getting to Know You," "I Whistle a Happy Tune" and "Shall We Dance?"

The Army Community Theatre production is directed and choreographed by Jim Hutchison.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Nov. 20, 26-27 and Dec. 3-4 at Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter. Tickets are $14 and $17 general; $8 and $10 children 12 and younger. 438-4480.

'Red Herring' at MVT

Alison Gal and David Farmer star in "Red Herring," a trilogy of love stories at Manoa Valley Theatre. Brad Goda

It's directed by Bill Ogilvie. Among the cast members are Victoria Gail-White, Advertiser art critic; and David Farmer, also an Advertiser art critic.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays beginning Wednesday through Dec. 5 at Manoa Valley Theatre. Tickets are $25, with a $5 discount for military and seniors; $15 for those 25 and younger. 988-6131.

'Manjiro' at Mamiya

"John Manjiro: The Dawning of Modern Japan" is a historical drama about the first Japanese man to come to America and his effect on the culture of his homeland. Photo courtesy of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i

At age 14, Nakahama Manjiro was shipwrecked, along with four others, on an atoll in the Pacific Ocean; they were rescued by a New Bedford whaling ship, which brought them to the kingdom of Hawai'i in 1841. Eventually, the ship's captain, William Whitfield, took Manjiro — who adopted the name John — to his hometown, Fairhaven, Mass.

Manjiro completed his American high school education, traveled around the world on a whaling voyage and finally returned home to Japan. He had a behind-the-scenes role when Commodore Matthew Perry opened Japan to the West, and educated those who would lead the way to a new era for Japan.

"John Manjiro" is the signature piece of Gekidan Haisho; it was first performed in Tokyo in 1994 to mark the 140th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace and Amity between Japan and the United States. The play is in Japanese, with English supertitles.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Mamiya Theatre, Saint Louis School. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 general, $12 JCCH members, students and seniors 60 and older. 945-7633, ext. 45.

'Outpost' at Marks

"The Last Outpost," a timely drama written by Nancy Moss, is about a civilian reconstruction worker in Iraq. Moss is the winner of the resident prize in the Kumu Kahua/University of Hawai'i-Manoa Theatre Department play contest last year. "The Last Outpost" was given a staged reading in September at Kumu Kahua.

This full-fledged production with a cast is directed by Jason Kanda.

Show times are 8 p.m. today, Saturday and Thursday-Nov. 20; 2 p.m. Sunday at The ARTS at Marks Garage. Admission is $10 general, $7 students. 536-8047.

'Murder' at Lanikai

Bill McRoberts is Hercules Handsome and Kathleen Thompson is Purity in "Murder on Tombstone Island" or "Who Will Stop the Strangler?" a melodrama by the Lanikai Mortgage Players. Admission includes popcorn.

Written by Nelson Shreve and directed by Jack Morse, it's a two-act play that takes place in a castle built of old tombstones. Befitting a melodrama, characters include a moonshine magnate, his three ex-wives and the Crimson Kerchief Strangler.

Show times are 8 p.m. today, Saturday and Sunday and Nov. 19-21 at Lanikai Community Center, A'alapapa Drive and Kai'olena Drive. Admission is $5, and includes popcorn. 262-7549.

'Fables' at Kaimuki

From left, Buffy Wong, Grant Uchida and Jared Duldulao are part of the cast of "Wha'Sup Fables 2004." a production at Kaimuki High School Theatre beginning Saturday.

The Nov. 20 evening show is a benefit for the Kaimuki High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund.

Show times are 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and Nov. 20-21 and 7 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Kaimuki High School Theatre. Tickets are $10 general; $5 children, high school students with ID and senior citizens over 65; free for preschoolers. 733-4913.

'Noah' at First Presbyterian

"Noah — The Musical" is a new piece by Roslyn Catracchia (songwriter for Lisa Matsumoto's "Once Upon One Time" trilogy and "On Dragonfly Wings") and Jeannie Edwards that takes a creative spin on the biblical tale. There are characters such as Meshhugeh Nuts the Disco Squirrel; Darwin, Noah's blind Beagle; and evil disc jockeys Hammurabi and Filch.

A cast of 36 will bring life to this Old Testament tale told in a modern-day way.

Show times are 8 p.m. today and Saturday and Nov. 19-20; 3 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 21 at First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu, 1822 Ke'eaumoku St. Suggested donation: $7 general, $4 for kids under 12. 532-1111.

'Fun' at Punahou

"Fun with Fables," the Lisa Matsumoto/Roslyn Catracchia play, is presented by middle-school students and the Punahou Theatre department. The play is aimed for audiences of all ages and features more than 30 characters.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday at Dillingham Hall, Punahou campus. Tickets are $6 general, $3 students. 943-3673.

'Alice' at Kamehameha

"Alice in Wonderland" continues a run at Ke'elikolani Auditorium, presented by the Kamehameha Schools' Performing Arts Department. It's based on the fantasy tale by Lewis Carroll and is directed by Patrick Fujioka.

Show times are 7 p.m. today, Saturday and Nov. 19-20; 2 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 21 at the Kamehameha Schools' Kapalama campus. Admission is $5 general, $3 students. 842-8496.