'Talk Story' offers treat for eyes, ears
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| From left: Nyla Fujii-Babb, Tita (Cathy Collins) and Jeff Gere are among the storytellers to be featured at the 16th annual Talk Story Festival this weekend at McCoy Pavilion in Ala Moana Beach Park.
Talk Story Festival 7-9:30 p.m. today through Sunday; gates open at 6 p.m. Also: Free storytelling workshop with Jeff Gere, 1-4 p.m. Sunday |
Advertiser Staff
They speak, you listen and let your imagination take you on a fantastic journey. That's the hope of the annual Talk Story Festival, now in its 16th year, which offers three nights of storytelling.
Tonight's theme is Spooky Stories; tomorrow's is Sweet and Sour Love Stories; Sunday's is Tales of Courage.
Here's tonight's schedule:
- The winner of last weekend's Scare Your Socks Off Ghost Storytelling Contest leads the lineup.
- Alton Chung, from Portland, Ore., will share two Japanese folk tales collected by Lafcadio Hearn.
- Ed Chevy, who is deaf, offers "The Tomb of Ligeia," by Edgar Allen Poe. Interpreted by Scott Wallace.
- Tita (Kathy Collins) from Maui, tells of "Kanehekili, God of Thunder," from her new CD.
- Sandra MacLees, from Volcano, shares a tale about Yolanda, who is looking for the perfect man.
- George Kahumoku Jr., the slack-key master, offers a medley of tales in addition to 'aumakua (family god) songs.
- Daniel Kelin II, drama education director of the Honolulu Theatre for Youth, shares stories of the Marshall Islands.
- Vicky Dworkin offers "The Wife's Story," by Ursula K. Le Guin.
- James McCarthy, with a background of comedy, acting and storytelling, performs a ghost story from west Ireland with Kate Culhane.
- Jeff Gere, storyteller and founder of the festival, focuses on Scheherazade's First Tale, from "The Arabian Nights." Accompanied by Reggae McGowen.
Saturday's lineup:
- Deborah Piscusa Foy has stories from the Micronesian storyboard carving tradition. Accompanied by a traditional carver whose works will be available for purchase.
- Barbara Kawakami, who has interviewed Japanese picture brides, shares some of their stories.
- Sandra MacLees has two tales — "The Two-Headed Bird" and "Bottle of Brains" — from her recordings.
- Kealoha and Selah, slam poetry artists, offer "Lovin' Poems You Us We."
- Tita (Kathy Collins) shares a Japanese folk tale about a parent's love.
- Jim Weiss, the festival's Mainland guest, is from Virginia. He will tell "Orpheus and Eurydyce: A Greek Love Story."
- Gordon Freitas, a local troubadour, offers original ballads.
- Makia Malo, the well-respected professional storyteller, has a bittersweet tale titled "I Never Said I Love You."
- Lee Siegel, professor of Indian religions at the University of Hawai'i, offers excerpts from his new work, "Who Wrote the Book of Love."
Sunday's schedule:
- Nyla Fujii-Babb offers "Echoes from Hawai'i's Plantation Days."
- Lopaka Kapanui, Hawaiian activist, dancer and martial artist, shares "Warriors of Nu'uanu."
- Jim Weiss tells of "The Red Dog," drawing on Greek myths.
- Darrell Lum, pidgin proponent and co-founder of the journal Bamboo Ridge, reads "The Weightroom," a tribute to his childhood hero, weight lifter Tommy Kono.
- Makia Malo tells of the first time he left Kalaupapa in "A New Frontier."
- Brenda Kwon, founder of two monthly poetry series, shares "Cracks in the Wall."
- Jack Boyle, from North Kohala, offers Buddhist teaching tales.
- Alton Chung tells "Grandma Fujikawa" and "Hindsight," tales by Linda Tagawa, former Advertiser columnist.
- Jeff Gere also offers three intertwining tales by Linda Tagawa.
Also, Clyde "Kindy" Sproat will be honored with the Tusitala Award Sunday night, although he is unable to attend the festival.
