Plenty of drama being staged around town

Advertiser Staff

From left, Hau'oli the happy-face spider (Neil Furukawa) meets Pupu kani oe, a rare O'ahu tree snail (Colleen Fujioka) and the Cannibal Snail (Natalie McKinney) in "Voices of the Rainforest" at Honolulu Zoo.

'Arabian Night'

The drama by German playwright Roland Schimmelpfennig is the final production of the Late Night Series season. It begins on a hot summer night as the denizens of an apartment building collide with heat-induced desires that fuse fantasy and reality. UHM graduate student Peter Ruocco directs. Recommended for mature audiences.

Showtimes are at 11 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday and 11 p.m. April 29-30 at UH-Manoa's Earle Ernst Lab Theatre. A rap session follows the April 29 show. Tickets are on sale at the door an hour before each performance: $8 general, $7 non-UHM students, seniors, military, UH faculty/staff, $3 UHM students. 956-7655.

'Bard Bash XXXV'

Terence Knapp, who is directing a revival of "twelf night o' WHATEVA!" (see Page 16), revisits Shakespeare on his own with his annual celebration of the Bard's birthday. Knapp, special guests and students will read from Shakespeare's works.

Showtime is 6 p.m. Sunday at the UH-Manoa's Kennedy Theatre mainstage. It's free, but donations will go toward student scholarships. 956-7655.

'Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel'

BullDog, left, and Daryl Bonilla are among the cast of Honolulu Theater for Youth's "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel." Brad Goda

The play, directed by Mark Lutwak, is recommended for those age 4 and older.

Showtimes are at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, repeating each Saturday through May 21 at McCoy Pavilion, Ala Moana Beach Park. The 4:30 p.m. May 7 show will be sign-interpreted. Tickets are $16 general, $8 for youths 18 and younger and seniors over 60. 839-9885, www.htyweb.org.

'Voices of the Rainforest'

Song, dance, puppetry and pidgin are part of this 45-minute show about protecting the rainforests. The 'Ohi'a Productions offering was written by Lisa Matsumoto, with music and lyrics by Roslyn. Matsumoto and Tammy Hunt direct.

Showtimes are at 7 p.m. today through Sunday and April 29-30 at the Honolulu Zoo Meadow Stage, weather permitting. Enter through the Monsarrat Street gate, across from Kapi'olani Park; bring lawn chairs or mats, food and non-alcoholic drinks. Tickets are $5 at the door; box office opens at 6:30 p.m. 247-0456, www.ohia.com.