Two stories, straight from the heart
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What's love got to do with it? A lot on the theater scene this weekend, as two productions explore passion in very different ways.
'AIDA' AT MAMIYA
"Aida," the Elton John/Tim Rice musical presented by the Saint Louis Center for the Arts, returns for a pair of scaled-down benefit shows before heading for Scotland.
Tom and Holly Holowach star in the two-character study "Love Letters," beginning Saturday at Paliku Theatre.
"Aida," the Saint Louis Center for the Arts production, is heading for the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival next month, where it will make its Scottish premiere. But before that, there are two shows at Mamiya Theatre — a repackaged version for the Edinburgh audiences — that will help finance the trip.
In these pared-down productions, the cast will be kept outside the theater, props and sets in hand, 15 minutes before curtain, as required at the Fringe festival. The audience will be let in five minutes before the show.
The Elton John/Tim Rice musical, which made its Island debut in March, is the story of a Nubian princess, an Egyptian princess and the soldier they both love.
The 22 high schoolers heading for Scotland are from Saint Louis, Sacred Hearts Academy, Mid-Pacific Institute, La Pietra, Maryknoll, Kamehameha, Kaiser and Kaimuki.
Logan Joseph, a recent Castle High School graduate, will play male lead Radames, replacing Broadway performer Mahi'ai Kekumu, who is in the cast of the "Wicked" musical in Chicago. Kyle Kakuno directs.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday at Mamiya Theatre. Tickets are $17.50 general, $12.50 students, military and age 60 and older. 550-8457, honolulubox office.com.
'LOVE LETTERS' AT PALIKU
Two characters, a relationship spanning nearly 50 years, a lifetime of correspondence. Those are the basics of "Love Letters," the work of A.R. Gurney, a staged reading starring Paliku Theatre manager Tom Holowach and his wife, Holly.
The popular theater piece presents the lives — loves, triumphs and tragedies — of the staid lawyer Andrew Ladd and the lively artist Melissa Gardner, who grew up together but went their separate ways.
This is the first time the Holowachs will appear on stage together. The two, who have been married for 26 years, share a love of the theater but stopped acting in favor of other behind-the-scenes entertainment pursuits. That is, until last year, when both returned to the spotlight.
"Love Letters"is directed by Andrew Meader.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Aug. 6 and at 2 p.m. Sunday and Aug. 7 at Paliku Theatre. Tickets are $19 general, $14 for military, age 62 and older, students and children. 235-7433, www.eticket hawaii.com.
