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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, October 13, 2006

New theater group takes off on 'The Real Thing'

Advertiser Staff

"To U.S. With Aloha & Mabuhay" celebrates the Filipino centennial in Hawai'i. The play is produced by The Actors' Group.

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Walter S. Eccles II is Henry and Kristine Altwies Nicholson is Annie in "The Real Thing."

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The spotlights turn to stage productions large and small this weekend. Highlights include the launch of a new theater group and an evergreen musical that'll have audiences singing "Ohhhh-klahoma!"

NEW GROUP IN TOWN

The new Hawaii Repertory Theatre enters the community-theater landscape with Tom Stoppard's Tony Award-winning "The Real Thing." The backstage comedy finds playwright Henry and his actress wife, Annie, trying to untangle concepts such as love, marriage and fidelity as a thuggish, aspiring playwright named Brodie complicates matters.

Susan Park directs. It's for mature audiences.

Showtime is 8 p.m. today and Saturday and Thursday to Oct. 21; and 4 p.m. Sunday and Oct. 22 at the Princess Abigail Kawananakoa Auditorium, Kawananakoa Middle School, 49 Funchal St. in Nu'uanu. Tickets are $22.50 general, $17.50 seniors, $14.50 students. 550-8457, www.hawaiireptheatre.org.

FAMILY AFFAIR

Dad Ron Bright directs, and son Michael Bright stars in Rodgers and Hammerstein's evergreen tribute to the American farmlands, "Oklahoma!" This classic tells the story of young love (farm girl Laurey, played by Ashley Warling; and cowboy Curly, played by Michael Bright) and the conflict between ranchers and farmers.

Among the hit tunes are "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'," "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top," "I Cain't Say No," "People Will Say We're in Love" and "Oklahoma!"

The show launches at 7:30 p.m. today, repeating at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays, through Nov. 5, at Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College. Tickets are $26 general; $22 military, UH faculty/staff and those 62 and older; $18 students and those 4 to 18; $21 each for groups of 10 or more. 235-7310, www.eTicketHawaii.com.

FILIPINO PRIDE

"To U.S. With Aloha & Mabuhay," a series of vignettes partly based on Philippines events from 1898 to 1902 and written by Virgilio Menor Felipe, makes its world premiere this weekend.

The play, which also incorporates the music and dance of the Philippines, celebrates the centennial of the arrival of the first Filipino contract workers and the 60th anniversary of the last wave of Filipino plantation workers in Hawai'i.

The production is directed by David Farmer and his wife, Loren Karunungan D. Farmer, who was born in the Philippines. It is produced by The Actors' Group.

Showtime is 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and Oct. 20-21; and at 4 p.m. Sunday and Oct. 22 at the Pearl City Cultural Center Theater, 1419 Waimanu Home Road. Tickets are $15. 550-8457, www.honoluluboxoffice.com.

ONE-WOMAN SHOW

One actor plays all the quirky characters in a small town. That's the premise of "Lone Wolfe and Company," featuring veteran performer Elizabeth Wolfe going it alone, improv style. R. Kevin Doyle directs.

Showtime is 8 p.m. today and Saturday at The ARTS at Marks Garage. Tickets are $5, available an hour before curtain. 550-8457, www.honoluluboxoffice.com.

OVER THE RAINBOW

The O'ahu Arts Center presents its first musical, "The Wizard of Oz," under the stars in Mililani. Chloe Amos, a Mililani Middle School sixth-grader, stars as Dorothy, who must find her way back to Kansas after she is swept into the fantastical land of Oz.

"Oz" is directed by Kristi Kashimoto.

Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Saturday (doors open at 7 p.m.) at Mililani Mauka Community Park, next to Mililani Middle School. Tickets are $15 general, $10 for those 17 and younger. 848-7632, www.oahuartscenter.org.

THRILLER CONTINUES

Sacred Hearts Thespian Troupe presents "Murder on Retreat," continuing at the school's auditorium. The thriller by Wilfrid H. Pettitt opened yesterday; it's the tale of nine schoolgirls on a retreat who find that the 10th has been murdered. Could one of the nine be the murderer?

Lloyd and Margaret-Helen Wood direct.

Showtime is 8 p.m. today and Saturday. Tickets are $5 at the door. 373-2586.

Walter S. Eccles II is Henry and Kristine Altwies Nicholson is Annie in "The Real Thing."

"To U.S. With Aloha & Mabuhay" celebrates the Filipino centennial in Hawai'i. The play is produced by The Actors' Group.