I have seen a lot of good theatre over the past couple of weeks: the ambitious and stunning jingju at UHM, the daring and creative Icarus Fights the Minotaur at HTY, and Moa a Mo‘i at Kumu Kahua, a fascinating ensemble piece—its finale about the Westernization of Hawai‘i packed a wallop. But today I want to salute the fine work of UHM alumna M.J. Matsushita and all those who make the Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center (KHSPAC) possible.
My daughters and I went last night to see Rocky Horror Show, directed by another UHM alumna Jenn Thomas. If you don’t know about KHSPAC, it is somewhat like a magnet arts program, in that students from any island public schools can audition to take part in their productions. Since most public middle and high schools on the island do not have theatre programs of their own, KHSPAC really fills a void. They perform in the ample KHS theatre, and M.J. makes sure the technical elements are first class. The arts in our public schools face so many challenges, from lack of resources to lack of respect. How better to support them than by having a great night out at the theatre?
This production is the first high school production of Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show in Hawai‘i; some would say it’s too risky to involve teenagers in a show that features a sweet transvestite, pelvic thrusts, and a finale about giving yourself over to pleasure.
I’m so glad they took the risk! The evening became a bonding moment for my girls who are RHS “first-timers,” and we had enormous fun. Before the show, we bought three kits of approved items: no toast, but we had newspapers, confetti, toilet paper, and party hats. The evening began with a helpful instructional video created and narrated by Tommy Barron, whose deliberately badly synced instructions set just the right tone for a PG-13 production. Throughout the evening, the crowd (which included little kids, teenagers, and a lot of people who, like me, first went to the movie over thirty years ago) participated by talking back to the stage, waving lights, and dancing. My daughters were only slightly embarrassed by my Time Warp antics.
Design-wise, the production looks lavish, with a grand set (insider info tells me it only cost $500!), including a spectacular staircase and appropriately goofy space alien devices. The leather and lace costumes are delightful (not all characters show a lot of skin, but some of the young men are boldly bare). The band is great, and so is the cast. All of the leads are talented and engaging. Malia Lane as Janet (trollop!) and Dylan Bell as Brad (schlemiel!) are nerdily charming. Jorin Young as Columbia is a triple-threat: tap-dancing, singing, and making us feel her pain at Eddie’s loss. Sean Ramsey is a compelling Riff Raff, paired with Sarah-Marie Daniels, a diva-like Magenta. Rocky (Alika Bright) is charming, painted abs and all. The Criminologist (Natasha Fehn) turns out to be one of the sexiest parts of the show. Poasa Aga as Eddie rocks the house, and Taylor Silva uses her great voice to animate Dr. Scott. And of course there’s Dr. Frank N. Furter, played with perfect panache by Christian Jay Quinto, who charmed the audience with energy and elegance; Cocoa Chandelier would be proud. Aided by a large chorus of creepy phantoms, these cast members made the show their own. Director Thomas clearly brought her own passion for the show to a new generation.
Rocky Horror ends with an inspiring theme, perfectly appropriate for teenagers who are struggling to come into their own: “Don’t Dream It, Be It.” We could all do well to remember that message.
FINAL WEEKEND
Friday 3/7 at 7:30pm
Saturday 3/8 at 7:30pm
Sunday 3/9 at 3pm
Check out the review on the hitting the stage website.
