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‘Lesser Ahi’s’ sequel ‘Fresher Ahi’

Almost a year ago to the day, I wrote a preview on MAPA's "Lesser Ahi."I said at the time that my favorite aspect of theater was witnessing world-premiere productions. The play's director, David Johnston, was aware of and anticipated risks in putting on the "Lesser Ahi" show here, and he expressed his uncertainty to me."Even if the audience doesn't like it, we've had so much fun," said Johnston.The success of "Lesser Ahi" not only lead to sold-out crowds, but to an extension, and a commission for two sequels.Chapter two, "Fresher Ahi," will premier next weekend in Kahului at ...

Stand-Up Guy

"If you're not careful, you might learn something before it's done." Bill Cosby used to say that on the old "Fat Albert Show." As a kid of the '70s, I was a loyal viewer. I think Mr. Cosby knew about kids, and perhaps that is why we all loved him, which is also why I was a bit nervous interviewing him last week.There have been many past projects I could have asked Mr. Cosby about, but I wanted to know if there was something that he considers an all time favorite project."Yes, right now. I'm writing a new television series with David Brack. The title for now is 'Basic Sanity.' It's a ...

Review: Maui Academy of Performing Arts’ ‘Lockdown’

I've heard more than one person over the past few weeks compare "Lockdown" to "The Breakfast Club." The most obvious similarity being multiple teen stereotypes stuck with each other in a library all day.Playwright Julia Edwards references Jean-Paul Sartre's "No Exit" through her character Simone (Amanda Mortimore). Edwards was commissioned to write "Lockdown," and I believe she chose to mention Sarte's seminal work for very specific reasons. The doomed trio of "No Exit" hate each other and do not want to be there, but in time they learn to at least tolerate each other, working together ...

Serious to Silly

School shootings and safety are certainly hot button issues. Rarely do I discuss anything too serious in this column, but tomorrow night Maui Academy of Performing Arts is opening a very serious show on these timely topics.It's perhaps easy to assume tragedies such as Columbine and Sandy Hook are recent phenomena. In fact, American school slaying dates back to the Pontiac school massacre on July 26, 1764. Four American Indians entered the schoolhouse near Gettysburg, Penn., shot and killed schoolmaster Enoch Brown, and killed 10 children. But that stuff doesn't happen in Hawaii, right? ...

Godspell

"This is actually my fifth time directing 'Godspell,' " said Alexis Dascoulias. "I've directed it once for a high school, two other times for professional companies, and then at Maui OnStage back in 2010."Dascoulias, who has been directing the Kamehameha Maui student productions for the past two years, will bring the classic Stephen Schwartz musical to the stage this weekend."I love this musical because regardless of what people think, it is not about religion, it's really about faith - faith in humanity and faith in each other."The show began as Schwartz's Masters Thesis project at ...

They’ll make you wanna SHOUT!

Each Maui theater company inevitably strikes artistic gold with at least one production a year. For some reason, all the pieces just fall into place and a near perfect show with a near perfect cast emerges.Maui OnStage may have bigger financial hits this season, but "Shout!: The Mod Musical" is a marvelous piece of cabaret. My hunch is it will not have the box office boom of their past spring musicals like "Cats" and "Grease," but in my opinion, "Shout!" is much more entertaining. This production may be a bit too cosmopolitan for Maui, but if this cast was performing in Las Vegas or the ...