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Shout!

"Shout!: The Mod Musical will be upbeat, but certainly not mindless. The entire British '60s scene was about being carefree and forgetting about the hardships of post-WWII London. However there is something from that mod era that I'm willing to bet very few of you know. Super bubblegum pop queen Dusty Springfield may have changed the world. Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit, but I've got your attention.Fifty years ago, Springfield had a huge following in South Africa, but she insisted that if she toured there, it must be for a non-segregated audience. The story goes that she peeked out at the ...

Stage review: ‘Lend Me a Tenor’

There is a limited appeal to great 1930s screwball comedies like "A Night at the Opera" and "His Girl Friday," and there is a science to that kind of comedy. Many people cannot keep up with fast-paced farces as actors talk over each others' lines.On Friday at the ProArts Playhouse, Ken Ludwig's "Lend Me A Tenor" opened to a sold-out house in spite of the Fourth Friday chaos. When Tenor works, it is very, very funny - but when it misses, it requires a little patience to get back into Ludwig's intended groove.It's a Catch-22 of sorts. If "Tenor" doesn't run at 100 miles per hour, each line ...

Now Showing

The final weeks of February will provide Maui theatergoers with the chance to see revivals of some of the most beloved shows in Broadway history.ProArts opens its first production of 2013 this weekend with "Lend Me a Tenor." The immensely popular farce has been translated into 16 languages and produced in 25 countries since its opening in London's West End in 1986. If you've never seen the show before, prepare to laugh - a lot.Reminiscent of a 1930s screwball comedy, it revolves around renowned tenor Tito Merelli (John L. Mendez), known to his fans as "Il Stupendo." Merelli is scheduled ...

Love is on the Stage

The bad news is that if you're reading this and you haven't made Valentine dinner reservations, you're probably in trouble. The good news is that there are many wonderful performances happening tonight and throughout the weekend if you'll need to "make up." Love it or hate it, Valentine's Day brings out the best and the worst aspects of love.The Arts at Marks Garage and sizzling entertainers of "Kiss Kiss - a Valentine's Burlesque Extravaganza!" will treat audiences to a variety of acts showcasing the beautiful and not-so-beautiful facets of love at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Historic Iao ...

CHO, MAMMA!

I've seen Margaret Cho on several occasions. She is, without a doubt, one of the finest working comedians in the business - bar none. Yet every time I see her, I can't help but think that the seventy-something Korean woman in the audience never got the memo.It wasn't that many years ago that Cho was supposed to be the next big TV star. ABC built an entire show around her and based on the way it was pushed, their expectations must have been high. Apparently some of those executives never got the memo either, or perhaps they never saw her act."It was impossible to fit my risque act into ...

Pulliam Review: ‘Man of La Mancha’ season’s finest musical, MAPA’s best in memory

"Man of La Mancha" begins in silence with a certain nonchalance. One by one, woeful "prisoners" slowly enter. As the audience begins to notice them the pre-show murmuring subsides. The unusual choice by director David Johnston is quite brilliant, pulling the audience in slowly instead of the standard blackout followed by the roar of an overture. "Man of La Mancha" is not your usual musical. The wonderful set, designed by Caro Walker, is also better appreciated in this gradual, silent, somber beginning. Johnston has truly made this an ensemble musical as opposed to focusing entirely on ...