Arnold Meister directs WIT production
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Week of Friday, September 28, 2018 | Vol. 6, No. 39
Grinds & Da Kines For Your Weekend Check da Scene
‘THE CEMETERY CLUB’
2 | TGIFR!DAY | Friday, September 28, 2018
READY TO DELIVER
The cast of “Newsies” includes: Front row from left: Skylar Shim, Savannah Hubbard, Maddison Hubbard, Tanner Hubbard, David Braman, Isaac Dubey, Cole Diamond, Annabella Thompson, Kehaulani Roberts-Duque and Anamika Whittingham. Second row from left: Larry Richardson, Simon Oyama, Veda Parker, Ariana Franks, Sienna Gregerson, Benjamin Petterson, Selah Snowden, Leilani Goldberg, Melina Ventura, Katy Hoesel, Jacob Lester, Colten Moore, Billy Quebido, Mahina Olores, Maddy Thain, Preston Hayden, Charles O’Neill, Mia Thompson, Margaret McLeod, Eve Parker and Pierson Wetherington. Back from left are Abby Winters, Jodi Woodward, Rayna Shafter, Fia Gaines, Bethany Zamora, Travis Williamson, Katherine Polzin, Emma Pinkston, Makaya Kaduce and Ahnalia Koufis. See the story, page 3.
Photo courtesy Debra Blachowiak
TOP PICKS FOR THE WEEK FRIDAY
ALOHA YOGA AND PEACE FESTIVAL Lydgate Beach Park, 6 a.m., all day Beginning of a three-day festival to amplify the collective prayer for peace. Features worldwide peace meditation, beach-side festival with yoga, workshops, music and a community celebration. Info: alohafestival. org SATURDAY ALAKAI O KAUAI CHARTER SCHOOL GRAND OPENING 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kahili Mountain Park Blessing, ribbon-cutting, tours, entertainment, refreshments. Suggested donation of $10 a person, $25 a family. KAUAI ISLAND CRAFTERS FAIR 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Poipu Beach Park
Kauai crafters and artisans showcasing their handmade products.
SUNDAY
HALEKO ROAD CLOSED 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. For tree trimming and road maintenance. ALOHA YOGA AND PEACE FESTIVAL Lydgate Beach Park, 6 a.m., all day Day two of a three-day festival to amplify the collective prayer for peace. Features worldwide peace meditation, beach-side festival with yoga, workshops, music and a community celebration. Info: alohafestival.org CAR SEAT SAFETY INSPECTIONS 9 a.m. to noon, Walmart parking lot, Lihue The Kauai Police Department offers free car safety seat inspections marking National Child Passenger Safety Week. Info: 241-1611
100TH INFANTRY BATTALION 73RD ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE 10 a.m. Kauai Veterans Cemetery in Hanapepe The service is held to honor fallen comrades. The date chosen is the closest Sunday to the day that the battalion suffered its first war casualty. 88 SHRINES WALK Tours at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., Lawai International Center Walk the path. Donations welcome. Info: www. lawaicenter.org ALOHA YOGA AND PEACE FESTIVAL Lydgate Beach Park, 6 a.m., all day Last of a three-day festival to amplify the collective prayer for peace. Features worldwide peace meditation, beach-side festival with yoga,
workshops, music and a community celebration. Info: alohafestival.org WEDNESDAY
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS WALK 11:30 a.m. Lihue Civic Center Moikeha Building The Kauai County Committee on the Status of Women and American Cancer Society co-host the walk, with warmups led by Bev Brody of Get Fit Kauai. Participants are encouraged to wear pink. BLOOD DRIVE 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall Lihue THURSDAY
BLOOD DRIVE 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall Lihue
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Bill Buley | bbuley@thegardenisland.com | 245-0457 ADVERTISING: displayads@thegardenisland.com | 245-0425 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: tgiclassified@thegardenisland.com | 246-0325
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TGIFR!DAY | Friday, September 28, 2018 | 3
EXTRA! EXTRA!
Hawaii Children’s Theatre announces: Disney’s ‘Newsies,’ the Broadway musical TGIFR!DAY
Hanson is excited to bring one of her all-time favorite musicals to Kauai audienche Hawaii Children’s Theatre announces the es as her first large-scale production of Disney’s musical production. She is complemented by a team of “Newsies.” Based on the 1992 motion seasoned theatre professionals picture and inspired by a true including Nina Saraos (musical director), Dolly Kanekuni (prostory, “Newsies” features the Tony Award-winning score by ducer and vocal coach), Bailey Hutton (stage manager) and Alan Menken (“Little Shop of Debra Blachowiak (producer). Horrors,”“Sister Act”) and Jack The cast of “Newsies” Feldman and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein features 49 people from the Kauai community, including (“Kinky Boots”). 28 who are under 13 years Featuring the now-classic old. Veteran Kauai performers songs “Carrying the Banner,” featured include Billy Quebido “Seize the Day,” and “Santa (Jack Kelly), Jessika Montoya Fe,”“Newsies” is packed with nonstop thrills and a timeless (Katherine), Colten Moore message for the whole family. (Crutchie) and Ariana Franks (Medda Larkin). The production is directHCT’s hallmark is a diverse ed and choreographed by cast integrating both experiRebecca Hanson, who has enced and novice actors, with been HCT’s director for its an educational production Summer Stars program since process where students 2014. She’s directed “The and adults build valuable Wizard of Oz,”“James and the theatre skills in all aspects of Giant Peach Jr.,” and this past production, while building summer directed “Beauty confidence and a sense of and the Beast Jr.” She has also directed many shows on Kauai teamwork along the way. The show is scheduled to including “The Lion King Jr.” perform over three week“Little Shop of Horrors,” and ends at Kauai War Memorial “Spamalot.” Convention Hall from Nov. 9 Hanson is originally from through Nov. 25, with Friday Minneapolis, where she earned her bachelor’s degree and Saturday shows at 7 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 4 p.m. in theatre arts, after which Tickets are available from she toured for four years with the cast for $10, at the door “Sesame Street, Live!” before for $15 adults, $12 seniors/ starting her career in theater students (children 3 and under education and direction.
T
are free). Advance tickets will be available for $12 at ticket outlets from Oct. 15, and on HCT’s website. Ticket outlets are: Times in Lihue, Kalaheo Cafe, Progressive Expressions in Koloa, Papayas in Kapaa, Healthy Hut in Kilauea, and Magic Dragon Toy and Art Supply in Princeville. Groups may contact HCT for discounted group tickets. The community is encouraged to support a special benefit matinee performance on Sunday, Nov. 11, for Kauai food banks, with $6 tickets from the cast and at the door with a donation of food or money. Hawaii Children’s Theatre productions are made possible through community support and thousands of volunteer hours. Many opportunities remain to support the production in its final month of preparation. Those interested to find out more about how to support “Newsies” and Hawaii Children’s Theatre including donations, set sponsorship, program advertising, group tickets and/or volunteering, are invited to contact HCT Administrator Erin Gaines at the HCT office, 634-6612, via email at info@hawaiichildrenstheatre.org, on the website at HawaiiChildrensTheatre. org, or at the program office, 246- 8985.
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4 | TGIFR!DAY | Friday, September 28, 2018
LOOKING BACK, MOVING AHEAD
Arnold Meister directs ‘The Cemetery Club,’ presented by Women in Theatre BILL BULEY TGIFR!DAY
J
ennifer Cullen was all set to head to Montana for vacation when “The Cemetery Club” called out to her. Vacation canceled. Instead, Cullen stayed on Kauai to play the role of Lucille in this Women in Theatre production directed by Arnold Meister. “It’s about life,” Cullen said. “It’s about sweet life.” It’s also a chance to take the stage again and work with the renowned and respected Meister. Cullen describes her character as complex, a bit over the top, who likes attention. She didn’t have a happy marriage and wants to move on with life, which causes some conflict with her friends. Her character is one of three widows in this humorous and poignant play that tells the story of three Jewish widows who meet once a month for tea before going to visit their husbands’ graves. “There are not that many roles for mature women,” Cullen said. They are described like this: “Ida is sweet-tempered and ready to begin a new life; Lucille is a feisty embodiment of the girl who just wants to have fun; and Doris is priggish and judgmental, particularly when Sam the butcher enters the scene. Sam meets the widows while visiting his wife’s grave and finds a romantic connection with Ida. Doris and Lucille squash the budding romance and are guilt-stricken when this nearly breaks Ida’s heart.” The play opens at 7 tonight and
Bill Buley / TGIFR!DAY
The cast of “The Cemetery Club” rehearses a scene. From left are Claudia Cowden, Laurel McGraw, Jennifer Cullen, Ron Wood and Maureen Sharpe. On the cover, the cast and Director Arnold Meister (front).
runs through Oct. 14 at WIT’s End Theater at Kukui Grove Center. Meister most recently directed “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum” with Kauai Community Players in January. He said he didn’t know much about “The Cemetery Club,” written by Ivan Menchell,which was suggested to him by a WIT board member. So he read it — and loved it. “I just wondered why I hadn’t heard of that play because it’s very good,” he said. The two-hour play with an intermission presents situations faced by
many women as they grow older and loved ones pass away. “Do you seek male companionship or is it being disloyal to the man you married and the husband you loved?” Meister asked. The three main characters, best friends, have their own challenges. One is fiercely loyal to the memory of her husband. One had a great marriage and wouldn’t mind marrying again. The third is cynical about relationships because her marriage wasn’t great. Theirs is a club, someone quips in the play, where half of the members
are no longer there. They share insults, laughs and tears as they deal with loneliness. “The Cemetery Club” has a range of emotions as the story unfolds. “It’s the way friends talk to each other when they’re not worried about insulting each other,” Meister said. The widower, played by Ron Wood, shakes things up when he enters their world. Suddenly, that loyalty to dead husbands is no longer quite such a sure thing. Perhaps there is life beyond those cemetery visits.
“It really changes a lot of their thinking, and it provokes some conflict,” Meister said. Meister has worked with Wood and Laurel McGraw, who plays Doris. Maureen Sharpe plays Ida, and Claudia Cowden plays Mildred, a bold and brassy character who briefly joins the story. “It’s wonderful working with different actors. They’re so talented,” he said. “It’s been a joy to direct this show.” Those who see it are in for love SEE MOVING, PAGE 5
TGIFR!DAY | Friday, September 28, 2018 | 5
LORETTA LYNN’S VOCALS AND FEISTY SPIRIT STILL STRONG KRISTIN M. HALL ASSOCIATED PRESS
L
oretta Lynn, now 86, hasn’t been touring since she suffered a stroke in 2017, but the Kentucky singer-songwriter’s creative output remains strong on her new album, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” For years, Lynn has been recording her extensive catalog of songs with producing help from John Carter Cash and her daughter, Patsy Lynn Russell, ensuring that her legacy as one of America’s greatest songwriters and singers will continue for the next generation even as she’s had to slow down her public appearances. Recorded before her stroke, the album was delayed a year as she focused on her physical health. The collection of Lynn-
Lynn
penned songs stays true to the country music icon’s favored subject matters, from love, heartaches, drunk husbands and angry women, but also family and spirituality. Half new songs and half previously recorded, her high Appalachian vocals are unmistakably clear and refreshing with simple bluegrass and acoustic instrumentation that highlights the lyric and storytelling behind her nearly 60-year career. For a woman who has outlived her husband, as well as
some of her children, her loneliness and pain is heartbreaking on a song like “I’m Dying for Someone to Live For.” “Ruby’s Stool” sounds like a companion to her classic “Fist City,” as Lynn’s feisty side comes out in a barroom dispute with another woman. “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” is a sorrowful plea to her late husband Doolittle to give up drinking for the sake of their relationship and contains little gems of simple and personal writing, such as “love went to waste when my sexy lace couldn’t turn your face.” On “Ain’t No Time to Go,” Lynn tenderly sings with just a soft banjo plucking in the background to “stay with me a little bit longer.” It feels like a promise to her fans that she’s got much more to say if they keep listening.
Moving Continued from page 4
and laughs. “It’s a very personal play,” he said. “It’s an evening of well-crafted performances.” Wood, asked about his character Sam who breaks up the happy trio, says: “I’m the guy that causes havoc. Not in a bad way, but a good way.” He said when he heard Meister was directing “The Cemetery Club,” he wanted in, “because it’s going to be a great play.” And this one is “something different.” Those who see it will “get rid of all the anxiety in the world and come here and get comedy relief,” Wood said. Sharpe says her character, Ida, is trying to decide if she’s
ready to move on with life when she meets Sam. “She finds out she is ready to move on,” said Sharpe, who was in last year’s Kauai Community Players production of “Savannah Sipping Society.” “Of course I jumped at this,” she said. “At our age, we don’t get that many parts.” “The Cemetery Club” includes betrayal and friendship. “It’s about the humanity and the issues of aging,” Sharpe said. “There’s something in it for everybody.” McGraw plays Doris, described as someone who assumed the role of matriarch, judges how everyone should behave and has the least desire to change. “She’s actually trapped in her past,” McGraw said.
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This play, she said, “speaks to the heart of the truth of most older people’s experience, which is coming to terms with the fact that in order to stay alive, you have to keep living. You have to keep making forward choices instead of being trapped in the past.” “The Cemetery Club,” she added, “will move you, instruct you, and hopefully have you leave wanting to be kinder to those that you love.” Shows are 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays. For tickets, $20 in advance, $25 at the door, call 635-3727 or go to womenintheatre.org ••• Bill Buley, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 2450457 or bbuley@thegardenisland.com.-
6 | TGIFR!DAY | Friday, September 28, 2018
INSPIRED TO TRAVEL AND SEE THE WORLD BILL BULEY TGIFR!DAY
after I moved here that tells of the favorites places of famous people like George Lucas, the Dalai Lama, ere’s a question for you: James Taylor, Will Ferrell and Jerry Where is your favorite place Seinfeld. That National Geographic on Earth? The one place you book, “My Favorite Place on Earth: love to visit, that calls to your heart? Celebrated people share their travel discoveries,” offers glimpses of placFor many, that’s Kauai. es you would expect, like London, For me, it’s Glacier National Park England, Bali, Indonesia, South in Montana. I always say that’s the Africa and Greenwich Village. It also park for the working man, where takes you to places you would not camping and hiking are the main expect, like a garage, a garden and attractions, where for little money you can be surrounded by majestic a house. The 2009 book includes a chapmountains, see snow-capped ter by a man named Donald Trump, glaciers and crystal blue lakes and waterfalls, walk in stunning beauty, who just happens to be our president today. And his favorite place? and where you’re likely to meet Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, Florida. — hopefully from a safe distance Naturally, the list of favorite because I’ve had some too-close places includes several in Hawaii, encounters — grizzly bears and including Puakea Bay on the Big moose. Island, Hana on Maui, the Pipeline I came across a book shortly
H
want anyone to try and find it. Here is the ending paragraph of his words about Kauai: “I’ve been coming to Kauai for 25 years, and each visit astounds me. The staggering beauty of the island forces my brain to slow down, and I think someday I won’t leave.” He won’t be alone. The copy of this book, by the way, had an inscription and was signed by Matt Groening, assuming it’s his signature. On the inside cover, he wrote this to a friend, Kevin: “Thank you for making our stay in paradise so delicious! See my on Oahu and, yes, Kauai. The star who writes about Kauai tribute to Kauai on page 123! Aloha for now – Matt Groening, Dec. 22, is Matt Groening, a writer and cartoonist who created “The Simpsons.” 2009.” This book makes you want to He writes about the magic of Hanalei, Lumahai, Tunnels, and a place travel the world, though you have called the Blue Room that we won’t an amazing world to enjoy and exgive details about because we don’t plore each day right here. Still, the
words of the introduction by Jerry Camarillo Dunn Jr., may inspire you to look across this ocean: “I think we fall in love with places in the same way we do with people. It may happen at first sight, or develop slowly with time and familiarity. But in some mysterious way we recognize a spirit that is simpatico. We feel inexplicably complete and happy. A place, like a person, is a great gift. “In this book, I hope you enjoy seeing some remarkable people’s favorite spots through their eyes. But even more, I hope you’ll be inspired to lean back on your chair, close your eyes — and think about your favorite place on Earth.” ••• Bill Buley, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or bbuley@thegardenisland.com.
HADDISH, HART EARN MIXED GRADES IN ‘NIGHT SCHOOL’ JAKE COYLE ASSOCIATED PRESS
“Night School” from flunking out; this is a decent enough placeholder in between (hopefully) bolder efforts alcolm D. Lee’s “Night School” (two from each. But it doesn’t help that stars out of four) Lee, who made Haddish a brings together the potent revelation in last year’s “Girl’s combo of Kevin Hart and Trip,” casts her as effectively Tiffany Haddish, but this the straight man. Haddish, tepid-if-amiable, sitcomstretched-into-a-movie elic- Hart and a classroom should its widely differing grades for be all that’s really needed its two comic powerhouses. for a laugh-filled comedy. But a thin script (by Hart and Energetic as it is, Hart’s five other writers) doesn’t hyper shtick has grown give either enough material, tired from overuse, while nor does keeping Haddish Haddish’s fresher powers slightly under wraps as a appear limitless. Both are taskmaster teacher in an good enough — and good enough together — to keep adult education class.
M
Hart stars as Teddy Walker, a successful Atlanta patio furniture salesman who — as seen in the flashback prologue — skipped out on the SATs and never graduated high school. When his lavish proposal to this girlfriend, Lisa (Megalyn Echikunwoke), goes explosively awry in the store he works, Walker’s tenuous lifestyle — a sports car and downtown condo to give Lisa the impression he’s wealthier than he is — comes apart at the seams. Teddy’s only hope for employment beyond a Christian Chicken fast-food joint is with the financial company
of his friend (Ben Schwartz), but for that he needs his G.E.D. For night classes, Teddy returns to the high school of his youth, which is now run by his teenage rival (Taran Killam, as a racist and pitiful principal). His teacher, Carrie (Haddish), has no patience for Teddy’s usual circumventions and eventually — sit down for the shock — gets him to study. “Night School” is at its best in its classroom setting thanks to a freewheeling ensemble. But the night school scenes, while still a little tame, pingpong animatedly between a misfit group of
Eli Ade / Universal Pictures via AP
Tiffany Haddish, left, and Kevin Hart square off in a scene from “Night School.”
G.E.D.-seekers. Best of the bunch are Al Madrigal (as a Mexican immigrant waiter who Teddy, trying to avoid a steep bill, got fired) and Romany Malco (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin”), as the class’ most off-kilter
participant. But also good are Mary Lynn Rajskub, as a mom fleeing her kids, and Rob Riggle, as an earnest but oafish student. Fat Joe, as a convict, also joins by Skype from prison. There is at least a promising sitcom in there.
CHECK DA SCENE
TGIFR!DAY | Friday, September 28, 2018 | 7
DENNIS FUJIMOTO TGIFR!DAY
Brandie Amaya Aguinaldo - Waimea High School Homecoming Queen Taylor Aamberlyn Calixerio Martinez, Kaitlyn Rose Garcia
Grandfather Antonio, Jacelyn Napualani Ragragola-Palacio
‘IMAGINE GREATNESS’
B Jesse Tanigawa, Louisa Tanigawa
Amado Serapio, Dawn Serapio
Daysha-Lynn Kilinoe Ku‘uipo Nelmida-Rice, Arthur Rice
Pauline Sarah Kate Ragus, Kyrie Adel Makanalani Parbo Linoz
Taylor Aamberlyn Calixterio Martinez
Ian Garcia, Kaitlyn Rose Garcia
randie Amaya Aguinaldo reigned over the Waimea High School homecoming festivities last Friday night during the Kauai Interscholastic Federation football game between Kauai High School and the Menehune at Hanapepe Stadium. Aguinaldo’s court of honor included Jacelyn Napualani Ragragola-Palacio, wearing the Miss Football crown; and Louisa Tanigawa being named Miss Menehune at the festivities that carried the “Imagine Greatness” theme. Dawn Serapio was named Miss School Spirit and Daysha-Lynn Kilinoe Ku‘uipo Nelmida-Rice donned the Miss Victory sash. Class representatives included Kyrie Adel Makanalani Parbo Linoz representing the freshmen, Pauline Sarah Kate Ragus representing the sophomores, Kaitlyn Rose Garcia leading the junior class, and Taylor Aamberlyn Calixterio Martinez representing the senior class. David Leong led the Waimea High School marching band through several movie-themed numbers at the event emcee-ed by Dawson Franco and Rhona Lei Batacan.
Joel Aguinaldo, Brandie Amaya Aguinaldo
8 | TGIFR!DAY | Friday, September 28, 2018