Posted on: Friday, January 2, 2009
Highlights from community theater productions in 2008
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Peter Lockyer, left, and Thomas Johnson starred in Diamond Head Theatre's masterful staging of "Les Miserables."
Advertiser Library Photo
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The tops in O'ahu community theater in 2008, assessed by Wayne Harada, with his comments:
"Les Miserables," Diamond Head Theatre. " 'Les Miz' makes a grand leap to community theater turf with so much to appreciate; it is superbly staged, beautifully sung, masterfully reimagined with the heart of the original ... a stellar cast of a few seasoned pros but mostly eager amateurs who rise to the emotional level of the show in every instance."
"Miss Saigon," Paliku Theatre. "Brittany Browning as Kim (she's 15) definitely is a find, and Leonard J. Villanueva as The Engineer and Les Ceballos as Thuy (and vocal director) are powerful elements of Ron Bright's astounding corral of troupers who bond and perform like a touring company."
"Doubt," Manoa Valley Theatre. "Sister Aloysius is played by Jo Pruden with uncanny fidelity as a rigid Catholic principal out to depose Father Flynn (Russell Motter, displaying credible candor), who is suspected of improper relations with a student, or is he just trying to provide some teacherly kokua for a problem child?"
"The Producers," Diamond Head Theatre. "The production scores a 10 on every aspect: acting, directing, choreography, costuming, music, lighting, scenic design. With Dennis Proulx and Don Nahaku (as Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, respectively) drawing from their considerable depth of acting experience to lead the grand parade of farce and fanciful fun."
"Flower Drum Song," Diamond Head Theatre. "The ensemble was sprightly, mobile and highly efficient, led by Cathy Foy-Mahi doing her dragon-lady best as Madame Liang, and Greg Zane's direction and choreography were right on target, moving choruses — decked out in stylish finery by Karen G. Wolfe — with flowing charm."
