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A new set of specialty acts are the stars of "YES! Encore! Hawaii," which officially opened in the Polynesian Palace on Tuesday. New ‘Yes’
revue creates
magic in WaikikiBy John Berger
Special to the Star-BulletinThe new show is dramatically different from past versions of the long-running "YES! International Revue," but delivers the same international ambience and great G-rated entertainment value.
Pride of place goes to the Garza Family, a trio of metallic paint-covered acro-balancers, who execute a series of slow-motion tableaux requiring both superb physical conditioning and world-class acrobatic skills.
The trio's routine is essentially the same in concept and format as that of the gold-painted Los Mayas trio that was the show-closing act in the original "YES!" show. The Garza Family is the final act here and they are every bit as impressive.The other show-stopping "we want more" act is the Long Twins. The youthful spandex-clad pair first appear as contortionists who combine seemingly impossible feats of physical dexterity with acrobatics and light and bright comical characterization. The Chinese twins return later to demonstrate their skills as jugglers and are equally entertaining in that context.
"Master Magician" Les Au, Jason McPherson, the "YES!" Dancers and Uso the Magical Monkey add other facets to this bright new production.
Uso, a costumed character created by Outrigger Entertainment Executive Vice President Frances Kirk and animated by Star-Bulletin cartoonist Corky Trinidad, presides as the comic host of the revue and appears one way or another in almost every segment.
Information on the table tent explains that the monkey was shipwrecked here and that uso is Japanese for "teller of tall tales." Uso seems certain to be a hit with kids and never overstays his welcome when guesting with the other acts.McPherson combines pantomime with "rola-bola" comedy performing on a teeterboard. With McPherson, more is better. He adds a second platform to the board, climbs up on it, adds another, and climbs up on it as well.
His trousers fall along the way; getting free of them without falling off the board becomes another display of acrobatic skill. (Prudes need not fret about this old burlesque hall bit. McPherson is completely G-rated throughout.)
Au, the Hawaii entertainer on the bill, is fast and personable whether starring in his own segment or sharing the stage with Uso. He specializes in illusions involving birds. White doves, a cockatoo, two macaws and a duck added impact to his illusions on Tuesday. Au is another member of the cast that leaves you wanting to see more of his material than time allows.
"YES!" dancers add a hula here, some Tahitian moves there, and enlist two male "volunteers" to dance with them. A pair of compliant Asian tourists were the dancers' picks Tuesday.
Once again, producer Kirk has created a show kids and adults will find fascinating.
Flex time
What: "YES! Encore! Hawaii"
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