Cataluna a fresh voice
By John Berger
in local theater
Special to the Star-Bulletin
Da Mayah: Playing at Kumu Kahua Theatre, 8 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 4. Tickets $5-$15. Call 536-4441.
JUST when it seems that Hawaii playwrights have fallen into one or two predictable niches when writing about island culture along comes Kumu Kahua's season-opening production of rookie playwright Lee Cataluna's local comedy, "Da Mayah." It's imaginative, fresh, funny, clean, and refreshingly free of the familiar hackneyed ethnic and racial stereotypes.
And, as brought to life by veteran director R. Kevin Doyle and a talented cast and crew, "Da Mayah" is a local play well worth seeing twice.
The premise is simple enough. Hilo mayor Lester Perez (Eddy Gudoy) is a handsome and charming politician who campaigns well but has no substance. His loyal executive assistant and "queen-sized princess" mistress, Sandralene Ferreira (Sherry Clifton) is the one with the brains. She makes him look good, but he's too oblivious to appreciate her.
When the mayor faces the wrath of a violent career criminal, Sandralene brings in cousin Dukie (BullDog), the local "syndicate" boss, and asks him to take care of the problem. Dukie gives the assignment to his best (and only) hitman, the well-intentioned but dim "Stanton the Manton" (Daryl Bonilla).
The comic adventures and misadventures that follow are well seasoned with bits of local trivia but never written to exclude malihini. (It's not necessary to know exactly what pasteles are to know that you wouldn't want to eat a spoiled one.)
One-liner references to President Clinton, Milton Holt, Jeremy Harris, Mufi Hannemann, Vicky Cayetano, "all 10 Sua brothers," Chris Hemmeter, unproductive government employees, the Puamana Crabbe Factory Outlet store, "Hawaii Stars" and cheesy karaoke in general, all translate easily.
Cataluna uses slapstick, sight gags, malapropisms and audience participation with equal finesse. Simple objects such as a butter knife and paper umbrella drink garnishes become good for multiple laughs.
Clifton makes a brilliant debut as Cataluna's gorgeous, spunky heroine. Local tita-type characters are often written either as too abrasive or too cutesy precious. Cataluna has written far above that kind of thing to create a deliciously three-dimensional comic character. Clifton makes the role her own and covers a wide range of emotions and situations - romantic to slapstick - with ease. She's believable and delightful throughout, and a beautiful model for the "power mu'umu'u" of Puamana Crabbe.
Gudoy has been best known in recent years as one of the brightest stars in Lisa Matsumoto's pidgin fairy tale plays. He distinguishes himself here with fresh material. Perez becomes less likable as the story develops and Gudoy does a fine job in effecting the transition.
The versatile BullDog again displays his range with another memorable performance as the menacing yet comical "syndicate" boss. Bonilla seems relegated at first to a cartoonish secondary role as a stereotypical dimwit but he shifts smoothly from dimwit to a comic romantic leading man as the role blossoms in Act 2.
Ly Atsumi (Jazzmin) does extra duty as pre-show mistress of ceremonies and hostess/owner of Jazzmin's Karaoke Bar & Washerette. (Audience members may sing but the song list is short. There's a $6 surcharge for doing anything by Air Supply. There were no takers Sunday.) Stu Hirayama completes the cast as a guy who finds that local government is the perfect route to a paycheck if you don't want to do much productive work.
BullDog and Star-Bulletin cartoonist Corky Trinidad share credit for the imaginative set and the surprises within. This may also be a career best show for Keith K. Kashiwada (sound).
Rosyln Catracchia and David Kauahikaua are the perpetrators of the "cheesy karaoke music" that percolates through the show, while Greg Cosh/Cosh Productions produced the brilliant faux local karaoke video, "So Ono For You," that steals the show in a key scene. It's so true to life that most local karaoke addicts won't recognize it as a parody!
Lisa Ann M. Omoto's costumes further define the milieu. Director Doyle's program notes also add to the ambiance of this local comic masterpiece.
