KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM Lisa Matsumoto brings back her fairytale characters in "Once Upon One Kapakahi Time." Above, Matsumoto as Da Wicked Queen.

Pidgin Tales

This kapakahi conglomeration
is a must-see for fans
of pidgin comedy

---

By Star Bulletin staff

Lisa Matsumoto's "Once Upon One Kapakahi Time" makes for a great reunion with old friends. The show, presented at the Hawaii Theatre by Matsumoto's 'Ohi'a Productions ohana, is something of a "greatest hits" retrospective of her four previous pidgin fairytale plays, but with everything just a bit, well, kapakahi! Some stories have been condensed or juxtaposed on others, there are some parallel themes and a character or two has been added.

Even so, the production never drags. (The first act ran more than an hour and a half on opening night, but didn't seem long at all.) In short, fans of pidgin comedy need look no farther. This is the show to see!

Topping Matsumoto's list of popular comic scenarios are the Mongoosettes, Mabel (Tanner Henderson), Myra (Mark Ikenaga) and Myrna (Andrew Lai). The mahu trio dominate every scene they are in and add a great deal of comic action as they pursue their hapless quarry, Da Mean Mongoose (Patrick Fujioka). The "boys will be girls" schtick is always a hit in local theater and few guys do it better than these three.

The hula parodies run a close second and most are performed by the three fairies, Aunty Dis (Eunice Geston Fukunaga), Aunty Dat (Margaret Jones) and the indomitable Aunty Da Kine (Zan M De Peralta). De Peralta always gets the extra laugh when she stows her wand just prior to dancing.

Da Menehunes (Eddy Gudoy, Todd Motoyama, Gary Masuoka, Neil Furukawa, Dwayne Fujitani and Kyle Shimabukuro) do their share of hula as well, and deliver tight comic performances throughout the show.

Other key comic characters are Da Pigs (Vergel Jepas, Pi'ilani Miguel and Charles Kupahu Timtim) and the stereotypical visitors from "de Pilipeens," Ron Encarnacion (Da Mean Step Mother), Vernon Quiocho Jr. (Tantaran) and Rockne Henriques (Hauna), appropriately costumed in garish attire to mistreat a Filipina Cinderella (Reiko Ho).

Encarnacion also teams up with Derek Palmore (Miguel) as father-and-son Filipino shoemakers. The two of them do some of their best work opposite Dion Donahue, who, as Royal Attendant Pierre, comes into the shoe repair shop to get a broken glass slipper repaired. The tightly-synchronized physical interplay between Donahue and Kala'i Stern (playing the conceited Prince Charming) provides another comic highlight.

The show's overall production is excellent and the baby gecko puppet that pops up early on is just one of the little extras that makes this show such a gem.

Most of those who see the show this weekend are probably already fans of Matsumoto's four previous pidgin fairytale plays, and will be going to renew their acquaintance with favorite characters or cast members.

But for anyone else encountering her popular work for the first time, "Once Upon One Kapakahi Time" provides a thoroughly entertaining introduction.

'Once Upon One Kapakahi Time' Where: Hawaii Theatre When: 7:30 p.m. today, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. Additional shows at 4 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday. Tickets: $15-$35, with discounts available for seniors, students, children and military personnel Call: 528-0506

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