I'd been anticipating a live encounter with the slashing Sledge-o-matic humor of Gallagher for weeks, only to find the one-nighter coincided with the opening night of "Cookin.'" I kissed my visions of frank, politically incorrect comedy and flying food items goodbye and set off to experience a show no one seemed able to concisely describe. Spicy rhythms of Korea
flavor tasty 'Cookin’' show
"Cookin'": Repeats at 7:30 p.m. today and tomorrow, and 2 p.m. Sunday at Hawaii Theatre. Tickets are $10 to $46. Call 528-0506.Review By John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.comMaybe it's the material, maybe it's the talent and personality of this particular cast (one of several "Cookin'" companies out there), but by the time the show was over, I felt like I'd made four new friends. Allowing for the fact that "Cookin'" is 99 percent music and nonverbal communication, I could not have been more thoroughly entertained.
Think "Stomp!" with a story line.
Like "Stomp!," "Cookin'" invites all to explore the possibilities of using everyday items as percussion instruments. Kitchen chores need not be boring when almost every kitchen implement is a potential percussion instrument.
Where "Cookin'" departs from "Stomp!" is in its Korean cultural milieu. "Cookin'" uses percussion rhythms that represent a neo-traditional style of Korean music popularly known as "samulnori" (which translates as "playing with four instruments"). The show opens and closes with powerful percussion segments comparable to taiko in power and intensity. Rhythms percolate through the show as the cast replaces the instruments with knives, chopping blocks and other handy kitchen utensils.
"Cookin'" starts a bit slowly with an automated segment intended to establish the premise and get the crowd warmed up. A series of announcements in English and Korean projected on the rear of the set informs the audience that a wedding dinner must be prepared, important guests are coming (a picture of President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky in the Oval Office got a laugh on Wednesday) and that we should clap to make the performers feel welcome.
But never mind the warm-up stuff. Once the cast comes out on stage, "Cookin'" is nonstop entertainment that transcends any barriers of language or culture.
The head chef (Sung Woo Choi) and his two assistants must have everything ready by 6, but the equilibrium of the kitchen is upset when the Manager (Seoung Soo Yoo) informs them that his nephew (Young Hoon Kim) has joined the staff. This means a demotion for Sexy Food Dude (Hyung Seock Jung) and causes additional drama when Nephew takes an interest in the other member of the kitchen crew, Female Cook (Hyun Jin Lee), even though she already has a thing going with Sexy Food Dude.
A Korean kitchen god stands watch at stage right, and a large clock counts down the time remaining at stage left as the four rush to make the deadline while exploring percussive possibilities.
The rhythms are irresistible, the technical execution impeccable, the comic characterizations instantly engaging. The action includes just enough Korean-accented English to convey essential information or add comic impact.
Choi works solo in leading the audience through some multipart clapping and stomping routines, and displays well-honed comic skills. Six members of the audience become part of the action onstage in other parts of the show, and everyone down front can get into the act when the cast dumps several large containers of (relatively) soft plastic balls into the crowd (Hawaii being Hawaii, most folks seemed reluctant to throw them back at the stage, even though that seemed to be the intention).
Jung and Kim join Choi in giving excellent performances as comic actor-musicians. Lee performs to the same high standards, and Yoo makes numerous entertaining appearances as the imperious Manager before joining the others for the powerful percussion number that closes the show.
And yes, "Cookin'" includes food fights and other slapstick shenanigans as well.
Gallagher, old buddy, all going well, I'll catch you next time. I think you would've enjoyed "Cookin'," too.
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