Anyone who missed "Dirty Laundry" at the Hawaii Theatre over the weekend missed a great show. KHON/Fox 2 news anchor Joe Moore's indictment of contemporary television news programming had only a four-show run, but surpassed expectations. It was Moore's best work yet as a playwright-actor and one of the best locally written plays of the 2002-2003 theater season. TV news satire
anchored in comedic witReview by John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.comTrue, the forward motion of the story was interrupted several times so that Moore, in the starring role of "aging news anchorman" Bryce Edwards, could dissect the changes that have taken place in TV news since the days of Walter Cronkite and Bob Sevey. Still, no locally written "message" play in recent memory has been blessed with better counterbalance in the form of characterization, witty one-liners and straightforward comedy.
The fact that Moore, Hawaii's most successful anchorman, was prohibited by KHON management from promoting the show during his nightly newscasts only increased public interest -- and heightened speculation about how dirty his "laundry" load might be.
Dirty, maybe, but presented with such style that several well-known television personalities past and present were among those laughing loudest as Moore/Edwards commented on such familiar local television gambits as running "puff pieces" during ratings periods, hiring newscasters for youthful looks rather than ability and "holding viewers hostage" by deliberately starting newscasts seven minutes late.
Moore anchored "Dirty Laundry" in excellent style, essentially playing himself as a embattled "old school" newsman trying to preserve some measure of traditional journalistic standards.
Matthew Pederson was likewise excellent as the designated villain, newly arrived news director Kevin Jenkins, a man for whom television news is entertainment, the show a cash cow for the corporate owners and the news itself all about ratings.
Sherry Chock Wong quickly became an audience favorite as Lexie Lexus, the young woman Jenkins brings to Hawaii to be Edwards' co-anchor because she is young, Asian and drop-dead beautiful. Edwards is appalled to learn that Lexie -- real name Susie Suzuki -- has essentially no training; Jenkins discovered her when she attended a college seminar with her boyfriend. Wong was so good in the role that she made her scenes comic highlights.
Ray Bumatai, playing what amounted to his standard comic persona, was also a standout with his portrayal of Glenn, the opportunistic assignment editor who is ready to side with Jenkins in the substance vs. show biz debate.
James MacArthur added a sober and dignified performance as a Catholic priest accused of molesting boys.
Other cast members contributed solid ensemble performances in less colorful roles: Stephanie Sanchez (Maggie) as the veteran reporter who probably should have been promoted to co-anchor; George O'Hanlon (Richard) as the 50-something executive producer who serves primarily as sounding board for Moore's indictments; Bill Ogilvie as the father who allowed his son to be interviewed on camera about his experience with the priest.
Keen-eyed fans of local theater also noticed Hawaii Theatre factotum Ed Dyer and Po'okela Award-winning sound designer Jason Taglianetti among extras who portrayed other Channel 12 employees.
Moore's skill as a playwright has never been more in evidence. He didn't overload the script with gratuitous local references, but threw in just enough to get a laugh where it fit. A recurring bit in which Edwards and his buddy Richard try to stump each other with oldies trivia added physical comedy to the performance.
The story is relatively simple: Channel 12's new corporate owners have fired the old news director and sent Jenkins from the mainland to take over. Jenkins sees a scandal involving a priest as an opportunity to boost the station's ratings. He can't understand Edwards' concern about checking the legal status of the case, not burning sources and verifying juicy bits of information before broadcasting them.
The resolution is a bit improbable, but close enough to reality to work as comedy while also underscoring Moore's message about "the decline of the TV news profession and the ascent of the lowest-common-denominator style of news."
Those familiar with real-life "dirty laundry" at various local stations had a great time guessing which personalities, and which stations, Moore -- er, Edwards -- and the other characters might be referring to.
Set designer Karen Archibald's television studio set looked broadcast-ready and was nicely embellished with numerous true-to-life details. Keith Griffin's original music proved the perfect touch in easing the transition between scenes and suggesting the change in attitude that occurred when the Channel 12 News became the "Action 12 News." Costume designer Athena Espania did a particularly good job finding garish aloha shirts for Bumatai, and Greg Howell (hair and makeup design) outdid himself with his work on Wong's hair.
Add the input of director Karen Bumatai, Ray's wife, and "Dirty Laundry" scored high as entertainment as well as being the vehicle for Moore's message. All going well, he'll be able to stage an encore run soon.
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