Stuffs
Multicultural 'Dream'
East meets West as Vietnamese dance, music and theater forms play against beloved rustics, fairies and lost lovers, reinvigorating Shakespeare's "A Midsummer's Night Dream."Tonight's unique take on the Bard's comedy of miscommunication is a collaborative, bicultural production involving the Artists Repertory Theatre of Portland, Ore., and Vietnam's Central Dramatic Company Nh Ht Kich Vit Nam. ART was selected as one of only six companies nationally to participate in the National Endowment for the Arts' "Shakespeare in American Communities project," the largest tour of Shakespeare in U.S. history.
In an historic first, the artists of these two companies have overcome the obstacles of language, culture and ideology to stage and tour this landmark production. The production's Hanoi opening in fall 2000 was followed by a successful six-week tour of Vietnam.
Now the production, with bilingual supertitles, is being made available for the first time to U.S. audiences at Hawaii Theatre at 7:30 p.m. today. The direction highlights the universality of Shakespeare's timeless themes by using elements of Vietnamese folk culture in which wood sprites and fairies create mischief and frighten villagers. Live music is played on traditional instruments, and six Vietnamese dancers are touring with the production. The production also relates to themes and issues facing the Vietnamese today: For example, urban youths are questioning the practice of arranged marriages and the absolute authority of father figures.
American actors perform their roles in English, and the Vietnamese speak their own language, translated in supertitles. At key times the actors surprise the audience by speaking in one another's language.
Tickets are $10 to $35. Call 528-0506 for more information.
Brunch on the Beach
Kalakaua Avenue will become a giant outdoor cafe Sunday as the city's popular brunch event returns in front of the Hyatt Regency.Waikiki's most prominent chefs will be offering their specialties for nominal prices of $3 to about $5, with Maui onions serving as the Golden Chopstick Award secret ingredient.
Entertainment begins with the Royal Hawaiian Band Glee Club at 9:30 a.m., the Liberty Belles patriotic program at 11:30 a.m. and ukulele wiz Jake Shimabukuro at 12:30 p.m.
Park for $4 all day at the Waikiki Trade Center, or look for the "Holoholo Parking" signs for $1 per hour with a five-hour maximum at the Reef Towers, Maile Sky Court, Waikiki Prince Kuhio, Waikiki Village, Ohana East, King Kalakaua Plaza, Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and Waikiki Prince Kuhio.
For more information, call 523-CITY (2489) or the Waikiki Improvement Association at 923-1094.
Sedaka adds show
Neil Sedaka is adding a second concert to his Hawaii Theatre appearance. The veteran singer-songwriter will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11, in addition to his 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 show.Tickets for the new date go on sale at 9 a.m. today at the Hawaii Theatre box office. Prices are $25, $37.50 and $45. To charge by phone, call 528-0506. Visit www.hawaiitheatre.com for more information.
DJ Mark Farina at Wave
One of the most sought-after deejays in deep-house music today, Mark Farina, will be spinning at the Wave Waikiki tomorrow night. It's another presentation of deejay and promoter G-Spot, who will also be part of the local lineup including Daniel J, IKON and Habo that will precede Farina's set. Doors open at 9 p.m. for the 18-and-over event, with a $15 limited pre-sale ticket price, and $20 afterward. Tickets are available at the Waikiki club, plus Jelly's in Aiea, Cheapo Music, the University of Hawaii-Manoa Campus Center, Hungry Ear in Kailua and from groovetickets.com. For more info, go online at double-o-spot.com, or call 591-3500 or 941-0424, ext. 12.
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