‘Broadway Bound’ actors
carry comedy to success

The finest playwrights in the world are at the mercy of the actors who bring their work to life, and with that in mind, it's the details in the actors' performances in Hawaii Pacific University's production of "Broadway Bound" that make this revival of Neil Simon's dark autobiographical comedy a success.

"Broadway Bound" Presented by Hawaii Pacific University at 45-045 Kamehameha Highway. 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 4 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 5 (no show on Thanksgiving). Tickets are $20 general, with discounts available for seniors, military, students and HPU faculty and staff. Call 375-1282.

Consider the scene in which Jack Jerome berates his adult sons for writing a comedy sketch that he feels holds the family up for public ridicule. Watch Derek Calibre (Stanley Jerome) fidget and squirm and unobtrusively tap his foot during the tirade -- each minor move adding believable details to Stanley's obvious discomfort at being called to account by his father.

Or watch Gene De Francis, who stars as the younger brother, Eugene, in the scene in which his mother reminisces about a night long before she was married when she lied her way out of a funeral service so she could sneak over to the dance hall where handsome George Raft would be hanging out.

De Francis' face softens and his eyes shine as Eugene becomes fully entranced by the story of his mother's big adventure and how she achieved a moment of celebrity by dancing with Raft.

De Francis builds on his performance later in the scene when it becomes apparent that Eugene suddenly feels uncomfortable about being Raft's stand-in as he dances with his mother in the living room.

And watch John Hunt (Jack) and Sharon Adair (Kate Jerome) confront their marital issues. Hunt had problems keeping a stereotypical "nuyawk" accent in place last Friday, but his portrayal of a proud, hard-working man aware of his faults and failings transcended the occasional lapses.

With performances like those, director Joyce Maltby's production is excellent theater. De Francis and Calibre win our allegiance as the ambitious siblings who dream of becoming comedy writers in 1949 New York.

De Francis is an engaging protagonist and narrator in the role of Simon's alter ego. Calibre keeps the fast-talking older brother likable even when it appears Stan might be more talk than talent.

THOSE WHO DON'T know how the story ends will be rooting for the brothers to make it and hoping for romantic success for Eugene as well!

Jim Tharp (Ben) and Adair channel Glenn Cannon and Jean Stapleton, respectively, as far as their "nuyawk" accents go, but they make the characters their own.

Tharp's role as the Jerome boys' maternal grandfather, is written primarily for laughs as a dour Trotskyite "who hasn't laughed since the stock market crashed" in 1929 and who refuses to live with his wife, but Tharp deftly switches from light comedy to straight drama as the mood of the story turns dark.

Adair has the most demanding dramatic role in the show and plays it with heartbreaking perfection.

Virginia Jones (Blanche) completes the cast with a poignant performance as "the beautiful daughter" Ben snubs because her husband has worked his way to wealth.

Set designer George Spelvin's re-creation of the Jerome home has a natural, lived-in look. Janine Myers (lighting design) neatly directs the viewers' attention to the Jerome boys' bedrooms when the action moves "upstairs."

And, because "Broadway Bound" is about two guys who want to write comedy for radio, the contributions of Kurt Yamasaki (sound design) play a key part in this production's success as well.