Do It! First Friday, ‘The Genteel Sabai,’ Roots by the Sea, ‘Seven Guitars’
—Courtesy photo
FRIDAY, FEB. 3
Art, music and fashion highlight First Friday
First Friday’s monthly downtown-Chinatown gallery walk is on for 2012.
Where: Downtown-Chinatown area
When: 5-9 p.m.
Cost: Free (except where noted)
Info: 521-2903, artsatmarks.com
A sampling:
»The ARTS at Marks Garage (1159 Nuuanu Ave., 521-2903): Photo exhibit “Clear the Smoke” examines the effects of tobacco use in Hawaii in an exhibit of work by amateur photographers, sponsored by the state Tobacco Prevention and Education Program as part of an effort to counter tobacco marketing.
»The ARTSmith (Chinatown Artist Lofts, 1116 Smith St.) An open house on the second floor of the Mendonca Building features Dancers Unlimited, Jason Tom the Human Beatbox, K.W. Dance, and Rawthentix Crew; art by East-3 and an open mike for rappers; and the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association. Admission: $5 after 7:30 p.m.
»Pegge Hopper Gallery (1164 Nuuanu Ave., 524-1160): The biennial “Hawaii 5-0 Design Competition” and awards show celebrates graphic design in print, environmental, Web and student categories.
»Mendonca Building Courtyard (1126 Smith St., 262-5930): A “Gypsy Night Market” features live music and island artists’ work. Stephanie Bolton shows mixed-media paintings of world dancers and island life; Alessandra Jann-Jordan displays handcrafted jewelry and fine-art cards made with materials sourced from locations including Korea, Italy and France; and Nilma Hunter shows handcrafted pieces with silver reclaimed largely from old electronic equipment.
»Ong King Arts Center (184 N. King St., 724-816-6585): live art, dance, music and spoken word, with dancers from Cherry Blossom Cabaret and Samadhi Hawaii, ska and hip-hop from Hauna Ahi, and rock ‘n’ soulful sounds from Quadraphonix and Vajj starting at 9 p.m. Admission: Free before 8 p.m., $5 8-9 p.m., $10 after 9 p.m.
»Louis Pohl Gallery (1142 Bethel St., 521-1812): Pacific Northwest-based artist Terry Nokell, “The Logger’s Daughter,” returns with original fashion, jewelry and wearable art.
—Courtesy photo
FRIDAY, FEB. 3-SATURDAY, FEB. 12
UH-Manoa showcases Indonesian folk theater
A young woman takes matters into her own hands when a powerful man pursues her and won’t take “no” for an answer. That’s the premise of “The Genteel Sabai,” an Indonesian folk dance-drama that opens today at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Jenilea Michaela Heath stars as the heroine. Versatile character actor Lavour Vernon Addison is the villainous Rajo Nan Panjang; Christopher McGahan is a matchmaker servant.
The show’s director, UH-Manoa professor of Southeast Asian theater Kirstin Pauka, and two Indonesian master teachers, Musra Dahrizal and Jasrial Jamaluddin, have been working with the student cast for more than six months to teach them the fundamentals of randai performance, providing a rare opportunity to experience this Indonesian folk theater, which originated in Sumatra.
Randai combines dramatic scenes, martial arts, instrumental telempong (melodious gong) music, singing and choreographed dance, including a technique of percussive “pants slapping” by dancers.
Where: Kennedy Theatre, UH-Manoa
When: 8 p.m. today, tomorrow and Thursday-Feb. 11, and 2 p.m. Feb 12
Cost: $5-$22
Info: 944-2697, www.etickethawaii.com
— John Berger
—Courtesy photo
SATURDAY, FEB. 4
‘Roots by the Sea’ features food, crafts, nonstop music
The Bob Marley Birthday Rajah is back with a “Roots by the Sea” festival of music at Sea Life Park’s Makapuu Meadows.
The Green, above, now building a national following, headlines a show with more than 20 bands, artists and DJs, including Natural Vibrations, below, Father Psalms (with Mike Love and Paula Fuga), Bamboo, Irie Souls, Pressure Drop, Guidance and Breath of Fire. University of Hawaii cheerleaders will be there for a dance-off.
“This one will have more bands,” said promoter Doug Farrar, and two stages. “With one band playing while the other one sets up in constant rotation, it’s going to be nonstop music, with no downtime.”
The day-into-night event will also feature food and drink vendors (including a Primo beer garden) and crafters. No coolers or chairs allowed.
Where: Sea Life Park, 41-202 Kalanianaole Highway
When: 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday
Cost: $20 from groovetickets.com or 855-235-2867
Info: 228-8020
— Gary Chun
—Courtesy photo
FRIDAY, FEB. 10-SATURDAY, FEB. 26
Spirited ‘Seven’ present a celebrated August Wilson drama
August Wilson’s “Seven Guitars” is “part bawdy comedy, part mystery and part dark elegy,” as described by The Actors’ Group, which is presenting the fifth play in Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle, a series of 10 dramas about the African-American experience. The Actors Group has pushed the opening date back to Feb. 10.
It’s set in 1948 Pittsburgh, where the funeral of a promising blues musician frames the play. In flashback scenes, “Seven Guitars” depicts the unpredictable, turbulent and sometimes tuneful days in the life of Floyd (Schoolboy) Barton and those in his life when he returns home to seek his fortune and join his “No. 1″ woman.
“Seven Guitars” won the 1996 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for best play, and was nominated for a Pulitzer and Tony during its Broadway run. New York Times reviewer Vincent Canby called it a play of “epic proportions and abundant spirit.” (Note: TAG warns that the play depicts “adult situations and violence” that may disturb some audiences.)
Frankie Enos directs the cast of (pictured, from left) Derrick Brown, Lillian Jones, Marc Cooper, Terry Bookhart, Roderick Green, Reshawn Fields and Khem M. Shepsutera.
Where: The Actors’ Group, Dole Cannery Square, 650 Iwilei Road
When: Opens at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10, continues at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11, Feb. 15-18, Feb. 22-25 and 2 p.m. Feb. 12, 19 and Feb. 26
Cost: $12-$20; all seats $10 Thursdays
Info: 722-6941, taghawaii.net
