Learning From Our Kūpuna
Stories of Kūpuna, onstage at Palikū Theatre through the 26th is a collection of humorous, serious and moving scenes based on lessons or memories of seniors. This compact 75-minute production is framed brilliantly by director and writer Taurie Kinoshita with a meta-theatrical device highlighting the fact that the actors are only actors, in a theatre—not the actual people they are portraying. We watch as each scene is introduced and the stage is set while a single protagonist dons a costume piece which suggests time period.
Outstanding projections, costume and lights work together to allow the audience to glimpse a frozen moment in time—where everything onstage goes from a sepia-toned picture to vibrant color. Lights by Hope Laidlaw are phenomenal with side-lighting and different colors illuminating different actors on the stage. (For example, in one moment during a dream sequence the actors in the upstage area are in red light and the actor downstage is in a pool of textured blues.)
Paul Yau’s simple, neutral, yet highly effective set allows for prop storage, costume changing and multiple levels. The highest point of the series of platforms is shaped like a bridge (obviously suggesting a bridge between generations.) As usual, Taurie Kinoshita’s choice of music sets the mood superbly and sound engineer Philip Ikaika Foster finds just the right moments to fade in a song and uses sound effects extremely well.
Costumes by Jessica Jusseaume underscore the meta-theatrical framing device: all actors wear a neutral beige uniform (and then put on a costume piece when they play the main character in a scene.)
Most of all, outstanding and nuanced acting from Alaka’i Cunningham, Spencer McCarrey, Juvy Lucina, Manuel A. Moreno and Alex Rafael complete this entertaining and thought-provoking evening. In the piece from Lorenzo DeStefaon’s Shipment Day, Juvy Lucina moves us to tears. Alaka’i Cunningham hits every bit of subtext and build in each of his scenes—his performances are exquisite. Manuel A. Moreno is excellent at all 6 different characters he plays—each one totally different and all of them motivated. Spencer McCarrey as Mal in the 5th scene of the evening is haunting and pure genius; McCarrey is a thrill to watch in every scene. Alex Rafael begins the evening with some delightful singing and guitar playing; then ends the evening showing off his highly versatile acting in 3 distinct roles. Michael S. Lau is especially captivating as James in Scene 5.
If you are interested in acting, directing, history or theatre—definitely go and see this affordable, wonderful, short yet terrific production. After all, we can learn from the past and as theatre people, we learn by seeing theatre.
Written by Brendan Kobayashi.