Remember when jack-o-lanterns were made from papier-mâché?
You could put a candle inside, so the glow made its eyes and mouth bright.
If you added a flame, you probably needed a stick attached to the lantern’s wire or cord to avoid getting burned.
No, it wasn’t safe.
Some kids used these unlighted pumpkins to collect their treats. Back in the day, you didn’t go for the huge haul to fill shopping bags.
You still can get these papier-mâché creations online; vintage ones can cost anywhere from $50 to $400. It would be a collectible item, if its origins date back, say, five decades.
But most kids nowadays don’t carry a jack-o-lantern, which are largely fashioned from plastic, and require a battery-supported “candle” for the glow.
So the question is, are jack-o-lanterns necessary anymore?
If you have a memory of the lanterns from yesteryear, share your thoughts here.
Surviving members of Kalapana will take the stage at Blue Note Hawaii at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 8 and 9, to remember three of the founding members of the group: DJ Pratt, Malani Bilyeu and Mackey Feary.
The participating musicians likely will include Gaylord Holomalia and Kenji Sano, who have had longstanding stints with the original band, and others who have had tenure with Kalapana could emerge, too, including Kirk Thompson, Alvin Fejarang, Randy Aloya, and Michael Paulo.
However, the Blue Note website does not identify who will be taking the stage, and efforts to secure a roster of vocalists and musicians so far have not been successful.
Clearly, most of Kalapana’s hit songs – still getting some airplay on local radio – featured the voices of Feary and Bilyeu.
The original Kalapana, from left: Kirk Thompson, Mackey Feary, Malani Bilyer and DJ Pratt.
Kalapana was bestowed the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011; recipients then included Bilyeu, Feary (posthumously), Pratt, Thompson, Fejarang, Paulo and Aloya.
Feary, who had drug addiction issues, died Feb. 20, 1999, at age 43. He apparently took his own life while imprisoned, leading to a tragic end. His legacy includes such classic musical moments as “Nightbird,” “Juliet,” “Moon and Stars,” and “The Hurt.”
Bilyeu died of a heart attack on Dec. 27, 2018, on Kauai. He was 69. His Kalapana compositions included “(For You) I’d Chase a Rainbow,” “You Make It Hard,” “ Naturally,” “Girl” and “Many Classic Moments.”
Pratt was found unresponsive in his home on Sept. 7, 2021. He was 67. Pratt earned two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for his work as a member of Kalapana. He earned three more for his skills as a recording studio engineer.
Hawaii ArtSpace, a new theatrical production company, will be holding its first fundraiser from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 23) at The B Side HNL, (1200 Ala Moana Blvd., the former Ryan’s location) at Ward Center.
There’s a holiday-themed show as well as a sweepstake and costumes are encouraged but not required.
Candi Shell
Drag Queen extraordinaire, Candi Shell, will emcee a program featuring opera singer Lea Woods Almanza, as Elvira, Queen of Darkness. HA-lloween themed songs, suitable for the bewitching season, will be re-imagined: “Moon Over Bourbon Street,” “Werewolves of London,” Who Ya Gonna Call, “ “Time Warp,” “One Way or Another“ and “I Put A Spell on You.”
Theatrical talent you might recognize will include, Jody Bill, Nick Amador, Aiko Schick, Jarren Amian, Starr Kalahiki, David Heulitt, Stacy Pulmano, and Tito Berinobis.
Seasonal characters like Frankenstein, Beetlejuice, The Sanderson Sisters and Frankfurter will make appearances.
And you could win a trinket box by Edgar Berebi, dinner for two at The Chart House, an abalone shell ring, and two tickets to the Elton John concert at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles (excluding air fare and housing).
There will be heavy pupu and a cash bar.
Proceeds will support future Hawaii ArtSpace productions.
Kevin I., aka Kevin Iwamoto in his business-career realm, continues to receive heartening news about his 1980s recordings that have connected with a 2022 audience.
“Woke up this morning to two great emails from Pandora, a leading US music streaming platform saying that they have selected two songs from my latest release Love Songs Collection 1980-1985 (2022 Remaster) that will be added to their higher rotation playlist!,” he gleefully said via a recent Facebook post.
“That means much more streams and exposure to Pandora subscribers.”
The surge in interest in his oldies that have connected with a newbie listenership has been constantly giving him a lift in spirits, considering he’s now touring to promote his catalog of romantic ditties, recorded when he was an active balladeer in Honolulu.
Kevin I
“ This second release has generated more interest in my global music catalog and has boosted streaming numbers by 12,000 streams/ downloads just on Pandora with similar numbers on Spotify,” he commented. “Thank you Lord!”
Certainly, he spent time and bucks to remix, re-energize and release his original recordings, from yesteryear, not knowing what the outcome would be three decades later. You recall, too, that when he was home recently for the 50th anniversary of his Roosevelt High School class reunion, he gifted his former classmates with a limited edition CD that contained titles that global followers have been discovering and buying online. …
The lesson here: Keep on top of your game; you never know when your career gets an unexpected reboot; taking a left turn might be the right move. Main thing, explore your options and chart your course. …
Lisa Konove reprises Ann Landers role
Honolulu actress Lisa Konove is winding up a brief run, portraying advice columnist Ann Landers, in a Beverly Arts Center run of “The Lady With All the Answers,” ending today (Oct. 9) in Chicago. It’s her acting debut in The Windy City.
Lisa Konove
Konove did the one-woman role in an earlier run at Diamond Head Theatre.
The casting was a reunion with BAC artistic director Kevin Pease, formerly of Hawaii, who directed Konove who played Jo in “Waitress” in the regional premiere of the musical. …
Ooops, a wardrobe malfunction
Nicole Scherzinger
Nicole Scherzinger, local girl and former lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls, was out and about in New York recently when s polka dot dress with ruffled sleeves slipped for a moment, creating a tad of a nipple display.
She didn’t panic, apparently, and quickly raised her off-the-shoulder sleeves to recover from the mishap. Could be some folks didn’t recognize her because she was shielded with large sunglasses and gold hoop earrings, which might have distracted would be spectators. All in a day’s outing. …
Kudos to playwright Lee Cataluna, who has taken a huge leap in her prolific career, and applause, too, to the New York Times to recognize and spotlight her journey as a storyteller in a community far, far away from her island roots.
Cataluna, a former journalist for the Honolulu Advertiser and now a columnist for Civil Beat, was interviewed by NYT reporter Laura Graeber, in an article published Oct. 4, that explores her storytelling skills. Cataluna’s latest play, “Heart Strings,” is in production through Oct. 23 at the Linda Gross Theater in Chelsea. It is being produced by Atlantic Theater Company as the initial Atlantic for Kids production since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
It’s quite an achievement for Cataluna to take her play beyond the reef and across the continent. It’s also a moment for the state to support her mission — and others in her footsteps — to bring island themes and tales for audiences elsewhere to enjoy and discover.
Lee Cataluna
At a time when even the Honolulu media shamefully does not acknowledge or write about local playwrights launching a play with clear Hawaiian roots, it’s an astonishing accomplishment for Cataluna to attract a New York group to stage the world premiere of “Heart Strings.”
The thread throughout her play focuses on hei, the centuries-old small-kid-time game, where a simple string or cord is the centerpiece, and game-players use their fingers to create varying triangles or rectangles and players delicately transfer the network of loops to each other. You might remember it as “Cat’s Cradle,” which has also been the name for this string game.
And, natch, batteries are not required. Simple idea, with historical roots, about everyday events or relationships, is at the core of Cataluna’s plays. Think “Folks You Meet at Long’s,” “Musubi Man,” “Home of the Brave,” “You Somebody,” “Flowers of Hawaii,” and “Extraordinary Stories for Ordinary Ohana.” Locally, her works have been staged by Kumu Kahua, Honolulu Theatre of Youth and Diamond Head Theatre. …
“Heart Strings” was intended to be staged by Iolani School actors (Cataluna previously taught there; her son remains a student there), but plans changed because of the pandemic. Who knew New York would kick off a Hawaii play? Like Kumu Kahua on steroids!
I recall when Cataluna was researching this play, seeking how-to’s of hei via Facebook. Not surprising, she got the job done — with no strings attached. She’s opened the doors for other island playwrights to attempt to get their works noticed and produced beyond the seas. …
Bruno Mars
A heavenly milestone for Bruno
So maybe now is a good time to talk about Bruno. You know, Bruno Mars, not the “Encanto” Disney Bruno.
Our local superstar now has six Diamond Single Awards, the first pop star to achieve this status. His “Locked Out of Heaven” tune has been certified Diamond, by RIAA’s Gold and Platinum Program. His earlier five Diamond hits are “Just the Way You Are,” “Grenade,” “When I Was Your Man,” “That’s What I Like,” and the collaborative “Uptown Funk” with Mark Ronson.
Way to go, Bruno! …
Sunday Manoa
Manoa Marketplace (rear area, beyond Safeway but not blocking Long’s) is undergoing renovations, so there are some concerns behind the boarded eateries and shops. I dined at Paisano one night, before taking in “Cabaret,” and navigating to the Italian restaurant was a challenge.
So folks thinking of going to Medici’s on the second floor, where the Tommy James Trio (with Dave Bixler and Dean Taba) perform on Sunday (Oct. 9), should anticipate a bit of a maze to get to the club; doors open at 5 p.m., show at 6:30 p.m.
Tommy James
And an update: Medici’s earlier raised its dinner-and-show prices to $75 (I had bought tickets at that price, for a postponed Shari Lynn Trio show), with meals served by waitstaff. But the return of the buffet brings down the price to $59 (partly because of patron outcries and perhaps a drop in attendees), with reimbursements to be made at the door, according to the Medici’s website. …
For nearly four decades, Karen G. Wolfe has been the heartbeat of productions at Diamond Head Theatre, where she has been costume director responsible for creating garb for all the actors on stage.
With DHT now staging its final musical, “Anything Goes” – and yes, jammed with fashionable gowns, uniforms and more created by Wolfe that could fill several boutiques — in the orininal facility, Wolfe was looking forward to continue her job when “Cinderella” is staged in DHT’s brand new facility a stone’s throw away next January.
But unexpectedly, Wolfe has been told by the theater that “Anything Goes” will be her final show. She won’t be able to try on Cinderella’s slipper to continue her creative services when the new theater opens shop next year. Surely, this must have been a devastating moment in her brilliant career.
With more than 200 shows under her belt, the snub was hurtful and alarming. Wolfe served under both the Honolulu Community Theatre of the past and the current Diamond Head Theatre era.
Karen G. Wolfe, in the Diamond Head Theatre costume shop,
“Not only is this an insult to my mother, it’s an insult to the Hawaii theater community, and a threat to worker’s rights,” said her daughter, Kyla Blasé, who has launched an online petition to help her mother continue as costume designer “so she can choose to retire with celebration at her discretion.”
Veteran actress-singer Shari Lynn, who has graced the DHT and looked glorious in Wolfe’s period-savvy gowns, said “The gifted Karen Wolfe has given life to thousands of characters via her unparalleled artistic vision and dedication to her craft. Sometimes actors don’t fully inhabit the character until the costumer works her magic and they see it fully realized for the first time.
“Fanny, Mame, Dolly and many others were given their signature look by Karen. She is also always sensitive to the body insecurities we all have,” said Shari. “HCT/DHT has been the beneficiary, as she earned great press and countless Po’okelas for them. Granted, I’m not privy to the reasons behind DHT’s decision, but this is not how an organization shows gratitude.”
Aubrey Lee, who has worked in theater here and on the Mainland, said of Wolfe: “Her extensive knowledge, craftsmanship and experience alone is irreplaceable. I know that such talent is not easy to find. The ability to sew and design alone is a dying art. Being able to form an extensively long list of volunteers is also no easy feat. Losing Karen would be a step backward in Diamond Head Theatre’s current path of moving forward into the future.” Lee added: “Seeing the specifications for a role to currently replace her is honestly laughable. No one will be able to match the time and dedication that Karen has made over the years, no one with the experience needed will take the current rate being offered.”
Lee hopes the DHT board of directors will step in and right a wrong.
Actors, dancers and techies alike will recognize the costume shop as the heart and soul of DHT, particularly where it has been operating just inside the stage door at the back of the aging facility.
The costume shop was the hub for all; if Wolfe was available, you could kibitz, partake of pupu or a beverage, or get a costume fitting. She might have been stitching a hem, or sewing a rip in a garment, but but always open to chit-chats or interviews. At Halloween, the costume shop would be packed with eager beavers from the community trying to rent anything from a ghoulish outfit to a gown featured in an earlier musical.
A petition to sign to perhaps reverse the decision, go to change.org and also visit #keepKaren
Blasé, herself a theatrical veteran, is currently merchandise manager of “Six” on Broadway and earlier served in the same capacity for “Moulin Rouge” and “School of Rock.”
We didn’t seek comment from DHT, regarding Wolfe’s dismissal, because personnel matters are never discussed.
Meanwhile, rumors are circulating that there could be further changes in the DHT hierarchy. Whatever. But a devoted and experienced costumer is hard to find. …
Shari catches COVID
Shari Lynn
The aforementioned Shari Lynn has caught COVID-19 and thus had to cancel – for the second time – her gig at Medici’s at Manoa Marketplace, which was scheduled for this Friday, Sept. 30.
The entertainer, who has had her preventive shots, earlier tested for COVID, then cleared when checkups proved negative, but apparently the pandemic bug returned and still is claiming victims.
Shari also had to postpone her plans to get the latest booster shots.
Medici’s later will reschedule the gig, when all signs point to go. Meanwhile, if you have reservations, hold off on cancellation; they’ll be good when the date is firmed up ….
