TGIFr!day 112219

Week of Friday, November 22, 2019 | Vol. 7, No. 47

Check da Scene

Grinds & Da Kines For Your Weekend

‘MATILDA’ IS MAGIC

HCT musical one of its best BILL BULEY TGIFR!DAY

W

hen Director and Choreographer Carol Culver said “Matilda the Musical” was one of the best productions by Hawaii Children’s Theatre, one would think that’s just the usual praise that comes ••• from, of course, the PLAY REVIEW director. It can’t be that good, right?

Wrong. It is that good. After seeing this play, we have to say that wasn’t just talk.

“Matilda the Musical” ranks right up there with HCT’s “Newsies” from last year.

That one was brilliant, with fantastic song, dance, acting and choreography. “Matilda” is every bit as good.

The stage, the lighting, the props,

Bill Buley / TGIFR!DAY

Taj Gutierrez, right, plays Headmistress Trunchbull, keeping her students in line in a classroom scene from “Matilda the Musical.”

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SEE MAGIC, PAGE 2

2 | TGIFR!DAY | Friday, November 22, 2019

SLACK-KEY GUITAR FEST SUNDAY

Magic Continued from Page 1

set the scenes. This show flows smoothly, start to finish. And, speaking of the final scene, we won’t spoil it, but it’s wonderful.

That much of this cast is kids speaks highly of their dedication and how hard they worked. They really come across as seasoned actors. Sure, this is a fun, fastpaced musical, but they’re not up there messing around. They put their hearts into each number.

Kudos to Culver and her team for putting this together and offering it to the community.

This is a terrific cast with fine performances. Of course, much of the attention falls on Rain Barrett Verd and Karlie Goldberg, who alternate playing Matilda. Both are outstanding. They have you rooting for Matilda and turn her into the lovable little girl she is right before your eyes. This character with telekinetic abilities is beyond smart and kind and, thanks to Rain and Karlie, you have no trouble believing it. Because if you get a chance to talk to them, they’re pretty darn smart and kind, too.

For actors so young, Verd is 10 and Goldberg, 11, they are mature and responsible.

Taj Gutierrez as Headmistress Trunchbull gives what may be his best performance on Kauai in his young acting career. His mannerisms, his movements, his facial expressions, his voice inflections, bring the horrible Trunchbull to life. He somehow manages to make her almost — almost

‘Celebrating 27 years on the Garden Island’

S Bill Buley / TGIFR!DAY

Rain Berrett Verd plays Matilda in “Matilda the Musical.”

— likable. She is a monster, for sure, but Gutierrez makes her human, too. You can’t help but be impressed at the acrobatics he displays in the exercise scene. He also showcases a powerful singing voice, something that might, to some, come across as a bit of a surprise. But then again, this role gives him a chance to display a range of acting and singing abilities, and he does.

Another actor who shines is Erin Gaines as the mousy Miss Honey. Gaines plays it straight as the timid teacher who has trouble standing up for herself and her students, but who quickly sees the potential in Matilda and tries to give her opportunities to grow.

Gaines also rises up when she sings. She’s been in many productions on Kauai, but this is one of those times where she gives solos and, like Taj, she shows off strong vocals with great range.

There really is nothing to criticize with this musical. Nothing

to point out that should be improved. Everyone in this production stands out. Larry Richardson as Mr. Wormwood and Sabryn Rudinoff as Mrs. Wormwood are perfect as Matilda’s self-absorbed, uncaring parents. Kayman Addison, as Bruce, the boy who lets out a room-rattling burp and who must eat an entire chocolate cake as punishment — and does it well — draws well-earned laughter.

HCT, once again, has delivered a top-notch production in “Matilda the Musical. Don’t miss this.

Shows are 7 p.m. tonight and Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday, and against next weekend, at Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall.

Tickets are $15 general admission, $12 students and seniors, and 3 and under are free. Get tickets at the door or at www. hawaiichildrenstheatre.org.

••• Bill Buley, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or bbuley@thegardenisland.com.

unday will mark the 27th anniversary of the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival on Kauai.

The festival, which began in Honolulu in 1982 (37 years ago) to honor the iconic Gabby Pahinui, had its start on the Garden Island in 1992.

This year, the festival is headed back to the beautiful Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club at Kalapaki Beach, where it all started.

Celebrating the festival are artists from Oahu, Hawaii Island and Kauai.

Artists from Kauai include Cindy Combs, Michael Keale and Paul Togioka.

Doors open at 11 a.m. and the festival runs from noon to 6 p.m.

There is a $10 admission that benefits the Ki-ho‘alu Foundation, which has the sole mission to promote, preserve and perpetuate slack-key guitar that began in 1830 on Hawaii Island.

Throughout the day free CDs, festival T-shirts and other items will be given away. About 5 p.m., a new Taylor guitar valued at $1,000 will be given away.

“Come and join the fun ‘Kauai Style,’” said a press release.

Mike Teruya / Special to TGIFR!DAY

Michael Keale will perform at Sunday’s Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival at the Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club on Kalapaki Beach.

TGIFR!DAY file

Paul Togioka, a Grammy winning guitarist and part of all the slack key guitar festivals from the beginning, performs Sunday.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Bill Buley | bbuley@thegardenisland.com | 245-0457 ADVERTISING: displayads@thegardenisland.com | 245-0425 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: tgiclassified@thegardenisland.com | 246-0325

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TGIFR!DAY | Friday, November 22, 2019 | 3

HELEN TURNER FINALLY GETS A STUDIO OF HER OWN, IN WAIMEA Grand opening is Saturday JESSICA ELSE TGIFR!DAY

H

elen Turner usually likes to do her painting outside, plein-air style, with elements at play while she works. But she’s got new digs now, and plenty of room to paint in the studio, now situated in downtown Waimea.

For decades, Turner has been teaching and painting in Kauai’s great outdoors and living on the Eastside of the island. A little more than a year ago she moved to the sunny Westside and changed the pace.

Then her husband saw a studio for rent — specifically the old Menehune Pharmacy building in Waimea.

Knowing it was Turner’s dream to open a gallery of her own work, he rented the space and surprised Turner with a new outlet for her art.

Now she’s gearing up for a grand opening on Saturday, complete with pupu, wine and landscape paintings of

Contributed by Helen Turner

Helen Turner in the field.

Kauai over the past 30 years.

“Owning a gallery, it’s something I used to long for, and when my husband got it, I couldn’t say ‘no,’”Turner said. “It’s a funky little place, but there’s a great work area where I can do an oil painting and a pastel at the same time.”

That’s where Turner expects to be spending most of her time, indulging her creative side and painting away until a customer comes by to check out the gallery in the front.

Currently, the plan is to be open from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays.

“I live about five minutes away, too, so people can just call or text me and I can come

right over if it’s not open,”Turn- painting scenes in the Waimea the studio, including potential Saturday’s opening is set for Canyon. But she’s also gearing paint-and-sip events in the er said. “I’ll have my paintings 5 top 7 p.m. at Helen Turner up to host some classes in evenings. for sale and also some prints Studio in Waimea. that are more affordable.”

Turner’s art is mostly landscapes, with scenes replicated exactly as Turner sees them.

She’s an avid photographer as well, so paintings that are done in-studio are made from looking at pictures she’s taken.

The gallery, she said, will be unique in that viewers will be able to see pieces of Kauai’s history reflected in the art Shops, Restaurants & Services at Ching Young Village: and see how the island has changed since some of them Na Pali Properties Hanalei River Healing Activity Shack were painted.

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4 | TGIFR!DAY | Friday, November 22, 2019

CHECK DA SCENE

DENNIS FUJIMOTO TGIFR!DAY

Melelani Beck, Stacy Sproat-Beck, David Sproat

Kaisah Vercelli, Madeline Hoesel

Chelsea Millard, Katie Parkinson, Madison Perry

YWCA CELEBRATES WOMEN LEADERS

S Peggy Lake, Edie Ignacio Neumiller, Robbie Melton

Suzi Gillette, Hua Duncan

Jill Lowry, Robin Wong

Sonia Topenio, Arryl Kaneshiro, Eddie Topenio

Kai Vogelgesang, Jacob Vogelgesang, Ellena Vogelgesang, Julia Adolfo, Chia Granda, Puanani Hee

Trinette Kaui, Saundri Harris, Celeste Armstrong, Tammy Pu‘u, Tiffany Dusenberry, Mahea Ho‘okano, Cindy Cardines

tacy Sproat-Beck, Sarah Tochiki and JoAnn Yukimura joined the growing list of women leaders honored over the past 11 years by the YWCA of Kauai through its Na Wahine Alaka‘i O Kaua‘i annual awards event Friday at the Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club on Kalapaki Beach.

“These diverse women have touched the community with their own unique style,” said Renae Hamilton-Cambeilh, YWCA executive director. “Yet they share a common thread in their determination to making a positive difference for Kauai.”

In addition to the recognitions, the YWCA of Kauai presented its scholarships — the YWCA Board of Director’s scholarship being awarded to Julie Kauakahi, the Grace Fermin Dixon Scholarship presented to Leslie Uri, and the Pay It Forward awards being made to Mei-Ling Keopuhiwa, Katie Cook, Madeline Hoesel and Kaisah Vercelli.

Rhye Cushman, Mate Cushman