KAPA‘A — Intent on providing Kaua‘i audiences with year-round entertainment, six resident thespians pooled intellectual and creative resources to launch the island’s newest theatre company, Oceanside Productions. Opening Thursday the group will present a comedy debut of “The Complete History
KAPA‘A — Intent on providing Kaua‘i audiences with year-round entertainment, six resident thespians pooled intellectual and creative resources to launch the island’s newest theatre company, Oceanside Productions. Opening Thursday the group will present a comedy debut of “The Complete History of America (abridged)” showing in the Paddle Room at the Aston Kaua‘i Beach at Maka‘iwa through March 26.
“The genesis of the group is a splinter of a brain group where 12 of us were discussing ways to utilize our talents,” said Jeff Dema, founding member and actor.
With decades of theatre experience between them, six of the original group (Dema, Jeff Martineau, Kat and Mike Scarbo; Nellie and Cass Foster) conceived of an on-going theatre troupe as a way to follow their passion and unite the community with three governing principles: Affordability for residents ($20 pre-sale tickets); a central location (Kapa‘a) and community support.
Director of the show, Cass Foster, described the foundation of the group as one sharing the Hawaiian ideal of malama the ‘aina.
“As Jews we are obligated to heal the Earth,” Foster said. “That is the foundation of how we make decisions. It’s about how to make the community healthy and more whole.”
And in this case laughter is the healing elixir.
“This hilarious 90-minute comedy features a troupe who cheerfully run riot over five-hundred years of our country’s history as they repeatedly assume new characters,” Foster said in a press release.
“The Complete History of America (abridged)” is a wild ride spanning pre-settlement America to current day politics where no public figure escapes unscathed. One reviewer described the show as “a nonstop barrage of historical fact and hysterical farce.”
Kaua‘i audiences will remember “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)” which had two sold-out runs on Kaua‘i and is by the same authors: Adam Long, Reed Martin and Austin Ticheno.
Laden with talent and experience, the troupe boasts the expertise of director, Foster, an internationally-acclaimed director and author as well as the talent of Martineau and Demma, who return to the stage with seasoned actor, Nellie Foster.
The troupe chose this production to launch their vision for many reasons, one being that the “The Complete History” is among the longest running comedies in London and received rave international reviews.
“The writing is witty, the action is fast-paced,” Cass said.
Another perk to the Aston location is the availability of adult beverages and snacks during the show.
Performances of “The Complete History of America (abridged)” are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday nights from February 18 to March 26. Oceanside Productions offers on-line discounts at an exclusive kama‘aina rate of $20. At the door general admission is $35. The box office opens at 6:30 p.m. the night of the show. The Aston Kaua‘i Beach at Maka‘iwa is located just north of the Coconut Marketplace. For more information call, 212-8444 or e-mail info@OceansideProductions.com.
Visit oceansideproductions.com for discounted tickets.
