Windward CC students take on gritty play at Paliku Theatre

"Polaroid Stories" runs March 21-24

Windward Community College
Contact:
Bonnie J Beatson, (808) 235-7374
Marketing & Public Relations Director, Windward Community College
Nicolas Logue, 236-9138
Drama, Humanities, Windward Community College
Posted: Feb 27, 2013

Jennifer Clayton plays Ariadne, a homeless girl.
Jennifer Clayton plays Ariadne, a homeless girl.
Anthony DiPaola plays a homeless youth who rips off Jonathan Saavedra (Dionysus).
Anthony DiPaola plays a homeless youth who rips off Jonathan Saavedra (Dionysus).
Windward Community College’s Theatre 260–Dramatic Production students will perform onstage and behind the scenes in the Hawai‘i premiere of Polaroid Stories, March 21-March 24 at Palikū Theatre. This harrowing drama intended for mature audiences is written by award-winning playwright Naomi Iizuka and directed by acclaimed international stage director Taurie Kinoshita.
 
Due to adult language, situations and themes, this play is recommended for ages 17 and older.
 
Polaroid Stories
Dates and Times: Thursday, March 21, Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, March 24 at 4 p.m.
Tickets: $5 students with valid ID/senior/military; $10 general
To Purchase Tickets: go online to etickethawaii.com or call 235-7310 to charge by phone.
 
Polaroid Stories is a modern and gritty take on Ovid’s Metamorphoses, casting the heroes and gods of several Greek myths as street kids living on the edge of a desolate urban landscape. Playwright Naomi Iizuka gives voices to the traditionally voiceless by merging outcasts of urban society with mythological characters whose ephemeral, transient lives reflect the main themes of Ovid's Metamorphosis, on which many of the stories are based, the power of storytelling and transformation.
 
In Polaroid Stories, Persephone (Queen of the Dead in classical mythology) is a drug addict prostitute; Orpheus (who in classical mythology is the greatest ever musician, capable of making rocks cry with the beauty of his music, and travels to hell to save his wife) obsessively stalks Eurydice. This darkly lyrical production also follows Ariadne who is hopelessly abandoned by a Skinhead boy (aka Oklahoma Boy, aka Pentheus, aka Theseus); Narcissus, who in Ovid’s tale falls in love with himself and becomes a flower, is a ‘Raver’ followed by Echo; D(ionysus) is a powerful drug dealer and G(Zeus) roams the streets searching for love and a good night's sleep.
 
The Hawai‘i premier of Iizuka's Polaroid Stories will draw audiences into the sad world of homeless youth—behaving like classical Greek gods and heroes: bragging, chasing sensual pleasures, telling stories, searching for love, seeking transformation and transcendence—seeking to escape. Polaroid Stories is an unflinching look at the brutality of their bleak, desperate, troubled lives. Taurie Kinoshita, who has done critically acclaimed work in London for four years, directs a cast made up entirely of students.
 
Each night, a different pre-show lecture will be presented on classical mythology, substance abuse issues, homelessness, and censorship in the arts. A post-show talk back with the actors is scheduled for the Friday, March 22 performances. In addition, a graffiti artist will make live art each night onstage.
 
For more information about Polaroid Stories, contact Taurie Kinoshita at 779-3456. To learn more about Theatre 260 and other theatre classes offered at Windward Community College, contact Nicolas Logue at 236-9138 or go online to windward.hawaii.edu.
 

For more information, visit: http://windward.hawaii.edu