Do It: Shakespeare Fest, Jimmy Borges tribute, Ballet Hawaii

FRIDAY-AUG. 6

>> Shakespeare Festival puts a modern spin on ‘Errors’

Shakespeare gets a modern twist this week, thanks to the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival and its presentation of “Comedy of Errors.”

The bard seemed prescient in writing this early play, which begins with the merchant Egeon (Gerald Altwies) being condemned for violating a travel ban to Ephesus, which in this production is a 1920s metropolis complete with flappers, jazz and a Prohibition culture. The madcap farce gets complicated when Egeon’s son, Antipholus from Syracuse (Dan Connell), arrives in Ephesus on a mission to find his long-lost twin brother, Antipholus of Ephesus (Connor Lawhorn).

Confusing matters more is that both have servants named Dromio (Kirk Lapilio and Nygell Halvorson), who are themselves long-lost twins. Of course, wives, girlfriends and the police can’t tell the difference, leading to more craziness.

Shirley Kagan, an alumna of the University of Hawaii-Manoa graduate theater program, returns to Hawaii to direct the play. She was associated with Richmond (Va.) Shakespeare, now known as the Quill Theatre, since 2004 and has spent nearly 20 years teaching theater at Hamden-Sydney College in Virginia, one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the U.S.

SUNDAY

>> Borges stylings at Blue Note will benefit UH scholarship

The golden voice and the elegant style of the late Jimmy Borges will be celebrated at Blue Note Hawaii on Sunday.

Borges, dubbed Hawaii’s gentleman of jazz, was a beloved performer for more than 60 years, performing jazz and pop standards in San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York and elsewhere, eventually becoming a mainstay in Waikiki hot spots. His well-documented battle with cancer in his final years was an inspiration, with Borges fighting off liver cancer in his 70s to return to the stage, then dying of lung cancer at age 80 in May 2016.

The performance will feature pop vocalist Shari Lynn, Tony Award nominee Loretta Ables Sayre, opera singer Kip Wilborn and the versatile Willie K. They’ll be backed up by an all-star band featuring bassist Dean Taba, pianist Jim Howard, trumpet player Mike Lewis, drummer Noel Okimoto and Rocky Holmes on flute and sax.

Also performing will be tenor Charles Mukaida, who was praised for his appearance in Hawaii Opera Theatre’s production of “Streetcar Named Desire” in January. Mukaida is the first recipient of the Jimmy Borges Endowed Scholarship in Vocal Music, an annual award for voice students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Music Department. Proceeds from the concert will go toward the scholarship.

Blue Note Hawaii is encouraging fans to dress up as a tribute to Borges, who always cut a dapper figure in public.

>> Polo match aids isle Parkinson’s association

Chukker up for polo Sunday and help raise money in the battle against Parkinson’s disease.

Local polo players will meet at the Hawaii Polo Club in Mokuleia to play for the Fred Dailey Cup, named in honor of the hotelier and tourism promoter. Dailey was an avid polo player who helped establish the club, which has attracted polo players like Britain’s Prince Charles as well as top polo teams from overseas.

The match will be a fundraiser for Hawaii Parkinson Association, a support group that works toward finding a cure for the progressive movement disorder and helping patients, their families and their caregivers. The event will be a tasty one, with Hawaii Home Instead, a co-sponsor of the event, offering a “Sauce Tent” that will sell salad dressing, spreads and dipping sauces. After the polo, local bluegrass band Hook + Line will entertain.

At least 20 percent of the proceeds from each ticket sold will go to the Hawaii Parkinson Association. If you’d like to give more, enter the code “homeinstead” for online purchases at hawaii-polo.org to increase the donation to 50 percent. Tables for eight are also available for $320, with premier seating and pupu.

THURSDAY-AUG. 4

>> Ballet Hawaii spotlights works by Gershwin and Balanchine

Dancers put their best foot forward with “Cool Ballet for a Hot Summer: A Medley of American Dance,” Ballet Hawaii’s summer presentation.

The evening includes “By George!” a Broadway musical-style dance work featuring the hits of George Gershwin. The work was choreographed by Tom Pazik, who created the “Nutcracker” that Ballet Hawaii performed for decades up until last year’s new production. Also on the program is “Serenade,” the first ballet by George Balanchine and a signature for the New York City Ballet. “The music of ‘Serenade’ has got to be one of the prettiest pieces you’ll ever hear,” said John Parkinson, executive director of Ballet Hawaii.

“This will be an evening of repertory,” Parkinson said. “There will be a number of pieces by different choreographers. We’ve got some professionals dancing with us, and then a bunch of our kids as supporting cast inside of those pieces.”

Among the visiting artists will be Timor Bourtasenkov of the Carolina Ballet, a frequent visiting artist here; John Selya of the American Ballet Theatre (“He’s been Twyla Tharp’s muse for a long time,” Parkinson said); newcomer Leslie Raush of the Pacific Northwest Ballet, who plans to retire here in Hawaii; and former Hawaii resident Mark Tucker and his wife, Emily, who dance for Eugene Ballet Company in Oregon.