HPU Stirring Up Chekhov Tales

Tim Dyke opens up and says 'ah' for enthusiastic dentist Becky Maltby in a scene from Neil Simon's 'The Good Doctor,' opening Nov. 2 at Hawaii Pacific University's Paul and Vi Loo Theatre. Photo from Terry Olival.

HPU Theatre will mark its 20th anniversary of bringing excellent theater to the Windward side by staging its fall production Nov. 2-Dec. 2 in Paul and Vi Loo Theater at the college’s Hawaii Loa campus.

Neil Simon’s The Good Doctor also unites the talent of two local theaters, featuring Tom Holowach – Paliku Theatre manager – in the lead role, with fellow actors David Starr, Fabienne Flandre-Herold, Gabriel Hatton, Hailey Farah, Jakob Grube Madsen, Julia Ubrankovics, Larry Bialock, Sara Cate Langham, Tim Dyke and Becky and Melinda Maltby.

“I would say that The Good Doctor is a delightful combination from two genius playwrights, Neil Simon and Anton Chekhov,” said director Joyce Maltby. “Although different in their approach, both have the ability to see the comedy in everyday life, even in poignant situations.

“Neil Simon calls this play a vaudeville, since it is filled with a wonderful assortment of sketches, lots of comedy, some reminiscent of Monty Python and even Seinfeld.”

The play features a series of heartwarming, humorous sketches that explore the human condition, ranging from seduction to dentistry, from prostitution to auditions, and everything in between.

Audiences can view The Good Doctor Nov. 2-4, 8-11, 15-18, 21, 23-25, 29-30 and Dec. 1-2. The curtain goes up at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 4 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets cost $20 general admission, $15 for seniors, military, students and HPU faculty and staff, and $5 for HPU students. There are other discounts available for Thursday performances. For reservations, call 375-1282.