Two Men Bring A Small Town To Life

By Kristin Hashimoto

From L-R: Tom Althouse and Jonathan Lehman in character for Greater Tuna, image courtesy of ProArts.

Tom Althouse and Jonathan Lehman have multiple personalities. In Greater Tuna, a play written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard, Lehman and Althouse take on ten different roles each. With a total of twenty characters, these two talented men create a small town atmosphere in this comedic slice-of-life type play about Tuna, the third smallest town in Texas.

Althouse and Lehman move fast, and change even faster. Characters include a teenage girl, an aunt, a pastor, and radio hosts, among others. The daily life occurrences include: UFO sightings, “smut snatching,” and “puppy pushing.” With so many situations and characters, the dialogue calls for lots of laughter.

The play opens May 27, and runs until June 12, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. There will be special matinee performances on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. There will be no performances on May 29. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and people aged 18 and under. This show is recommended for children over the age of 13, as there is mild profanity. ProArts offers a Kama’aina discount on May 28, June 2, and June 9.

ProArts Playhouse is tucked amidst restaurants and other shops in Azeka Mall (Makai) in Kihei. The theatre is small and “intimate,” with reserved seats for up to 80 people. The budget for the show may not be the largest, but the clever quick-change costumes by Marsha Kelly, and scenery designed by Caro Walker, make the most of the time constraints and the space requirements. Greater Tuna is directed by Doug Kendrick; and the assistant director is Kristi Scott. The play is co-produced by Lehman and Kendrick.

While the small-town of Tuna, might seem far away, the local mindset, colloquialisms, and quirkiness of its inhabitants, may have some resonance with Hawaii’s own little town vibe.

For more information and/or tickets,

From L-R: Tom Althouse and Jonathan Lehman, image courtesy of ProArts

call 463-6520. ProArts is located at 1280 S. Kihei Road. Parking is plentiful, but seats are not.