Submitted by Sounds of Aloha on
December 4, 2016, saw the Sounds of Aloha Chorus roll out the holiday season early this year by returning to Windward Community College's Paliku Theatre for another original musical comedy. "The Elf Who Saved Christmas" followed on last year's big holiday hit, "Santa Needs an Ukulele!" This year's show told the story of how one of Santa's elves, Freddie, inadvertently saves Christmas from the scheming of a vengeful witch who had been downsized due to North Pole budget cuts -- and of how the budget situation is salvaged by a plan to build a fixed rail system to connect the North Pole to Tokyo. In addition to music by SOA and its quartets, the production featured the acting talents of local thespians Ron Encarnacion as Freddie, Cindy Ramirez as North Pole Governor Linda Kringle, and, returning to SOA's stage, Karen Kuioka Hironaga as Hilda the Halloween Witch and Kimo Alborado as Santa Claus. Pulling it all together with comedic flair, in his directing debut, was Jim Aina.
Last year's ukulele play-and-sing-along proved so popular that we have made it part of our Christmas show tradition, and some audience members said they came especially for that! Attendees were invited to bring their own ukulele, and SOA provided the lyrics and chords for some holiday favorites. This is the kind of thing that makes for special family memories for kids and adults alike. We look forward to continuing the tradition next year!
