Laughter Takes Center Stage with “Inspecting Carol” at UH Hilo

The University of Hawaii at Hilo Performing Arts Center is set to showcase the comedic play “Inspecting Carol” this weekend. The production, directed by Justina Mattos, promises to deliver a blend of humor and insight into the challenges faced by small theater companies today. The play, written by Daniel J. Sullivan in 1991, mirrors contemporary issues, including funding cuts affecting the arts.

The narrative centers around a struggling theater company preparing for its annual production of “A Christmas Carol.” Lee Dombroski, the center’s manager, described the situation as both entertaining and relevant in light of recent federal cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts. “It’s about a small theater company that is having a rough time. It’s very apropos,” she noted, adding that the characters mistakenly believe a random visitor to be the inspector from the NEA, leading to a series of comedic mishaps.

As the company scrambles to impress the wrong person, they resort to using outdated costumes and sets, having only four days to rehearse. “Everything that can go wrong does, and it all happens in front of the real NEA inspector,” Dombroski remarked. “It’s a real hoot.”

Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight and Saturday, with a closing matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Ticket prices are set at $20 for general admission, $15 for faculty, staff, alumni, and kupuna, and $10 for children aged 17 and under, as well as for students from UH Hilo or Hawaii Community College with valid ID.

Tickets can be purchased through the box office or online at https://tinyurl.com/2v9jduyt or by calling (808) 932-7290. This engaging production at UH Hilo offers a timely reflection on the intersection of humor and the arts, making it a must-see event for the community.