A Twist on Family Ties

Patty McManus and her two daughters, Katie and Emily, love being in the play Oliver! together.

Whether they’re pirates, comics, or child orphans, characters from Tokyo International Players (TIP) never fail to unite and put on an entertaining act. In its 112-year run, TIP’s May production of Charles Dickens’ classic Oliver! will prove its biggest show yet.

One cast member says although it takes countless hours of practice, hard work, and dedication, the plays are fun and a great way to bring families together.

Over sixty actors and crew members are behind the project, and their bond is personal.

Set to play Oliver’s kindred guardian, Mr. Sowerberry, is Australia native Dale Haskel. His involvement with TIP goes back four years, and he claims the experience is a great one. Surely so, as he shares the stage with his thirteen-year-old daughter. “This is fun,” he gushes.

The Haskells always had a love for music and performing. Dale has fond memories of taking his daughter out to dance since she was three, and bonded over singing at home for hours at a time. And TIP tightened their knot. “It made us closer because we’re actually working on a production, and there’s the whole rehearsal stage.” With months of practice, imagine all that time together!

The Haskells aren’t the only family unit in Oliver Twist. Patty McManus from Connecticut, USA, joined the play after her daughters Katie and Emily, 12 and 11 respectively, auditioned. Although they aren’t in a lot of scenes together, the proud mother says they have a blast.

“It’s fun for [the girls] to see their mom in a different way,” professed McManus, who also relishes in seeing her kids don other personas. “That has opened up a lot of discussions between the three of us. I’m really glad to have had the experience and be able to share it with my two girls.”

The sisters also enjoy being in the act. Emily adores being on stage with her family and friends. “Me and my mom are in totally different scenes but I love watching her rehearse. We memorize lines together.”

“I like how it’s all a family and friends production, and we all know each other,” Katie beamed. “We all get closer once it comes to the real play.”

Director Lou McLeod also loves practice time. She enjoys bringing out the best in her actors as varied scenes develop. What’s the trick? “It’s about pulling different strings from every department together and looking at the whole thing.”

Seeing the entire cast sing together is also rewarding for her. “I like just standing back and going, ‘Yeah, that’s cool.’”

There are six different families in the play, yet the entire cast is like a big one itself. The laughter goes on when they’re not rehearsing, and their collective hard work is sure to show on stage.

Interested in seeing the TIP’s production of Oliver? Check out www.tokyoplayers.org. Shows take place at the Theatre Sun Mall on May 14-17. It’s one show I’m certainly not going to miss!

Restaurant Review: T.Y. Harbor Brewery, Japan

A beautiful view from T.Y.'s terrace

Sitting on a dock with a fabulous water front terrace in Higashi-Shinagawa, T.Y. Harbor Brewery is a restaurant with authentic Western dining and an environment suitable for families, friends or couples. They have “a nice selection of beers and ales,” said owner David Chiddo from New York. They are made regularly so they are also fresh. A casual bar area welcomes you into the entrance followed by a large indoor seating area with an open kitchen and warm candle-light glow. The outdoor terrace lured me over to gaze across the water into the soon to be sun set across the boats and bridge, giving a very Californian feel. The menu has a wide selection of food, mostly of pizza, pasta, salad, seafood and burgers, each with a generous portion size.

A polite, friendly English-speaking waitress brought iced tea, immediately followed by a Caesar Salad to start, with large crunchy croutons and thick slices of real mozzarella cheese and a hint of spice in the dressing. This salad was fresh, crisp and tasty - a combination sure to please a hungry belly. (¥1,000 for half and ¥1,400 for full.) Other T.Y. Harbor classic starters include a shrimp quesadilla with Jack cheese and guacamole and mixed grilled sausages with Creole mustard sauce (¥1,400 each).

For the kids is a plate filled with colour and variety. A creamy custard pudding accompanied by crispy fried shrimp and chicken, chunky creamy potato salad, golden brown fried potato, sweet ketchup rice and a T.Y. Harbor mini burger. (¥1,200) This bountiful selection is sure to please kids and parents.

For those with big appetites, there is a large choice of dinner meals and sandwiches. The T.Y. Harbor burger on a homemade brioche bun comes complete with an avocado in the centre, a large plate of fries and some veggies to top it off. (¥1,600 for 170g and ¥1,900 for 250g). The hamburger is cooked about medium rare so if you like it different you should let the server know when you order. Also available is grilled steak, pork and chicken.

For those with a smaller appetite there are down sized meals to pick from. Try the Louisiana style crab cakes with Remoulade sauce (¥1,400) or if you like fish, there’s a Jumbo shrimp cocktail (¥1,600) and crunchy fried shrimp (¥1,000).

Jazz playing in the background makes the atmosphere even more comfortable while enjoying the scene of the unique patio view. “Our parent company president Mr. Terada spent a lot of time in California and that was the whole impetus behind this restaurant, he wanted to create a little bit of California,” said Chiddo. “We do basic California foods and we do it well. We focus on quality, freshness and a very reasonable price point.”

Take out and catering is not available but valet parking is on evenings and weekends and with request the restaurant may be able to be booked off for special occasion parties.
“There’s no rules here,” said Chiddo. “We’re trying to make it as comfortable and as pleasant for all of our customers so they can come and have a good time, relax, forget all their troubles in Tokyo, have a nice meal with their friends and family and leave here happy.”