Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com. By JOHN BURNETT ADVERTISING Tribune-Herald staff writer “The Fantasticks” is the most-performed musical ever, a simple story of a young man, the girl next door, and their fathers, who built a wall in a strange
By JOHN BURNETT
Tribune-Herald staff writer
“The Fantasticks” is the most-performed musical ever, a simple story of a young man, the girl next door, and their fathers, who built a wall in a strange attempt to bring the boy and girl together.
The original off-Broadway production ran for 42 years from 1960 to 2002. There is a current Broadway revival of the show starring 24-year-old former teen idol Aaron Carter as the young man, Matt.
The curtain goes up tonight at 7:30 p.m. on Kilauea Drama and Performing Arts’ production of the timeless classic at Kilauea Theater at Kilauea Military Camp inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The show runs until Jan. 29 with Friday and Saturday curtains at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15 general, $12 students and seniors, and $10 children under 12, available at The Most Irresistible Shop, Paradise Plants, Keaau Natural Foods and Kilauea General Store. Call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com for reservations or information.
“It’s a small show with a small cast. It fits into our winter production concept of doing smaller shows,” said director Suzi Bond. “For about four years, we’ve been talking about doing this show, and for one reason or another it hasn’t happened. So finally I said, ‘Let’s do it.'”
Theater is a family affair for Bond. Her son, Stephen, plays Matt.
“He usually does the lead’s best buddy part and gets the laughs and definitely not the girl. It’s been a different role for him to play,” she said.
The girl is Luisa, portrayed by Cara Leonard.
“I’ve been involved with four productions of this show and this is the first time that I’ve had actors the actual age of the characters of Matt and Luisa,” Bond said.
The fathers, Bellomy and Hucklebee, are played by Dick Hershberger and Bill Chikasuye.
“Both Bill and Dick have played Daddy Warbucks in ‘Annie,'” Bond said. “Dick did it at the Palace and Bill did it at the university, years ago. That was how they got to break the ice with each other, so that was really fun.”
Pedro Kaawaloa is El Gallo, the narrator, a role originated by the late, great Jerry Orbach.
“He has a whole different take on the character,” Bond said.
Explained Kaawaloa: “We separated the narrator and El Gallo into two separate characters. So in the show I play two characters and it’s led us into a completely different interpretation of the show. … It became a lot more personal and more human. It’s a lot more melancholy, actually. … The story the narrator is telling is an anecdote for his own life, and he’s actually Matt.”
Rounding out the cast are Steve Peyton and Roch Jones as the old actors, Henry and Mortimer, and Canda Bloir as The Mute.
The minimalist musical features a three-piece orchestra, with Wendell Ing on piano, Loren Antolik on bass and Chelsea Pacheco on percussion.
Songs include “Try to Remember.” Three versions of it hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1965.
“I think the story is classic; I think the songs are memorable and wonderful,” Bond said. When we were going through the read-through, everybody kept going ‘that’s my favorite song — no, wait, that’s my favorite song.’ I love all the songs in this show.”
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
