COURTESY OF 'OHI'A PRODUCTIONS
Raymond Rainforest (Kevin Yamada) finds himself between the villainous Mr. Shade (Allan Lau) and Miss Anna Banana Poka (Denise White).
Leave it to playwright Lisa Matsumoto to consistently create fun, local theater for the family. She's successfully made fairy tales into broadly played pidgin language productions and now she's turned an environmental message into a colorful children's play, complete with superheroes and supervillains. Tuning kids in
on environment
Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.comWarning about the state's invasive species has never been this fun.
"Peril in Paradise" has been touring Oahu's elementary schools and pre-schools since Matsumoto received a fellowship from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts last July to help fund her research. Fans of her work will be able to see the play, appropriately enough, in the main meadow at the Honolulu Zoo over the next few weekends.
Where: Honolulu Zoo 'Peril in Paradise'
When: 6 p.m. Sunday, March 29 and 30, and April 4 to 6. Gates open at 5:30, with general lawn seating.
Tickets: $14 general; $12 seniors, students and military; and $9 children 12 and under ($2 off if ticket is purchased through 'Ohi'a Productions at least one week in advance of performance date. Call its box office at 484-8800 from 1 to 4 p.m. weekdays).
Call: 486-4444
This all-ages play from Matsumoto's 'Ohi'a Productions, directed by program director Natalie Mihana McKinney, depicts the battle to save Hawaii's native inhabitants from invasive plants and animals as a battle between the good guys -- Raymond Rainforest, The Exterminator, Captain Ranger and Wonder Weeder -- and a nefarious collection of baddies: Mr. Shade, Miss Anna Banana Poka, Count Mosquitola, Randy Rat and Mona Mongoose.
Matsumoto's actors "have been part of our 'Ohi'a 'Ohana for many years and performed in either our summer family musicals or previous touring shows," McKinney said by e-mail, due to a bout of laryngitis. Newcomers Daryl Bonilla and Denise White will share roles with Allan Lau, Clint Sekioka, Noelle Poole, Kevin Yamada, Jana Anguay and Allysa Taylor.
Songwriter Roslyn Catracchia, whose work is familiar to Matsumoto's audience, helps out again with "Peril in Paradise," with costume design by Michael Furuya and choreography by Allan Lau and U'ilani Kapuaakuni.
Matsumoto's message of conservation, although told in song, story and humor, is nevertheless an important one for her young audiences to hear. "(It's) the importance of maintaining the delicate balance of nature (and) the need to preserve and protect our native species.
"With regards to invasive species ... while these plants and creatures might be controlled or harmless in their native habitats, when brought here, they can become 'bad' or have negative impacts, as we often do not have the conditions, such as their natural predators, which keep their numbers in control."
And with the recent problems with dengue fever and the Lake Wilson waterplant overgrowth, "we've had comments from teachers on how relevant the topic was with regards to current events." (Teachers booking the show have received an informative pamphlet from one of its sponsors, The Nature Conservancy.)
"While these shows are targeted for school audiences, they really are fun for the entire family. We have heard from teachers and adults (who) share with us how they enjoyed the show equally as well as their students ... We appreciate the incredible support we've received in making it all possible," Matsumoto said.
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