As North Hawaii’s community theater company enters its 51st season, the group has cast the beloved musical “The Fantasticks.” With book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt, this charming love story ran for a record-breaking 42 years off-Broadway. “The Fantasticks” is the only off-Broadway show to ever win a Tony Award honor for Excellence in Theatre.
“The Fantasticks” is a simple romantic comedy about a boy named Matt, played by Daniel Gregg, and a girl named Luisa, played by Parker School’s Sarah Bellatti. Their neighboring fathers, played by Destiny Nelson and John Stover, have wanted their children to fall in love from the very beginning. Trying reverse psychology, the fathers build a wall between their properties effectively keeping the children apart.
The audience follows the mischievously charming narrator, El Gallo, played by Lee Drew, as he creates a world of moonlight, magic and illusion. Soon this world gives way to one of pain and disillusionment, until the boy and girl, who have gone their separate ways, find their way back to one another.
Other characters include the old actor Henry, played by John Sucke and the actor who dies, Mortimer, played by Robert Haber. The two mutes, who are orchestrated by Gallo, keep everything moving on stage. They are played by Colin Edsman and Dedrie Miller. The sideshow carnies round out the cast and are played by Steve Taylor, Mick Miller, Ayushi Purell, Barbara Harris and Maren Luana Weick.
Veteran director Felicity Johnson with assistant director Dave Merrin join forces with Madeline Schatz, music director, Rhonda Simon, choreographer and Megan Hodges, pianist, to lead this ensemble group.
The play will run at Parker School Theater at 7:30 p.m. beginning Nov. 14. It will run for three weekends at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.
Tickets will be available in Waimea by Nov. 1 at Waimea General Store and Without Boundaries Gift Shop. In Kailua-Kona, tickets will be available at Suite Possibilities, and in Waikoloa at Waikoloa Mailbox. More information is available at waimeacommunitytheatre.org, on the theater company’s Facebook page or by calling 885-5818.