In the 19 years since Lisa Matsumoto’s musical comedy “The Princess and the Iso Peanut” premiered at Diamond Head Theatre, her cross-cultural retelling of “The Princess and the Pea” has become a beloved piece of local theater.
Directed by Michael Ng, whose resume includes roles in several works by the late Hawaii playwright, this revival by Manoa Valley Theatre, which opened Thursday at the Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center, lives up to expectations.
The story is told in flashbacks. Queen Yumiko of the Yamamoto Kingdom (Kat Nakano) and Queen Alana of Allyria (Colleen Fujioka) take turns recalling how Prince Yoshi (Kenny Kusaka) met and fell in love with Princess Alexis (Melanie Carrie). The members of the Yamamoto kingdom are the pidgin-speaking contemporary Japanese-Americans who represent everyday people in Matsumoto plays.
All of them, except Queen Yumiko, wear casual aloha-print fashions. The Allyrians speak standard English and wear medieval and 18th-century European dress.
“THE PRINCESS AND THE ISO PEANUT”Presented by Manoa Valley Theatre
>> Where: Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center
>> When: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays, through July 22
>> Cost: $40 general admission; $35 seniors and military; $22 age 25 and younger
>> Info: 988-6131, manoavalleytheatre.com
>> Note: Minimum age 5
Since the story begins after the wedding, we know Alexis will find a way out of an arranged marriage, survive an encounter with pirates and pass the “princess test.”
Kusaka and Carrie are a convincing couple. Carrie’s early musical number, “Follow My Heart (reprise),” is the knock-’em-dead vocal performance in the show.
No prior knowledge of Matsumoto’s plays is needed to enjoy the fast-moving repartee when Prince Yoshi and his loyal retainers Russell (Eddy Gudoy) and Nathan (Daryl Bonilla) try to make sense of Shakespeare. The scene where Alexis gets pidgin lessons from Janice (Jill Chung), a local girl who can also speak standard English “because my cousin went to Punahou,” is another comic highlight.
MALE ACTORS dressed as women is a standard comic device in Matsumoto comedies. J. Kamamo Bailon (Princess Eteokalani), Thomas Antonio Garcia (Princess Maoriana), Gum Nau (Princess Tahitiana) and Johnny ‘Imaikalani Pastor (Princess Sansan) received much applause for their performances on opening night.
Returning in the role she originated at DHT in 1999, Stephanie Sanchez as Alexis’ feisty Scots maid Isabel is superb throughout and a fine foil to the always-entertaining Gudoy and Bonilla in their scenes together.
Three Matsumoto show veterans stand out in new roles: Patrick and Colleen Fujioka as Alexis’ parents, King Alexander and Queen Alana, and Devon Nekoba as stolid King Yuichi.
Versatile Joe Abraham delivers an animated, full-faceted performance as Peter the Pirate. Among Abraham’s many great bits is a scene where laid-back Uncle Masa (Allan Okubo), Nathan and Russell teach Peter how to lead a Japanese “banzai!” toast. It’s one of several memorable moments in a show certain to be a midsummer hit.
