Advertised by the program as a “timeless family drama,” Kumu Kahua Theatre’s production of “Koi, Like the Fish” does not fail to deliver on its promise.
Co-directed by Justin Fragiao and William Kāhele, “Koi” is marked by effective design choices, as well as stellar acting throughout. In line with its stated purpose of performing local theatre pieces, KKT takes on Maui playwright Keali‘iwahine Hokoana’s play and delivers a performance that varies between a light, humorous side and a soul-crushingly tragic angle. As such, it does justice to the playwright’s stated intent, which was to write the production “in shades of gray because life is never black and white.”
FALLING APART
This is not to say that the performances by the cast were not colorful. The actors guide the audience through a thick web of family ties, showing how quickly things can unravel, even when love desperately attempts to hold them together. Koi (played by Kumu veteran John Wat, a renowned Kumu actor and director who was last seen in HSF’s “Julius Caesar” and “King Lear”) is newly retired and needs someone to take care of him in his advanced age. His niece, Yosepha (Nani Morita, last seen in “Moa A Mo‘i”) agrees to take care of him and the aging house he resides in, along with her reluctant husband Bryce (Reb Beau Allen, last seen in “Cockadoodledoo”) and their newborn baby. What begins as a lighthearted comedy quickly evolves into something far more emotional and complex as the characters attempt to adapt to their new situation and begin to grow apart. Although the setting does not change much, this does not detract from the quality of the show due to the stellar acting of everyone onstage. Parts of the show are difficult to watch simply because the acting is so believable, and at least a few audience members were moved to tears during some of the more heated arguments between the members of the once-happy family.
SET FOR SUCCESS
While the technical design takes a bit of a backseat to the acting, it is nonetheless generally fitting for the play. The set, which was also designed by co-director Fragiao, is simplistic and a believable setting for an old, falling-apart house, and the openness of it does not detract from the story; rather, it forces the audience to observe even the most intense moments closely, without the stage separating them from the action. The light and sound design is also un-obtrusive and, while not adding too much to the performance, certainly does not take anything away from it.
Certain small oversights seemed to persist, however. I was interested to see how Koi’s fish (a koi fish, of course) would be manifested, and was surprised to see that it wasn’t represented with so much as a prop. While watching an elderly man talk to an empty fish tank could have a number of other connotations, it was unusual in a play that for the most part felt very realistic.
In spite of this, the show for the most part was exceedingly well-done and believable; in fact, certain particularly powerful moments may be too much for younger or more sensitive audiences. However, the show’s messages about love and sacrifice will be relatable to many, and lovers of comedy, tragedy and everything in between should consider checking out what Kumu Kahua’s production of Koi, Like the Fish has to offer.
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