Starting this weekend, the Hilo Community Players offers the drama “The Last Princess,” a world-premiere play about Princess Ka‘iulani that brings to life the heartbreaking loss of Hawaii’s independence.
Written by Hilo playwright Jackie Prell, the play will be performed at 7:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, in the second-floor theater at the East Hawaii Cultural Center.
Additional performances are set for April 19-21 (same schedule as above), with two final performances during Merrie Monarch week at 7:30 p.m. April 22-23.
Tickets ($15 general/$10 student with ID/$5 children 12 and younger) are available online at www.HiloPlayers.org or at Basically Books in Hilo.
The original opening date was postponed because of unforeseen circumstances. Anyone holding tickets for performances April 5-7 should contact the Hilo Community Players at HiloCommunityPlayers@Gmail.com for a refund or to transfer these tickets for use on another performance date.
Jackie Pualani Johnson directs this Hawaiian history drama, which features Tyler Dela Cruz as young Ka‘iulani and Ka‘iulani Lum-Ho as the older version of the princess.
Playing opposite her will be Michael Kealoha Stevens as Archibald Cleghorn, Ka‘iulani’s Scottish father, with Desiree Moana Cruz, as Princess Likelike, her mother.
Bob Duerr will play the pivotal role of King Kalakaua, and Evette Ewalani Tampos will bring Queen Lili‘uokalani, the King’s royal sister, to stage. Neva Supe-Roque will appear as Miss Gardinier, Ka‘iulani’s guardian.
The devisers of the overthrow will be portrayed by Ray Campainha as Lorrin Thurston, Dan Lindsay as Sanford Dole and Brennan Low and Adam Zaki as co-conspirators.
Rounding out the lead roles are George Kahao III as Koa and Reece Naukana-Christensen as Toby, Ka‘iulani’s contemporaries.
An array of other historical figures will be played by David Penhallow-Scott and Miariam Wilson (Mr. &Mrs. Davies), Jerry Terpak and Marnie Honeycutt (President and Mrs. Cleveland), Elsa Burbank (Eva Parker) and Jeffrey North Wilson (U.S. Minister Willis).
The remaining cast, in an assortment of roles, includes: Jada Diamond Star Cathcart, Jenny Gardham, Chaske Harrison, Desmon Haumea, Sawyer Lewis, Carolyn Lee, Catherine McPherson-Tampos, Susan O’Neill and Zoe Rose.
The Hilo Community Players was established in 1938 and is one of the state’s oldest amateur theater groups. It is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization.