HOT MAKES HISTORY WITH “KAMALEHUA” AT THE CONCERT HALL
Review Of "Kamalehua - The Sheltering Tree" By John Berger
Hawai‘i Opera Theatre General Director & CEO Andrew Morgan, left, and kumu hula Patrick Ke‘anini‘ulaookalani Makuakāne, welcomed the opening night audience to the official world premiere performance of “Kamalehua: The Sheltering Tree,” the world’s first full-length professionally staged and professionally produced Hawaiian-language opera, May 1, in the Blaisdell Concert Hall. Makuakāne is the director and the choreographer — he can also be spotted in several of the crowd scenes.
The opera celebrates the life of Hawaiian diplomat Timoteo Kamalehua Ha‘alilio a long-forgotten hero in Hawaii’s history, whose diplomatic mission to the United States, Great Britain, Belgium, and France, in the early 1840s, resulted in the international recognition of Hawaii as a modern independent and sovereign nation, and also in the British government’s repudiation of the criminal overthrow of the Hawaiian government by a British naval captain in 1843.
Internationally acclaimed Hawaiian baritone Quinn Kamakanalani Kelsey gives a superb performance – many may well say “a career best performance” – as Ha‘alilio. Kelsey commends attention with the power and richness of his voice. Kelsey conveys the turbulent emotions Ha‘alilio experiences with equal skill.
Kelsey has two powerful male co-stars. One is Brandon Boyle as Kauikeaouli, better known 180 years later as Kamehameha III, who selects his life-long friend for secret mission essential to the survival of Hawaii as a free nation, and then steers the kingdom through the time of the greatest peril it would face until 1887. I wish Kauikeaouli could see how Boyle is portraying him 180 years later.
Kelsey’s other powerful male co-star is Joshua Jeremiah as William Richards aka Rikeke. Richards came to Hawaii as a missionary but left missionary service and became a loyal and trusted member of the Hawaiian government. Kauikeaouli selects Richard to accompany Ha‘alilio – the result is several memorable duets by Jeremiah and Kelsey as the story takes Ha‘alilio and Rikeke half-way around the world.
Kelsey has a phenomenal leading lady in Hawaiian soprano Tasha Hokuao Koontz playing his wife, Hana Hooper Ha‘alilio, It should not be seen as taking anything away everything that comes before to give credit where it’s due and say – spoiler alert! – the first notes of Koontz’ s first aria are an “Oh wow! Jump start my heart!” moment. Koontz replicates that experience with each of her arias that follow.
Hawaiian Mezzo-soprano Blythe Iakuinipuaʻokahana Kelsey (Quinn's sister) is a commanding presence as Kekauluohi, the Kuhina Nui, a political equivalent to the haole (non-Hawaiian) office of prime minister or regent. Kelsey has several excellent scenes with Boyle, and a fine comic moment with another actor was well.
Librettist Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl may have taken liberties with history – I wasn’t there in 1843 – but John Pickle is delightful throughout as one of the story’s designated villains, Alexander Simpson, attaché to the British consul in Hawaii, who persistently attempts to seduce Hana during her husband’s lengthy absence. Is Simpson sincere in his sentiments or only looking for a bit of spare? A single comment by a third character suggests it’s the latter, but whatever Simpson’s intentions in his heart-of-hearts may be, Koontz and Pickle have several great scenes together.
One of the most powerful dramatic moments in the show comes after – spoiler alert! – Admiral Thomas, for whom Thomas Square, on the mauka side of King Street across from the concert hall, is named, has arrived in Honolulu and put things right, and Kauikeaouli leads the people of Hawaii in chanting "Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono!”
Many in the opening night audience joined in, and everyone applauded their approval when he finished.
Another dramatic highlight comes when six members of Makuakāne’s Hālau Hula Nā Lei Hulu i ka Wēkiu lead the entire cast in a dramatic defiant hula.
And there’s more! Credit for the artistic and cultural success of this magnificent milestone also goes to Leslie Goldman (Clarissa Lyman Richards), Adam Flower (Hawaii loyalist James Fowle Baldwin Marshall), Dr. David Young (United States Secretary of State Daniel Webster), Kawaiola Niukukahi-Holi Murray (“a retainer”), and Kip Wilborn, who makes a welcome return to the local stage playing both of the story’s villains – British Consul Richard Charlton and Capt. Lord George Paulet.
Credit also to Principal Guest Conductor Lance Inouye, the Hawai‘i Opera Theatre Scenic Department for its superb series of sets, to Props Manager Gen Boyer, and to Cheryl Flaharty (Costume Design) and Sarah Hodges (Dancer) for the angel that figures prominently in one scene….
….“Kamalehua: The Sheltering Tree” is a first-time milestone in the history of Hawaiian culture, of Hawaiian language and of Hawaiian music that should not be missed.
