When the lights go on Friday for “Edges A Song Cycle” presented by the Kaua‘i Community Players at the Puhi Theatrical Warehouse, it will be the first live-theater production in about a year, said KCP Director Chris Alderete.
“Tickets are going fast,” Alderete said. “Everyone got excited when we put the play on the marquee. It’s been empty for so long. For fans of live theater, this is the first live stage production since the COVID-19 pandemic shut off the lights.”
Tickets are on sale at kauaicommunityplayers.org for the 12-production run that starts Friday, March 19, and runs through April 4,with performances Thursdays through Sundays. Curtain time is 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday.
Another reason for the high ticket demand is that the production is being presented in accordance with health and safety guidelines.
“We can have only 18 people in the theater at one seating, with guests wearing face masks and social distancing,” Alderete said. “There is a 12-foot buffer zone between the stage and the first row of guests. This is less than half the normal capacity of the theater.”
Written by Tony Award-winning Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, “Edges” is musical theater about the coming of age, growth and self discovery of four people asking the classic coming-of-age questions.
“This is a very appropriate presentation for now as we try and find comfort and move forward while dealing with the coronavirus,” Alderete said. “This is kind of like growing up. It’s a surreal feeling to be doing this after not being able to do for so long. Everyone involved had that same feeling.”
According to online sources, the production’s most known song, “Be My Friend,” has become known as the “Facebook song.”
The four primary cast, the number being selected to stay within the social gatherings guidelines, include Erin Gaines, Juno Ann Apalla, Billy Billy Quebido and Neil Yukimura.
“The funny thing about this cast is Neil is doing this for the first time,” Alderete said. “While we were casting, people kept asking, ‘Who is going to be the fourth person?’ When I told them Neil was going to be that missing person, they all wondered, ‘Who is this guy?’”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
