Posted on: Tuesday, April 24, 2001

Writer explores cultural conflicts in 'Love 3 Times'

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

"Love 3 Times," a play by Vilsoni Hereniko commissioned by Kumu Kahua, will be staged May 17 through June 17 at Kumu's downtown theater, at 46 Merchant St.

The play deals with a 40-year-old former resident of the remote South Pacific island of Rotuma now living in Honolulu, who returns to his home after a long absence. He brings along his Caucasian wife and a 14-year-old son from a previous marriage and the play tracks the cultural conflicts that range from a rebellious son to the ghost of the man's dead father.

To develop and produce this play, Kumu Kahua was awarded its first grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Hereniko has authored several plays, including "Sera's Choice," "Fine Dancing" and "Last Virgin in Paradise." A former student at the University of South Pacific in Suva, Fiji, Hereniko is an associate professor teaching Pacific literature, theater and film at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa Center for Pacific Island Studies.

Megan Evans is directing the production, which features Charlotte Dias, Patricia Hallmark, Roselani Pelayan, Vaikeola Richards and Dann Seki. James Davenport is set and technical director, Gerald Kawaoka is lighting designer, Nara M.M. Springer is costumer, Stu Hirayama is sound designer and Mike Harada is handling props.

Curtain time is 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets: $15 for adults on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, $12 for seniors and groups of 10 buying at the same time and $10 for students; $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and unemployed and $5 for students on Thursdays. Reservations: 536-4441, starting May 7.