Stage Review
'Dragonfly Wings' flits around several subplots

By Joseph T. Rozmiarek
Advertiser Theater Critic

"On Dragonfly Wings" builds upon too many subplots but makes up for it with its visual elements and music. 'On Dragonfly Wings' 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 12, Leeward Community College Theatre. $10-$30 with some discounts available 484-8800, www.ohia.com

"On Dragonfly Wings" is inspired by the story of 3-year-old Alana Dung, whose struggle with leukemia drew public emotion for several weeks and attention to the need for bone marrow registration and donation. Dung's story also triggered Matsumoto's children's book on the same subject, "Wailana the Waterbug."

Essentially a concept musical, the minimal story line centers around a young waterbug named Wendy, who must leave the security of her home in Crystal Pond when she prematurely undergoes "the change" that transforms her into her true form as a dragonfly. How she leaves her watery home and adjusts to her new life in the upper air is the theme of two long acts, both filled with generally overproduced musical numbers.

Act One is the most difficult. While it introduces the characters and signals the central problem, it lacks focus. While Wendy is the catalyst that brings some life and identity to an otherwise overlooked bit of backwater, we're not sure where to look or what subplot to follow.

The big numbers include a ballet, an improvised ballet, a big dance and a parade, each of which is Wendy's idea to give the dull folks in the pond some sense of local pride (imagine "The Music Man," where the townsfolk just can't get focused on a marching band.)

Matsumoto also starts up too many subplots — an aging pair of ballet dancers, some young lovers, a girls' gang (remember the Pink Ladies in "Grease"?), and introduces a confusing, and ultimately disturbing, double set of parents.

The waterbugs are a nice, loving family, but Wendy's "real" parents are the dragonflies on the upper level. While we might understand that pond life is simply a prelude to something of greater significance, it might be a bit hard to explain to a child that her real parents are angel figures in heaven.

Act Two is more successful dramatically, since its only chore is to conclude everything set in motion prior to intermission. Wendy undergoes "the change" and a tearful farewell to her pond friends, then awakens above to find she has not only sprouted wings, but also dreadlocks. After being led through a period of discovery by a guardian figure, she meets her "real" parents and sets out to promote yet another parade.

Janel Parish plays Wendy, with Joseph Morales as her pal Wesley; Dion Donahue and Stephanie Sanchez are the ballet masters, and John Bryan the upper-level guardian. As in their earlier collaborations, Matsumoto and Catracchia handle the staging and musical direction. Possibly for the first time, there is no pidgin.

While the drama in the piece is loose and floppy, the real strengths in the production come from its visual elements and music.

Joseph Dodd's set is a vast, triple layer of boulders with enormous foliage and a working waterfall. Hugh Hanson's costumes are wildly imaginative and colorful, turning a cast of more than 40 actors into shrimp, butterflies, tadpoles, frogs and one magnificent Master Mantis (Michael Ng). Michael Furuya's puppet designs (a la "The Lion King") include several large birds and a gigantic stork. Choreography by Andrew Sakaguchi and Ka'ohi Yojo explores a broad range of dance styles from classical ballet to hip hop, and even includes a beautiful firefly sequence made of swirling points of light on a dark stage.

Catracchia has spent lavishly on melodies for this show. There's a soft "Hushaby" lullaby and a small chorus of women's voices opens Act Two with a quietly beautiful "Isn't It Strange?" "De Song of Life" has a calypso flavor, parades and dances have upbeat energy and "Celebrate" creates an upbeat anthem for the finale.

While it would profit greatly from severe editing and greater focus, the play certainly offers a great deal to see and hear.