ANCHORED: Julian, Emma & Lydia... Another Trinity

[Chronicle, November 24, 2021]   The Diocese of Hawai'i was delighted to share the premeire performance of the play Anchored, on Sunday, November 21, 2021. The play, which was livestreamed on the Diocese's Facebook page, was held in Tenney Theater at The Cathedral of St. Andrew, to a limited audience (due to safety protocols).  

​Anchored brings together three women: Julian of Norwich, Queen Emma, and Queen Lili'uokalani, whose deep faith brought them through tragic circumstances.  The play was originally planned as a special feature for Convention 53, and was to have taken place after Friday's Education Day.  In late August, when it was decided that the Convention would be going virtual, the performance was postponed with plans to share it in conjunction with The Feast of the Holy Sovereigns in November.

​The entire cast, including the playwright, are from Hilo, who flew in just for this performance. A couple hours before going live, they were rehearsing on an unfamiliar stage with props they hadn't used before.  The playwright, Jackie Pualani Johnson, stationed herself at the back of the theater with a laptop and portable speaker for the musical numbers that would be played.

​​A trinity of notable women come together in their recognition of the power of prayer to soothe in times of deep loss. In different circumstances, they choose the same means to seek understanding and comfort, as they raise their voices to the Heavens. 
(From the Anchored program)

When it was showtime, the Rev. Canon Sandy Graham welcomed everyone and introduced Johnson to the audience. She, in turn, introduced Rae Costa from the Diocesan Support Center, whose idea it was to bring these three strong females together in a theatrical production. (See more under Background below.) One might expect the play to be made up of three separate vignettes, considering the vast differences in each of their stories. Surprisingly, Johnson masterfully intertwined all three characters to perform together as a trio instead of separately. She cleverly wove their sorrows, injustices, and sequestration, into a believabe relationship of close friends.  When one grieved, they gathered around in support; when they were in deep thought, they paced together; when they succumbed to feelings of anger and frustration, they were there to lean on each other; and when their faith brought them joy, they celebrated together joyfully. 

(Photos by Sybil Nishioka)

Livestream

​The actresses did justice to the brilliant storyline with believeable character portrayals.  Julian, who was frail from her illnesses, was delicate, joyful and pure in manner, surely like the anchoress she was portraying. Emma's agony and pain with the loss of her son and husband was palpitable, and despite the injustice of Lydia's wrongful imprisonment, her actions and attitude reflected the magnanimous soul that has made her the legend that she is.  Then there was the singing that brought it over the top. There were only a few songs (including a couple written by Lili'uokalani while imprisoned), just enough to leave you craving for more... sung with voices of angels in perfect pitch and harmony.  

The play ended with a well-deserved standing ovation.  Although the audience was small due to restrictions, one could imagine the thunderous applause that might have been with a full audience.  Following the play, the actresses returned to the stage for a Q&A session where the audience was invited to ask questions.

This play is a gem. Hopefully there will be more opportunities to view it in-person in the near future, and when that time comes, DON'T MISS IT!

Comments & Reviews...

​Anchored is a powerful message about three inspirational women who surrender to adversity with spiritual faith. From their personal hardships, they create legacies that live on to raise them from their own circumstances to significantly enhance the lives of future generations. A strong message to all of us striving to be better human beings. - Wendy Oshiro

Maika'i 'oukou! - Deenie Tagudin Kam

​Great Theater. Ua Kuluma Ke Kanaka I Ke Aloha - Steve Costa

Powerful and moving. - Cheryl Weaver

A very special thank you for this "anchor" and moving experience. - Susan Anderson

Mahalo nui loa to all who made this gift of inspiration possible and mahalo ke akua for blessing this world across history in these magnificent women leaders and examples of discipleship. - Katlin McCallister

Wonderful and they are all terrific. - Larry Pellegrini

Anchored, to me, is a must-see show. The care and aloha that is woven into the words and that permeates the presentation of these regal wahine is breathtaking. - Sean Choo

E welina mai nei! - E welina mai nei! - Lisa Gallishaw Lyon

Mahalo from North Carolina - Carol Harper Wald

Background

The idea of the play was conceived by Rae Costa of the Diocesan Support Center, brought about by the constraints of the pandemic that forced folks to shelter and withdraw from "normal life." 

"During this pandemic, many church newsletter articles would quote Julian’s 'All Shall be Well', especially during the first shutdown," explained Rae in an online conversation. "These quotes were often in response to what people were feeling about being 'isolated'.  [Julian] also lived during another pandemic, AND she self isolated."

​Closer to home, Rae drew a parallel of the sequestering that both Queen Emma and Queen Lili'uokalani experienced during challenging and tragic times, and that of Julian's isolation. 

"Remembering Queen Lili‘uokalani’s imposed isolation, I thought we might gain insights into how they handled their isolation," continued Rae, "and Queen Emma must’ve felt such isolation and desolation after the death of her son and husband (like so many have felt losing loved ones to COVID)."

Rae approached Jackie Pualani Johnson, who had previously written a play for the Diocese about Queen Emma, in celebration of our Sesquicentennial in 2012.  That solo performance was well received with performances for several years thereafter.

"Bishop suggested a book for her to read," said Rae, "she just took the idea and ran with it!"

​The rest, as they say, is history!

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Playwright & Actors

 ​Jackie Pualani Johnson  retired in 2017 from UH Hiloʻs Performing Arts Department after nearly 40 years as drama professor. Anchored..Another Trinity is her third project with the Episcopal Diocese. In 2012, Reverend Moki Hino of Holy Apostles in Hilo asked her to create a one-woman show about Queen Emma’s devotion to the Anglican Church for the Episcopal Church’s Sesquicentennial  celebration. Vespers at Hānaiakamālama was created and performed by Denyse Kuʻupuaimōhalaikalani Woo-Ockerman around the state of Hawaiʻi at Churches, the Volcano National Park, Lyman Museum, and at the Queenʻs summer residence itself in Nuʻuanu Valley. 2017 brought Hoʻokiaʻi: Liliʻuokalani wherein Prof. Johnson performed as the Queen in 1917 observing as her memorial services unfolded, resplendent with the music of the time. A call came from the Diocese this year and Anchored was born, to reflect on the role of the anchorite who lives a consecrated life—that of a living saint-- a choice often made by women throughout history. It has been a joy working with three talented, powerful wāhine of our time...

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Dr. Justina Taft ʻŌlalimākiaikalauaki Mattos ( Julian of Norwich) has worked in all aspects of theatre, primarily as an actress and director in educational, community and semi-professional theatre, as well as performing in radio and television. She has a long-term affiliation with Honolulu's Kumu Kahua Theatre and is a co-founder of Hilo's KEAKA Hawaiian Language Theatre Festival. She teaches Drama and serves as the Chair of the Performing Arts department at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.

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Desiree Moana Cruz (Kaleleonālani) is honored to portray Queen Emma in Anchored.  She has performed as Queen Ka’ahumanu in The Conversion of Ka’ahumanu, Princess Likelike in The Last Princess, Da Wicked Queen in Once Upon One Noddah Time, Kekuiapo’iwa in Hānau Ke Aliʻi, and Deena Jones in Dreamgirls. Desiree’s daughter, Maraea, respectfully asks the theater community to refrain from type-casting her mom as a queen, princess, wicked queen, sacred mother of Kamehameha and/or a musical superstar as she is “already difficult to live with.” 

"The opportunity to spend time with Emmalani thru this play, allows us to remember and appreciate her as a young mother, loving wife and partner to Liholiho, as a devoted daughter working alongside her father, a child of God and finally a diligent and visionary leader of her people. We each can draw personal and professional parallels with her life and understand that we too can heal and thrive through faith and service to others. Mahalo Nui for her example."
​- (Shared by Desiree after her performance)

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Evette Ewalani Tampos, M.Ed. (Liliʻuokalani) is by day a modest elementary school counselor and by night a performer onstage & backstage with various community theater productions about Hilo. She was last seen portraying Liliʻuokalani in the Hilo Community Players production of The Last Princess. She is imbued with humble gratitude to represent our beloved queen regent in a moʻolelo demonstrating her abiding strength & faith alongside two other prestigious wāhine of steadfast character. As a keiki o ka 'āina, descended from the Kapaona 'ohana of Kapa'au & Mahukona, she traces her lineage to 1808 to nā kupuna Keakealani a me Eleeleualani, faithful kanaka maoli to aliʻi nui Kamehameha I. Ewalani encourages everyone to remember the lessons of our ancestors: I ulu no ka lālā i ke kumu.  The branches grow because of the trunk. Without our ancestors we would not be here. ('Ōlelo No'eau 1261, M.K. Pukui)

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​Sybil Nishioka, Editor & Communications Coordinatotor, Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i
Photos: S. Nishioka