Aleena, played by Leia Wenceslao, receives first holy Communion from Father Peter, played by Edward G.E.K. Keaunui, in the first act of “Adore.” Behind them are, from left, actors Natalie Navarro (Victoria), Vangie Ratcliffe (Aleena and Victoria’s mother), Makanalei Brooks, Carmen Carlson, Victoria Nguyen, Ryan Cabuslay, Genesis Cadelinia, Christian Keaunui, Amelia Luarca, Titus Cadelinia and Michelle Johansen (Sister Fe). (Celia K. Downes / Hawaii Catholic Herald)
*Note: Several shows are now sold out.
By Celia K. Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
An original musical inspired by the ongoing National Eucharistic Revival marks the stage-writing debut of its creator and another way for isle faithful to celebrate the body and blood of Christ.
“Adore” follows the journey of a girl whose curiosity leads her to God and love for her faith. She faces hardship and pain as she grows up, but finds herself returning to the Lord.
The two-act production is being staged by Our Lady of Good Counsel School; it stars students who attend the Pearl City parish school as well as parents, teachers and parishioners.
During a recent rehearsal, which came after a warm, full day of summer school, actors and family members milled about the church’s pastoral center as writer and director Nellani Tabada gathered set pieces and costumes, arranged props around the hand-built stage and consulted on the sound system and microphones.
Tabada, 37, said “Adore” is her first production but that music has long been a part of her life. Her grandfather was a “one-man band,” she said, and thus the grandchildren in the family played instruments and sang.
The inspiration for “Adore” came about two years ago, Tabada said. Our Lady of Good Counsel’s pastor, Sacred Hearts Father Santhosh Thottankara, met with school Principal Chantelle Luarca and mentioned he wanted the school to organize a big production. (It had staged two shows before the COVID-19 pandemic.)
Father Thottankara also insisted that the production be original, versus a play found online, and that it be for the National Eucharistic Revival.
Tabada, who works at the school, said she was contacted by Luarca a day after that meeting, and they discussed Father Thottankara’s idea.
“As soon as she told me Father said someone could write it, I was nervous and anxious, but felt extremely excited when she said he wanted it for the Eucharistic Revival,” Tabada recalled.
“Then with a big smile on her face, she said I thought of you, and I think you can do it.”
The link to the National Eucharistic Revival offered a chance for Tabada to “write my testimony with the Eucharist,” which she has loved since she was young.
Growing up, she said, she would accompany her mother to an hour of perpetual adoration at Our Lady of Good Counsel every Sunday. One day, Tabada said, it clicked in her mind that the monstrance contained the Eucharist, the body of Christ — not just a piece of bread.
As Tabada grew older and encountered hardships, she was always able to remember and find comfort in the Eucharist.
Her musical background combined with her love of the Eucharist made it almost inevitable that the production she agreed to work on would include original compositions.
As Tabada began writing about her faith journey and how it started, “it felt like something was missing. (The production) was missing a big part of who I am — music.”
In fact, she had already written a song that now is part of “Adore.” Titled “I Feel You,” Tabada said she wrote it in adoration when she was 17.
To complete the musical, though, she recruited friends Nicole Leyco and Aaron Butac to help with writing. After more than a year, the production including 10 songs was finished.
“Adore” will be performed at Our Lady of Good Counsel’s pastoral center June 21-22 and June 28-29. For more information and tickets, go to eventbrite.com and search for “Adore, the Eucharistic Revival Musical.”