Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Moana The Musical [Review]

Moana a bubbly fair skinned girl 16 years of age lives in the island of Montanuwi somewhere in Oceania where the reef is teeming with seafood and the land blesses them with livestock, coconut and crops. As the village chief's daughter she is privileged to get a chicken as pet. When the produce becomes scarce they think of alternative sources of food. She always cling to her grandmother who lulls her to sleep with the legend of Dafete the creator of heaven and earth who nourishes humans.

The Demi God Maui known for mischiefs and strife decided he steals the heart of Dafete so he can create on his own. He pulls islands out of the bottom of the sea and lassoes the sun so that the days be longer. His body is a tapestry of works and conquests. However a malevolent God known as Tekar punishes him with lava fireballs. Maui became isolated on the island.

Moana jumped on a canoe to sail beyond the reef but was met with big waves. Brave as she is she was shipwrecked backed to the island. She tells her father they got to sail away but he was adamant that they stay. Truth is he cannot sail if his life depends on it. Grandma knows this so she sends Moana to the cave of the ancestors. Inside it are canoes, boats, ships, oars. They were voyagers the ancients told them in a vision. The food scarcity becomes worse. The reef was overfished and the farm either saturated with saltwater or became deserts. Desertification happens to the soil due to overfarming the soil is devoid of nutrients. It is now urgent for Moana to help her village.

With newfound gusto Moana sets out to sail with her pet chicken. She would look for Maui the one who can tell them where Dafete lives and restore her heart. Dafete's heart was kept by her Grandma passed through generations of safe-keeping to be given to the chosen one. Moana has found Maui on a faraway island. He is definitely is just a man with extra-ordinary skills. Big, strong, wily and mobile. But he is lost without his choice weapon the hook made of cast-iron. He lives on the fruits and vegetables he gathers. Reluctantly he agrees to take Moana to see Dafete but first Maui needs his hook in case he encounters the hostile Tekar. His clue they would find it at the bottom of the ocean where Sponge Bob Squarepants lives. He collects shiny things. Moana distracts the crab while Maui recovers his weapon. Alas the hook was no match for the crab's steely claws. In exchange for their freedom Moana hands the crab the heart of Dafete.

Dejected Maui frowns that he lost his guile. Moana has given the fake heart but how would he fight the lava monster Tekar. Now they are being attacked by a pirate ship Captain Jack Sparrow at the helm. He took a liking to Moana's chicken. Moana fiercely send them back to their ship. Maui knows she protects her loved ones but he cannot help her in the quest. Not without his hook. He bids Moana adieu.

Moana sailed on for Maui has taught her how to sail. She has a weapon nobody knows. Tekar is the nurturing God Dafete! The God turned bad when Maui stole her heart. If she can find a way to tell Tekar that Maui is sorry for what he did she can restore her heart. Tekar was still spewing lava from a distance. Out of nowhere, Maui in the form of a bird tries to take on Tekar. He tweets to the God. Tekar has accepted his apologies and allows Moana to put her heart in place. Dafete has come back! The God blesses Moana and fashioned a new steel hook for Maui. They bid each other goodbye.

At Montanuwi Moana comes home to see that the fishes have come back and the land has replenished itself.