Mini Loa Luau
A village on a tiny Hawaiian island is preparing for its annual luau which draws much needed tourist dollars. The mayor and the local historian find out that the Mini Loa volcano (not to be confused with Mauna Loa volcano), needs a human sacrifice every five years and, much to their disgust, it's their job to find a suitable candidate. Tourists from across the lower 48 states flock to Mini Loa for a vacation of a lifetime, thanks to some advertisements in some unlikely magazines. Joining them are two reporters from a vacation TV network, one of whom is still recovering from their last assignment, a rattlesnake cook-off. Will one of these folks end up being the sacrifice? And what can the latest arrival, Dr. Spock, a volcanologist, do to help save a life and perhaps the whole island itself? Here’s the perfect play if you’re ready for a laughter explosion!
Productions
Behind The Scenes
PLAYWRIGHT BURTON BUMGARNER
TALKS ABOUT HIS PLAY, “MINI LOA LUAU”
Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?
A: At first I wanted to create a dark and brooding melodrama about lost opportunities and failures against a backdrop of sadness and regret in an environment of ice and snow. After thinking about it for a minute or so I decided I’d rather write a farce about a small village in Hawaii trying to decide which tourist to sacrifice in their volcano. It was a better choice. Dark and brooding melodramas aren’t very funny.
Q: WHERE DID THE CHARACTERS COME FROM? ARE THEY BASED ON PEOPLE YOU KNOW?
A: The characters come from the fringe of the American dream: people who face failure and rejection at every turn in their miserable lives. No, wait. That’s a different play. These characters are just plain silly. I made them up. I don’t think I know any of them personally.
Q: WHAT DID YOU TRY AND ACHIEVE WITH THIS PLAY?
A: World peace. Also, I wish for audiences to laugh themselves silly.