Dylan folk peer
on 4-day isle gigWHAT are the odds of two women named Carolyn Hester being in Hawaii at the same time? An earlier item mentioned that one of the Carolyns bought a Beetle here and shipped it to the mainland -- usually the reverse is true -- because there was a waiting list to get her "dream car" there. Now comes a second Carolyn Hester, an original folkie, who's appearing for the first time in Hawaii -- on the Big Isle tonight and tomorrow, and at KHPR's Atherton Hall on Kaheka Street on Friday and Saturday. It was back in 1962, when she was playing music in Greenwich Village and working on her third album that she invited a young unknown to play harmonica on the record. Today, re-released on CD, it's acknowledged as being the first recorded performance by Bob Dylan. Incidentally, Hester's husband, pianist/composer David Blume ("Taxi Driver," etc.), told KCCN's Ron Jacobs that his '60s hit, "Turn Down Day," began as a radio station jingle. Call KHPR for info on Hester's Honolulu performances.
LONDON theater critic Sheridan Morley has been a friend since we appeared in a play together at UH 35 years ago. He's since authored many books, written thousands of reviews for such publications as the International Herald Tribune, and hosted a late night talk show on BBC-TV. In his spare time, ho ho, he wrote a musical biography of his godfather, Noel Coward, and the latter's adventures with Gertrude Lawrence. It's called "Noel and Gertie" and was performed in Hawaii some years ago by Terrence Knapp and Linda Ryan. Tonight the show opens in New York at the Bay Street Theater starring that icon of the '60s, Twiggy, and James Warwick with sets and costumes by Tony Walton of "My Fair Lady" fame. It closes Aug. 2 ...
'Round revue
ALSO opening tonight is "The World Goes 'Round," a revue of songs from John Kander and Fred Ebb with even more music from the '60s -- which seems to be a theme today. Darren Hochstedler is musical director for the Manoa Valley Theatre production and has assembled the largest band MCT has had on stage for years. It'll sound like even more players, thanks to band member Dustin Chang, who plays six different instruments on such numbers as "New York, New York," "Cabaret" and "All that Jazz." ...THE owner of Buzz's in Pearl City and at Lanikai, Bobbye Lou Schneider, says that people read of Buzz's in Waikiki closing and wondered if that had any effect on her operations. She hasn't had anything to do with the Waikiki eatery for years, and the two she does run are doing just fine, thank you ... Both Shaquille O'Neal and Joe Montana stayed at the Halekulani when here for the All Star Cafe benefit. O'Neal, who stands out everywhere, certainly did at the hotel's Garden Court where those attending a wedding reception hit on him for autographs, which he obligingly signed ... Then there were the two Bulls in Sam Choy's in Kona the other night. No, they weren't on the menu -- it was just guard Steve Kerr and center Luc Longley of the Chicago Bulls gorging themselves on Sam's ample portions, famished from a day on the golf course ...
That's Palau, not pilau
RATINGS for Gary Sprinkle's "Pacific Adventures" show, which aired Sunday, should have been higher than the first time around, and so should KHET's "Palau: Paradise of the Pacific" on the PBS "Living Edens" series tonight. That's because Outrigger Hotels, which next month opens Outrigger Palasia Hotel Palau, alerted its 2,000-plus employees of the shows to better know the company's newest destination ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
His columns run Monday through Friday.Contact Dave by e-mail: donnelly@kestrok.com.