‘Chorus’ of raves
for a lifetimeIT doesn't surprise me that "A Chorus Line" got rave reviews at its Blaisdell Concert Hall opening. As Star-Bulletin critic John Berger pointed out, not all productions of the musical that have played here were as successful, but this touring company booked by promoter Tom Moffatt were pros. In fact, Moffatt says it's the first time he ever sat down during one of his openings and watched a show from start to finish. I recall that the Michael Bennett creation had troubles in its pre-Broadway tryouts out of town, and disaster was feared when it got to New York. But problems were worked out to say the least, and I got chicken-skin when I read the review in Variety, the showbiz bible, that the show "will probably run for the rest of our natural lives." Talk about going out on a limb! Variety critic Hobe Morrison proved to be prescient, however. Though he lived for some years after the opening, the show was still running on Broadway when he died ...
SPEAKING of "A Chorus Line," if you don't make it to the Blaisdell before it closes Sunday, be advised that director Jim Hutchison has cast another company of the show which will kick up their heels and toes at the Army Community Theater in September ... Former isle actor Harry Williams reports the production of "Brighton Beach Memoirs" in which he appeared in Tahoe was so successful that it's moving to the Big Time, Nevada style. The Neil Simon comedy will be staged in August at Lear Theater in Reno ...
Keiki Kapers
WHEN 11-year-old Shriners Hospital patient Vince Saures attends the "Keiki Fun Fair" Saturday he'll have a special treat. He'll be invited to jam with Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom and Willie K during their 10:30 a.m. performance. Amy and Willie will be rekindling a friendship with Vince that began last fall on a visit to Shriners Hospital. Also performing will be Kapena, the Iwalani School of Dance and the High Performance kites' Yo-Yo team ...SPEAKING of boy singers, the Honolulu Boy Choir is holding a reunion of all former choir members and their families next month. But of the 1,000 former choir members sent invites, some 400 were returned as "undeliverable." Any former member of the group who didn't get an invite can do so by calling Mark Zeug at 732-8805 and leaving a message with a current address ...
REMEMBER Robert Knight, the Kaimuki High grad who used to take photos of every top rock act to appear in Hawaii? He's now living in L.A. but still clicking off shots of rock acts and has a web site on which you can see archives of his rock images: www.knightbliham.-com/knightgallery.html. Or if you'd like to send e-mail, his address: blacksun@ix.netcom.com ... Consistent to the end, when legendary sportsman Walter "Dutchy" Olsen died Monday, it was specified there be no flowers, but donations made in his name to the Nuuanu YMCA. Services are tomorrow morning at St. Stephen Catholic Church ...
Schoch effects
THERE'S little wonder why restaurateur Randy Schoch is excited this week. His Roy's in Scottsdale, Ariz., was just named "Best New Restaurant in Phoenix" by Food & Wine magazine. So it's no wonder that one of the guests at the weekend gala opening of Ruth's Chris Steak House in Lahaina will be Chef Roy Yamaguchi, his partner in Roy's in Scottsdale. Schoch is Hawaii franchisee for the award winning chain of steak houses and will be presiding over activities in Lahaina along with wife Cherie and chain founder Ruth Fertel of New Orleans ...
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.