Hawaii
Don’t change your
lines, the author’s hereLOCAL THEATERS often do a preview or two prior to the official grand opening of a play. For example, "Visiting Mr. Green," which opened last night at Manoa Valley Theatre, did three previews, and for Sunday's show, the playwright was flown in by the theater group from New York to see MVT's version of his off-Broadway play. Playwright Jeff Baron was joined by director Scott Rogers and the play's only two actors, Glenn Cannon and Brian Kevin Parker in a Q&A session with the invited audience Sunday. Drama students from Mid-Pacific, Kaiser High, Castle High plus students from the Pacific School of the Performing Arts, Punahou and the Trains Pacific-Hawaii all took part. They learned, for example, that Cannon's life has had some uncanny parallels to that of his character, the orthodox Russian Jew, Mr. Green. Where the character's family escaped to America in the 1890s to come to America, Cannon's grandparents were also Russian Jews who fled to America in the late 19th century. This is a return to the stage for Cannon, who's spent most of his time in the theater as a director ...
THEN there's the former Miss Green, Holly Green Kessler, who's back from South Africa where she represented Hawaii in the Mrs. Universe competition. Wife, mother and part-time model, Kessler was formerly a marketing exec with Waikoloa Resort before opening her own marketing consulting firm. She did OK in South Africa, too, finishing in the Top 5 ...
Having a ball shopping
FORGET the "man chair," the place stores provide for bored husbands or boyfriends to park themselves while the little lady shops. At the Kahala Mall Sidewalk Sale this weekend, something more than a chair is being offered. From noon to 3 p.m. at the mall's Center Court, men can get their golf swing analyzed by Randy Ching, PGA Director of Instruction from the Aloha Academy of Golf at the Ko'olau Golf Club. He'll be using state-of-the-art video and computer equipment to help those who otherwise lie in wait. Best part of all, it's free! ...THAT "Star Search" show which last night was to have included Janelle Parrish, who grew up in Hawaii and appeared in several plays here, has been changed and will now be seen tonight on Channel 9. Barring anymore network changes, of course ... Bob Fox, G.M. of KITV before heading off to the Mainland, returned to town for the first time in 10 years. Don't be surprised if he pops up in the broadcasting business here soon -- it has to beat Toledo, where he's now headquartered ...
The Three B's
QUIRKY Malia Bervar and her husband, Birney Baxter Bervar, must have been in a playful mood when they named their first born, Baxter Birney Bervar -- and are now awaiting future mix-ups. Birney, who last year started a new law firm with Ward Jones ("Bervar & Jones") is now papa to a second child, this one named Nicholas Marcel Bervar. He arrived five weeks early and spent almost three weeks in the newborn ICU at Kapiolani Hospital, though he's doing well now. And whatever happened to actress Meredith Baxter-Birney? ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
The Week That Was recalls items from Dave's 30 years of columns.Contact Dave by e-mail: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com