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On The Scene
John Berger
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'Thoroughly Modern Millie' opens
The big event of the weekend in local theater was opening night for Diamond Head Theatre's season-opening production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" on Friday. The show is a gem in all respects. It has a superb cast, an engaging story, expansive choreography, excellent musical direction and a perfect audio mix that does justice to the singers and musical director Emmett Yoshioka's nine-piece band. Shawna Masuda gives a brilliant performance in the title role; she sings beautifully, captures the wide range of emotions in the lyrics and proves herself an appealing romantic lead and also a comedian. Pedro Armando Haro (Jimmy Smith) displays his versatility as Masuda's leading man, Alison L.B. Maldonado (Muzzy Van Hossmere) is a powerful presence in two big musical numbers and DHT sound designer Mikel J. Humerickhouse shows himself to be a superb comic song-and-dance man with his portrayal of wealthy Trevor Graydon.
JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Cast members Elitei Tatafu Jr., left, Cathy Foy and Gary Masuoka enjoyed the opening-night cast party at Ryan's after the show. The trio were consistent crowd-pleasers with their comic performances as an evil "white slaver" and her Chinese servants, Ching Ho (Tatafu) and Bun Fun (Masuoka). The guys got big laughs singing in Cantonese as well as English. CLICK FOR LARGE
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JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Melanie Tojio Lockyer, left, assistant director/ choreographer of the show, caught up with Roslyn Catracchia at the pre-show sponsors' reception. Lockyer's credits on Broadway years ago include being part of the original cast of "Miss Saigon," but she said she was delighted to come home to work on "Millie." CLICK FOR LARGE
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JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Jodi Leong (Miss Flannery) and Tricia Marciel (Miss Dorothy Brown) are major assets in secondary comic roles. Marciel's duet with Mikel J. Humerickhouse is one of the musical highlights. CLICK FOR LARGE
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JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
DHT props designer Douglas S. Scheer, second from left, and his assistant, Frances Hisashima, right, talked with Rick Blangiardi and Donna Walden at the sponsors' reception. CLICK FOR LARGE
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