Wood Craft
By Ben Wood
Saturday, August 24, 1996
Kevin Costner, Rene Russo
Costner hits pure gold in 'Tin Cup'
YOU don't have to be a golfer to enjoy "Tin Cup" but if you are, the odds are high that you'll think it's dead solid perfect. Kevin Costner, Rene Russo, Don Johnson and Cheech Marin are the principals in the romantic comedy. Costner and Russo are hot, in more ways than one. Adding to the merriment are a bunch of guys who hang around the driving range, and a stripper. Costner plays a boozing, disheveled, small Texas town driving-range operator and golf pro whose temperament has kept him off the pro tour. Russo is a gorgeous but quite flaky psychologist who winds up getting mental help, as well as golf lessons, from Costner. Johnson is Russo's boyfriend and a hotshot on the pro tour. Cheech is Costner's buddy and caddy. All are excellent. Costner wants to win the U.S. Open for Russo and to conquer his demons. Of course he winds up battling the handsome, wealthy and phony Johnson. The finishing hole is great stuff. There are about 20 top touring pro golfers in the show as well as golf announcers Gary McCord, Jim Nantz, Ken Venturi, Peter Allis and Peter Kostis. Give this one a shot, particularly you links lizards ...
LEA SALONGA was more than impressive in "Les Miserables in Concert" on Public TV last Saturday night. Salonga stars as Eponine when the musical returns to Honolulu from Broadway to open at the Concert Hall Sept. 11 ...
REBECCA Crockett has been named director of development for La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls by Nancy White, head of the school. Crockett is a former public relations director for Mauna Kea and Kapalua Bay hotels. "I'm happy to have something to do with the future of Hawaii's young women," said a beaming Rebecca, who returns to school Sept. 3 ...
Estrada joins the Prince
RON ESTRADA has been named tennis director of the Hawaii Prince Tennis Club, located at the Hawaii Prince Golf Club in Ewa Beach. The Prince has hooked up with Peter Burwash International. Estrada has been with PBI since 1980. His racket has taken him to positions in Tokyo, Jakarta, Saipan, Maui, San Francisco and, most recently, Guam. Tennis memberships and programs for kamaainas are available. Call Estrada at 944-4567 ...
NICK'S FISHMARKET boss David Nagaishi has lined up the newly reformed Aura to open Sept. 4 in the eatery's Cafe Lounge. The band will play Wednesdays through Saturdays. Singer-guitarist Nelda Alvarez will be in the spotlight Sunday through Tuesday, starting Sept. 1. Alvarez replaces Wayne Takamine. Singer-guitarist Takamine impressed a crowd at the Hale Koa last weekend, providing just the right mellowness for the wedding reception of Ken Kuwahara and Jadine Gee ...
IT'S A NEW ballgame at Hotel Lanai now that Henry Clay Richardson of Maui has taken over. The restaurant, Henry Clay's Rotisserie, sounds like a pretty hip concept for sleepy Lanai City, population 2,800. But Lanai got its first ATM machine in May, so now residents have a place to spend those crisp bills... Swiss Inn closes Sept. 1 through Oct. 1 for vacation. The restaurant will reopen on Oct. 2 ... Tony Manzo is back at Trattoria Manzo in Restaurant Row after a year ...
GREG JOHNSON of Current Affairs Catering cracked up Over the Hill Jass Band leader Bill Cox when he said: "We like to see you guys on stage drinking beer, shooting Geritol and having so much fun playing jazz." John Norris will join the Geritol set at Steck's Sunday, Sept. 1 ...
Cornuelle will be missed
I DIDN'T know isle business giant and civic leader Herb Cornuelle very well but we did talk occasionally and I liked him because he was just plain nice. This modest gentleman will be missed by many. Condolences to his wife Jean and other family members ...
Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of people, places and things every Saturday.
Wood Craft by Ben Wood is a Saturday feature of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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