Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Hawaii
PROFESSOR FUN in the family way? Well, not exactly. The magician, who also goes by the street moniker of Fred Ball, might well change his stage name to Professor Pun. He called to say he agreed I should go to my room after writing about the Ma'as and the Pa'as, followed quickly by the Egyptian floral display at the Honolulu Academy of Arts with the Mummies and the Poppies. He ‘Professor’ has
way with wordsthen revealed that he's staging a fashion show, and I should have seen it coming. It will feature, said the Funster, the Muumuus and the Pupus. Speaking of rooms, he'd best hie to his ...
IT was fun watching and listening to the Daytona 500 race yesterday. The announcers are so full of Southern comfort, and I don't mean booze. Commentator Buddy Baker stated on occasion that a driver "brought it on hisself." And even the minister who gave the invocation got in the spirit of things with his imploring that the Almighty "hep us." ... Glued to his TV to watch the Daytona was big racing car fan Eddie O'Toole of Honolulu Ford, one of the few people who roots for the car manufacturer instead of the driver. He's recovering from a heart attack at home, and was moved to "shed a tear" when Lisa Leung of the group Irish Hearts, who play Friday nights at O'Toole's Pub, showed up at his apartment and played a little fiddle for him, even chiming in with some Irish tunes a cappella ...
Try harder
THE Diamond Head Theatre's production of the Frank Loesser musical, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," runs close to three hours and my first impression is that director Mary Gutzi should have tried harder. It needed not only cutting, but someone with the gap-toothed grin of a Robert Morse or built-in charm of a Matthew Broderick. And the lead's female interest didn't help much, coming on too whiny to attract anyone. One of the bright spots in the cast (along with Howard Bishop, Michael Beard and Jennifer Cleve), was sexpot Katie Shriver. She also had the best line in the show, but unfortunately, it was in the program where she thanked "all those who have given their support, notably (costumer) Karen Wolfe and Frederick's of Hollywood." ...DON'T ask Bill Cook if he had a nice Valentine's Day. The former Honolulan, who now lives with wife Patti and runs "Cook's Discoveries" in Waimea, took a spill, broke his pelvis and hip and ended up in the hospital. He's recovering at home now and will be for the next few months while engaging in physical therapy, not a favorite thing ...
SOMETIME Maui resident George Benson has taken off for L.A. where he'll perform Wednesday at the 42nd annual Grammy Awards. The eight-time Grammy winner will perform with "Best album" nominee Diana Krall, who wowed two full houses at the Blaisdell Concert Hall last month. Benson returns on Thursday to prepare for his March 4 concert at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center ...
Kudos for Gilliom
SINGER Eric Gilliom, who's just come out with a new CD called "Like Chow Fun," will be at a release party for the album at Don Ho's Island Grill Thursday. You have to love the comments: "... what a great album" (Willie K), "The songs, his voice and the production are magnificent" (Barry Flanagan of Hapa), "I love this CD" (Sista Robi), "He'll leave you clamoring for more" (Keali'i Reichel) and "What can I say, he's my brother!" from Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom ...
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: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com