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Hawaii
OLD American musical revivals rarely receive a word of praise from critics in London, so why do they keep bringing them back? People apparently Critic takes
jab at musicalslove them. The latest to get a critical slap was Rodgers & Hammerstein's "The King and I" featuring Hawaii's Jason Scott Lee and Elaine Paige. The influential Times said "It's a puzzlement" why such shows are big box office successes. He didn't single out the shaven-headed Lee in particular, but didn't much care for him or Paige or, for that matter, the show, which he called "a kind of 'Madame Butterfly' in reverse." Still, as the Times pointed out, the show has already wrapped up a seven million pound advance booking, second only to "The Lion King's" $10 million. Lee's parents flew over for the big opening last week ...
LOCAL attorney/actor David Farmer heads for L.A. this week to be interviewed for the A&E Channel's biography of his aunt. If you haven't made the name connection, the reference is to his Aunt FrancesFarmer, a glorious Hollywood film star back in the '40s. She, too, had many isle connections other than her nephew living here. She filmed locations for "South of Pago Pago" here in 1940 with Jon Hall.
(Isn't that so Hollywood? You go north to film exteriors for "South of Pago Pago.") Frances' sister Edith married a local boy, Wilmar Elliot and they lived in Hilo from the '30s to the '50s. Jessica Lange, who filmed parts of "King Kong" locally, played Farmer on screen in 1982's "Frances," and Susan Blakely, who used to live in Hawaii, played Farmer in the TV biography "Will There Really Be a Morning." As for attorney Farmer, he feels enveloped in six degrees of separation ...
Hannemann for Congress
NO, Mufi Hannemann isn't going to be running for the U.S. Congress - he's committed to unseating Jeremy Harris in the upcoming mayoral election - but his brother is. No, not Nephi Hannemann, the entertainer, but equally entertaining brother Gus, who's let it be known that he's going to announce for a seat in the U.S. Congress - from American Samoa. If elected, he'd have a seat and an office, but no vote. It would be a similar position to that of former governor John A. Burns before he took over the statehouse locally ...DID you see TV coverage of the much heralded turnout at the GOP convention? Maybe it was just the camera angle chosen, but about 95 percent of the people visable in the segment I caught were middle-aged to senior haoles. This is hardly the base needed for the Republicans to build for the future in Hawaii ...Polo is starting up again Sunday at Waimanalo, the 14th year Bob McGregor, chairman emeritus, has overseen the Sport of Kings there ... Mike Morton spotted a bank machine with an option on the screen reading "Withdrawl." He pressed it, but reports it didn't talk differently ...
Soccer to me
IF soccer is your game (and you're over, say, 12) you'll admire the dedication Jack Sullivan gives the only sport where hands are largely ignored. Last week he was there when the Hawaii Amateur Soccer Association hosted the Shanghai Workers football team. The coach and Chinese players and dignitaries all gathered around Sullivan's car for pictures. Reason? His license plate reads "SOCCER." The Chinese coach was eyeing the soccer ball on his antenna so Sullivan removed it and gave it to him. Only later did he realize that chances are the guy owns no car ...
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