Hawaii
HAVING seen a very funny production of "The Vagina Monologues" in San Francisco with Rita Moreno and Vicki Lawrence, expectations of something as good as that weren't high as I visited the Hawaii Theatre this week. But it's with great pleasure I report that Amy J. Carle, MacKenzie Phillips and Michelle Shay were a delight to behold. Theatergoers had best be prepared for some words and phrases they're not necessarily accustomed to hearing, but after a while the folks in the audience, under Shay's urgings, are yelling out a crude synonym ... The trio of actresses attended a party after the show at Compadres, and were applauded once again on their arrival. Phillips walked up to one table where former State Attorney General Margery Bronster was seated. "We could be sisters," she said, and everyone at the table agreed. Phillips starred in TV's "One Day at a Time," something Bronster had to live with when taking on the Bishop Estate. Phillips has to leave the show after Sunday's performance and will be replaced by Loretta Swit Tuesday through Feb. 3 ... ‘Vagina Monologues’
delights and amusesTHIS seems as good a time as any to mention the new book of political cartoons by top editorial cartoonist Pat Oliphant. It's called "When We Can't See the Forest for the Bushes." And despite the title, Oliphant skewers both GOP-ers and Dems in the book. And, as the Golden Globes demonstrated, this being the Year of the Australian, it behooves me to point out that Oliphant also is an Aussie, though he now lives where the action is, in Washington, D.C. ...
All that jazz
THE Four Freshman are returning to Hawaii, and like freshmen at any institution, there are some new faces. There've been many since I saw the original Freshmen at the University of Iowa in 1958. Local jazzman Abe Weinstein, who stages the Hawaii International Jazz Festival annually -- his ninth annual takes place in July -- is, fortunately for some of us, also a Four Freshman fan. One night in the festival is given over to Hawaiian jazz, and will feature Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Jake Shimabukuro and others. One problem: This year's festival will take place at the Outrigger Wailea, and that's where the above performers can be seen. Prior to that, two nights of jazz with guest artists will take place at the Blaisdell Concert Hall ... In the meantime, Weinstein will once again board the Crown Princess next month to continue with jazz lectures and big-band performances ...
Yuck it up
YOU don't think of a church as a place to stage a "comedy night," but when Southern yarn spinner Carl Hurley sits down to talk about growing up in Kentucky, he's sure to get the laughs. He's being presented by Randy & Gay Hongo at Kalihi Union church on North King St. Feb. 1. There's no admission charge, but donations are welcomed. Hurley has an interesting background. He was Professor of Education at Eastern Kentucky University for eight years, doing stand-up on the side. Eventually the demand for his comedy was so great he gave up teaching to be a full-time entertainer. Dr. Hurley agreed to help the Hongos raise money for their Music Center because he'll be in Hawaii to work a convention on Kauai ...
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