JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM Peter Peterkin is a man of many talents, giving the audience a high- energy show including impersonations of Jimi Hendrix.

One-man all-star show

A versatile mimic delivers a musical
tour de force at the Princess Kaiulani

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By John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.com

Everybody knows that the "Hardest Working Man in Show Business" is still James Brown. The hardest-working man in Waikiki show business these days, in terms of both sheer energy and talent, is Pete Peterkin, performing at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani's Ainahau Ballroom.

Peterkin delivers 90 minutes of almost nonstop, high-energy entertainment. He gets solid support from his three musicians, but beyond that, this is an intense one-man workout by a multitalented entertainer. The sweat that soaks through his shirt seems to inspire him to boost the intensity even further. A show of this length is a challenging undertaking, and Peterkin is up, and then some, for the task.

Pete Peterkin Where: Ainahau Ballroom, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel When: 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Admission: $20 Call: 931-4660

He is, by trade, a musical impressionist. He covers a surprisingly broad spectrum of American singer-celebrities. Many are to be expected -- Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Johnny Mathis, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr. -- and he does all of them well. Others are such an obvious stretch that he does them as a list of the most unlikely and offbeat people he might be asked to do, like Garth Brooks, both Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand singing "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," Kyu Sakamoto, Cher and Luciano Pavarotti. It's enough of a comic premise to make the whole thing work.

A salute to Motown gives three members of the audience a chance to become part of Peterkin's "Motown All-Stars." This is one Waikiki showroom audience participation number that doesn't make fools out of the participants.

JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM He also does Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and on and on.

Several of his character sketches are longer in length. But none of them drag, and the Stevie Wonder and Jimi Hendrix segments establish Peterkin's credentials as a musician. Peterkin re-creates Wonder's early days when "Little Stevie Wonder" would display his virtuosity on the harmonica, drums and bass. This leads into a quick salute to George Benson, and then a powerful re-creation of Hendrix playing "Purple Haze."

Little Richard gets his due in a segment that has the Georgia Peach showing the audience all the tricks he claims to have taught Jackie Wilson, Chuck Berry and James Brown. Peterkin does a fine job with the latter three before he wraps it up as Little Richard wailing "Good Golly Miss Molly."

Peterkin gets a surprisingly full sound from backup musicians Delores Chambers (keyboards), Gerard Lawson (bass, sax) and DiDi McFadden (drums). Each gets a spot or two with the headliner during the show.

Peterkin closes the show as himself, singing "I Believe I Can Fly." By the show's finale, he's been constantly on stage, with only enough time off to make minimal costume changes. But by that time, he's already earned our respect as an engaging entertainer and, yes, the hardest-working man in Waikiki today.

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