DIAMOND HEAD THEATRE Loretta Ables Sayre and Ray Bumatai rehearse a scene from "You Somebody." Wil Kahele will take over Bumatai's role as Daddy Lusa.

Recovery is expected
for Bumatai

He is in satisfactory condition
and might return home tomorrow

---

By John Berger
berger@starbulletin.com

Actor Ray Bumatai appears well on the way to recovery following brain surgery Monday at Straub Hospital.

The official word, courtesy of a hospital spokesperson, is that Bumatai has been upgraded to satisfactory condition. John Rampage, artistic director of Diamond Head Theatre, said Bumatai could go home as soon as tomorrow.

"He's already collecting brain jokes," Rampage said yesterday. "He's doing very, very well and we're very optimistic."

Rampage said that Bumatai, long respected in local entertainment circles for his work as an actor, comedian, musician and playwright, was in good spirits.

Bumatai, who had been playing Daddy Lusa, the lovable comic anchor of DHT's production of "You Somebody," checked into the hospital Sunday morning after he had trouble getting through the show Saturday night.

Rampage said that Bumatai first asked that the cast be told he had the flu, but later sent word that they should be told the truth because "I don't want them to think that (the flu) would make me miss a show."

Playwright Lee Cataluna walked through Bumatai's role as "reader's theater" for the Sunday matinee performance. Wil Kahele, who had been cast as Mr. Baga, will play Daddy Lusa for the rest of the production's run; John Tolentino has joined the cast as Kahele's replacement.

A press release issued on behalf of DHT announced additional performances of "You Somebody" at 8 p.m. Aug. 16 and 17, and 4 p.m. Aug. 18. A portion of the proceeds from the closing show will be donated to the Bumatai family.

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