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Hawaii Dave Donnelly |
Theater beat vibrant
in San FranciscoWE'LL be back to reporting on Hawaii tomorrow, but in the meantime, a brief rehash of the latest sojourn to my other favorite city, San Francisco ... Through the Internet, I chose to stay at a hotel new to me, the Cartwright, located as it is in the theater district on Sutter near Powell, within four blocks of eight theaters. It's also a block from the Stockton Tunnel where you can catch a bus directly to North Beach and Union Street, two of my favorite areas. And if you're a senior, it's 35 cents and you get a return transfer. Beats Honolulu's rates, which may be on the way up ...
I SAW three plays on the first three nights of my stay. "Are We There Yet?" is a charming little four-person musical (with piano) written and directed by Morris Bobrow, whose "Party of One" played Hawaii some years ago. I met him after the show and he recalled using a quote from my viewing of that work on future productions of the show. He'd like to present it in Honolulu or have a local group tackle it. I'd think a hotel ballroom, Manoa Valley Theatre or The ARTS at Mark's Garage would be suitable venues. A highlight of the visit was the two-man show by writers and performers Joe Bologna and wife Renee Taylor called "If You Ever Leave Me ... I'm Going With You." This is the pair who wrote the film "Lovers and Other Strangers." The show at Marine's Memorial Theater was a laugh-out-loud riot ...
Welcome to 'Urinetown'
THE Broadway award-winning musical "Urinetown," the current production of the American Conservatory Theater at the Curran Theater, was modestly amusing with unmemorable music. It's likely to be a consideration for Diamond Head Theatre, whose audience loves musicals. The show might well have been written with S.F. in mind, as strolling down Sutter Street in a nice enough area one afternoon, a fellow crossed the street in front of me and began urinating up against a building fronting the street. All who noticed cut him a wide swath ...I WATCHED the All-Star game from Capp's Corner with old S.F. pal Bob Mulcrevy who introduced me to the fellow who came in and occupied the next seat. Turned out he was S.F. Chronicle sports writer David Shaw. And when a third guy came in and took the next stool, the two struck up a conversation and he introduced us. He was Dennis McCarthy of the L.A. Daily News. Three newsguys from three separate papers in three cities. What were the odds, except in San Francisco? ...
Reunion
ONE reason for the visit at this time was a get-together in the foothills city of Amandor between ex-Isle residents Tom Horton, Jorgen Skov and Dick Dupere who was celebrating his birthday. We visited and dined at two wineries, Fitzgerald's and Story, and made stops at others, enjoyable despite the fact that I no longer drink and it was 105 degrees. We stayed in adjoining (and air-conditioned) rooms in Mine House Inn, a charming B&B in Amandor City, located, according to the official street sign, just left of Pig Turd Alley. I'm not making this up.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968. The Week That Was runs Sundays and recalls items from Dave's 30 years of columns. Contact Dave by e-mail: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com
