A TRIUMPH OF THE WILL: Travis Rose, center, enjoyed a plate of pupus Friday with Maxwell Smart and Anji Scalf at the opening-night cast party for director Markus Wessendorf's production of "Battle of Will" at Kennedy Theatre. Rose gives a powerful performance as a sadistic but honorable bodyguard/hit man whose loyalty to a ruthless crime lord ensures a posthumous act of vengeance. Peter T. Ruocco's portrayal of the Boss is reminiscent of characters in "Blue Velvet," "Scarface," "Pulp Fiction" and "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover," but playwright Laurent Gaudé's dark script never makes the man's one act of inexplicable folly seem logical -- even within the twisted premise of the story. "Battle of Will" closes this weekend. Call 956-7655.

HELL IS A WHITE ROOM: Director Kris Fitzgerald, second from left, celebrated Saturday with cast members Mitch Mattson, Katrina L. Nipko, Lily Brennick and Cindy Beth Davis after his production of "No Exit" opened in the UH-Manoa Ernst Lab Theatre. Mattson, Nipko and Davis play dead people who discover that hell is being confined in a room with people you can't get along with; the black puppets represent the characters' evil souls. Fitzgerald puts a fine spin on Sarte's classic play. It closes this weekend. Call 956-7655.

A HOT NIGHT FOR JASMINE: Jasmine Trias, third from left, looked great in basic black Saturday as she enjoyed Hawaii Opera Theatre's annual Opera Ball at the Sheraton Waikiki. Trias and her mother, Nora Trias, second from left, talked with Cathy Foy and Paul Brown during the pre-dinner reception.

SUPPORTING THE OPERA: Opera Ball "Gold Table" patron Alvin Chung, center, checked out the silent-auction items with Rod Iasura, left, Malika Dudley, Anthony Nelson, Colt Dunteman, Sonya Balmores and Terry Hubbard. The evening included beautiful preview performances of selections from HOT's "All-Italian" 2006 opera season.

FIVE STARS FOR 'RENT': Kala'i Stern and Noelle Poole provided pre-show entertainment Monday when a capacity crowd caught a preview screening of "Rent" at the Ward Theatres. Stern gave it five stars, adding, "It was an amazing film. It reminds you how important your friends are." "Rent" opens Wednesday.