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On with the show

JOHN KOTAKE, a soft-spoken dentist by day, had no plans to moonlight as a song-and-dance man when he and wife, Karen, decided to take up ballroom dancing 12 years ago. They were simply looking for a pastime they could enjoy together. Ballroom dancing turned out to be a perfect fit. Then Karen took one of Jack Cione's tap-dance classes and the wily old showman learned she had a husband who could dance.

Kotake debuts as a featured tap-dancer this weekend in Cione's "Mardi Gras Follies" at the Hawaii Theatre.

"Jack was always after John," Karen recalled. He started adding ballroom numbers to the show, which drew John in. "You know Jack, he gets you involved, and pretty soon John was (ballroom) dancing on stage. Now he's tapping."

'Mardi Gras Follies 2006' Place: Hawaii Theatre Time: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday Tickets: $25 to $45 Call: 528-0506 Online: www.hawaiitheatre.com

Cione also encouraged John to step forward by featuring the couple in musical comedy numbers. They were a hit one year in a number Cione choreographed to a mildly risqué song, "I Like It Better When It's Wet." John danced in a diver's mask.

"It was a funny number -- fun to do, and a nice playful skit with Karen," John said.

Aware of Cione's old-time notoriety as a promoter of strip clubs and naked waiters, John wasn't sure he wanted his wife involved in a Cione show when she first mentioned it, let alone perform in one himself. "Follies," however, is strictly G-rated entertainment and once John saw it, he was easily sucked in. Now, after a year and a half of tap lessons, John is stepping forward again.

The Kotakes aren't the only "Follies" veterans returning for the 2006 edition of Cione's long-running extravaganza. Mariko Lyons and Claudio Otero are back with new Argentine tango and gaucho numbers, and Bill Dougherty is doing double duty as costume designer and as one of four female impersonators.

Other featured performers include Bo Irvine, Cathy Foy, vocalist Elisa Schmidt, ballroom dancers Faith and Benny Agbayani , and Keoni Harvey as Lady Marmalade. Set design is by Wally White. Pam Sandridge, Marie Takazawa and Derick Daniels share responsibility for the choreography. Cione returns as producer/director.

"Mardi Gras Follies" was created when Cione offered his expertise -- and an extensive collection of vintage showgirl costumes from his "Follies Polynesian" and "Oriental Fantasy" shows of the late-1970s -- to the producers of an annual variety show fundraiser at the Pearl Harbor Officers Club.

The Navy officers' wives club started the benefit in the early 1950s. Reinventing it as the "Mardi Gras Follies" in the mid-1980s, Cione expanded the show's talent pool to include civilians, enlisted military personnel of all services, their spouses and children. The show remained at the officers' club until security concerns forced Cione to find a civilian venue. A temporary home was found at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel; now the show has moved to the Hawaii Theatre.

In some respects that brings John Kotake back to his childhood.

"I remember going to the Hawaii Theatre as a child and seeing the usherettes in their long-sleeve white uniforms, and the red sashes around their waists -- or gold sashes. We young ones would sit down on the floor, but way up in the corner all the rough guys were up there with their girlfriends smoking and making out. We'd look in awe at those guys up in the corner and say to each other, 'Look at that!' It's a kick to be doing a show there now."