Author: Wayne Harada

Frank DeLima’s final Blue Note Hawaii show on Sunday (Dec. 15), celebrating the 50^th anniversary of his show biz career as a stand-up comedian, was sentimental, daffy but somewhat predictable.

Sure, he’s outrageously funny, and on this milestone day, he brought along a couple of famous folks — some real, some surreal –to the party.

The most indelible gem was Imelda Marcos, who’d been mothballed for quite a while. DeLima donned costume designer Kathe James’ splendid dress with the characteristic toaster cover sleeves. DeLima’s Imelda ‘do, completed the image, and the dark glasses completed The Looks.

In the comic’s own vivid words  when the Filipina figure first attended his show at The Noodle Shop back in the day, “I thought I was looking into a mirror.”

The tune accompanying the Imelda tribute was “What I Did for Love,” magnifying her fidelity to her infamous shoe collection. This salute has been perhaps the most endearing of his characterizations.

DeLima also mimicked the voice and slur of Don Ho, complete with a bad wig, and he’s always sounded like Uncle Don with the foggy memory, with a lifelike repetitive conversation to an assumed visitor, “Where you from?” 

Truly, DeLima is at his best as a master of racial accents; the gags are not racist but kind of a fond laugh-with-the ethnic targets, like his creation of Foo Ling Yu, his Chinese TV game host who challenges a contestant to try to answer a multiple-choice-test with an impossible Chinese tongue-twister of a reply.

Then there’s DeLima’s signature “Filipino Christmas” parody, where he dons a costume that’s a lit Christmas tree. The accoutrements, however tattered, are vital because it’s part of the package.  But the tree’s looking awfully worn and weary.

And while there are spurts of genuine bliss in his attempt to get folks from the audience to participate in his local-style “12 Days of  Christmas,” it takes forever to assemble the right participants to utter the requisite countdown, though he seems to know how to discover a precise visitor dude who can’t remember the routine of “numbah one day of Christmas” and its “one mynah bird in one papaya tree.”

Because his mounting leg/hip problems prohibit him to do “stand-up” comedy any more, DeLima has evolved into a “sit-down” comic with an aide assisting him to get into a costume or out of a pair of shoes. His ardent fans laugh, because it has its hilarity moments, though real hip aches should never be comedic.

Then again, with DeLima, life’s always a laugh and retirement means he’ll spring back in motion, as soon as Jan. 5, with his comedic bros Augie T, Andy Bumatai and Paul Ogata. So the laff riots will continue, retirement or no retirement…

And that’s Show Biz…

I am in the midst of an overnight staycation in Waikiki.

Oh, it’s such a joyous and super holiday.

It began Sunday (Dec. 15) with a visit to Frank DeLima’s final Blue Note Hawaii show, celebration the 50^th anniversary of his show biz career as a stand-up comic. He brought along some iconic figures of his performing life, including Imelda Marcos, Don Ho, , and his notable sumotori.

The Outrigger Waikiki resort showroom was packed with fans and friends, cheering DeLima’s plans to finally retire after five decades of making folks laugh.

Meanwhile, across the street at the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, Cirque du Solei was staging the final two preview shows of its “‘Auana”” spectacle in the refurbished Outrigger Theatre, nearly filled to the rafters enroute to its formal grand opening performance on Wednesday (Dec. 18).

This visionary spectacle, wholly in the Hawaiian language, is an awesome concept show with Cirque’s notable trademark of circus acts fused with compelling storytelling skills and performance. ‘Olelo and mele are shared with passion and skill, signaling a new generation of Waikiki entertainment – acrobats and daredevils, beaucoup hula kahiko, stunning choreography and gorgeous costumes, possibly rendering the customary Hawaiian luau shows obsolete.

Imagine a show without a single word in English. The language and artistry of the Cirque legacy are at stake in this extraordinary endeavor, surely will be a major attraction in the weeks, months, and years ahead. Perhaps, too, that I’ll be back for another staycation, booking a room again at the Beachcomber, thanks to the lure of Cirque and its magic.

We’ll review both shows in the next two days.

And that’s Show Biz…

Moving right along, today’s countdown visits a familiar realm, where a few holiday images create a piece of art…

No. 16—Another shadowbox with a Santa, a tree, a stocking, a bell, a cupcake, and, well, it hollers Christmas to me. Simple but splendid. Once you gather your ornaments, takes only a few minutes to assembled. And don’t forget a stand to lean it on, or prep it for a wall destination

Still with me? Our Christmas Countdown continues with No. 15, a decor that reflects the environment…

No. 15 –I’ve had this wooden tree for years, purchased at Pier 1 Importsd; earlier ones were stained red or green. Decorated the wooden green one, if I recall, and presented it with cube decorations several seasons ago, to my cousin  who’s an artist. (Translation: little surprises her, when it’s art).  She lives in Washington state amid rustic woods, so this tree version, with au natural ornaments of tiny circular stumps from a real tree branch, suit the recipient and environment.