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GIVING THANKS…
REMEMBER PAPIER-MACHE LANTERNS?
Remember when jack-o-lanterns were made from papier-mâché?
You could put a candle inside, so the glow made its eyes and mouth bright.
If you added a flame, you probably needed a stick attached to the lantern’s wire or cord to avoid getting burned.
No, it wasn’t safe.
Some kids used these unlighted pumpkins to collect their treats. Back in the day, you didn’t go for the huge haul to fill shopping bags.
You still can get these papier-mâché creations online; vintage ones can cost anywhere from $50 to $400. It would be a collectible item, if its origins date back, say, five decades.
But most kids nowadays don’t carry a jack-o-lantern, which are largely fashioned from plastic, and require a battery-supported “candle” for the glow.
So the question is, are jack-o-lanterns necessary anymore?
If you have a memory of the lanterns from yesteryear, share your thoughts here.
KALAPANA TRIBUTE SET AT BLUE NOTE
Surviving members of Kalapana will take the stage at Blue Note Hawaii at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 8 and 9, to remember three of the founding members of the group: DJ Pratt, Malani Bilyeu and Mackey Feary.
The participating musicians likely will include Gaylord Holomalia and Kenji Sano, who have had longstanding stints with the original band, and others who have had tenure with Kalapana could emerge, too, including Kirk Thompson, Alvin Fejarang, Randy Aloya, and Michael Paulo.
However, the Blue Note website does not identify who will be taking the stage, and efforts to secure a roster of vocalists and musicians so far have not been successful.
Clearly, most of Kalapana’s hit songs – still getting some airplay on local radio – featured the voices of Feary and Bilyeu.
Kalapana was bestowed the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011; recipients then included Bilyeu, Feary (posthumously), Pratt, Thompson, Fejarang, Paulo and Aloya.
Feary, who had drug addiction issues, died Feb. 20, 1999, at age 43. He apparently took his own life while imprisoned, leading to a tragic end. His legacy includes such classic musical moments as “Nightbird,” “Juliet,” “Moon and Stars,” and “The Hurt.”
Bilyeu died of a heart attack on Dec. 27, 2018, on Kauai. He was 69. His Kalapana compositions included “(For You) I’d Chase a Rainbow,” “You Make It Hard,” “ Naturally,” “Girl” and “Many Classic Moments.”
Pratt was found unresponsive in his home on Sept. 7, 2021. He was 67. Pratt earned two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for his work as a member of Kalapana. He earned three more for his skills as a recording studio engineer.
Tickets: $45 and $35, at www.bluenotehawaii.com or (808) 777-4890.
HA-lloween for adults
Hawaii ArtSpace, a new theatrical production company, will be holding its first fundraiser from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 23) at The B Side HNL, (1200 Ala Moana Blvd., the former Ryan’s location) at Ward Center.
There’s a holiday-themed show as well as a sweepstake and costumes are encouraged but not required.
Drag Queen extraordinaire, Candi Shell, will emcee a program featuring opera singer Lea Woods Almanza, as Elvira, Queen of Darkness. HA-lloween themed songs, suitable for the bewitching season, will be re-imagined: “Moon Over Bourbon Street,” “Werewolves of London,” Who Ya Gonna Call, “ “Time Warp,” “One Way or Another“ and “I Put A Spell on You.”
Theatrical talent you might recognize will include, Jody Bill, Nick Amador, Aiko Schick, Jarren Amian, Starr Kalahiki, David Heulitt, Stacy Pulmano, and Tito Berinobis.
Seasonal characters like Frankenstein, Beetlejuice, The Sanderson Sisters and Frankfurter will make appearances.
And you could win a trinket box by Edgar Berebi, dinner for two at The Chart House, an abalone shell ring, and two tickets to the Elton John concert at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles (excluding air fare and housing).
There will be heavy pupu and a cash bar.
Proceeds will support future Hawaii ArtSpace productions.
Tickets: $40, at hawaiiartspace.org
All proceeds go towards future Hawaii ArtSpace productions, …
Broadway grosses, week ending Oct. 16
“The Music Man” was shy of the $3 million level, but it’s still No. 1 on the Broadway grosses list, collecting $2.925 million.
No. 2, as usual, was “Hamilton,” which logged. $2.051 million.
No. 3 was “The Lion King,” with $1.815 million, roaring back to the top three tier.
The list is courtesy The Broadway League:
And that’s Show Biz. …
PANDORA, SPOTIFY STILL SURPRISE KEVIN I
Kevin I., aka Kevin Iwamoto in his business-career realm, continues to receive heartening news about his 1980s recordings that have connected with a 2022 audience.
“Woke up this morning to two great emails from Pandora, a leading US music streaming platform saying that they have selected two songs from my latest release Love Songs Collection 1980-1985 (2022 Remaster) that will be added to their higher rotation playlist!,” he gleefully said via a recent Facebook post.
“That means much more streams and exposure to Pandora subscribers.”
The surge in interest in his oldies that have connected with a newbie listenership has been constantly giving him a lift in spirits, considering he’s now touring to promote his catalog of romantic ditties, recorded when he was an active balladeer in Honolulu.
“ This second release has generated more interest in my global music catalog and has boosted streaming numbers by 12,000 streams/ downloads just on Pandora with similar numbers on Spotify,” he commented. “Thank you Lord!”
Certainly, he spent time and bucks to remix, re-energize and release his original recordings, from yesteryear, not knowing what the outcome would be three decades later. You recall, too, that when he was home recently for the 50th anniversary of his Roosevelt High School class reunion, he gifted his former classmates with a limited edition CD that contained titles that global followers have been discovering and buying online. …
The lesson here: Keep on top of your game; you never know when your career gets an unexpected reboot; taking a left turn might be the right move. Main thing, explore your options and chart your course. …
Lisa Konove reprises Ann Landers role
Honolulu actress Lisa Konove is winding up a brief run, portraying advice columnist Ann Landers, in a Beverly Arts Center run of “The Lady With All the Answers,” ending today (Oct. 9) in Chicago. It’s her acting debut in The Windy City.
Konove did the one-woman role in an earlier run at Diamond Head Theatre.
The casting was a reunion with BAC artistic director Kevin Pease, formerly of Hawaii, who directed Konove who played Jo in “Waitress” in the regional premiere of the musical. …
Ooops, a wardrobe malfunction
Nicole Scherzinger, local girl and former lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls, was out and about in New York recently when s polka dot dress with ruffled sleeves slipped for a moment, creating a tad of a nipple display.
She didn’t panic, apparently, and quickly raised her off-the-shoulder sleeves to recover from the mishap. Could be some folks didn’t recognize her because she was shielded with large sunglasses and gold hoop earrings, which might have distracted would be spectators. All in a day’s outing. …
And that’s Show Biz. …
NEW YORK CREDS FOR LEE CATALUNA
Kudos to playwright Lee Cataluna, who has taken a huge leap in her prolific career, and applause, too, to the New York Times to recognize and spotlight her journey as a storyteller in a community far, far away from her island roots.
Cataluna, a former journalist for the Honolulu Advertiser and now a columnist for Civil Beat, was interviewed by NYT reporter Laura Graeber, in an article published Oct. 4, that explores her storytelling skills. Cataluna’s latest play, “Heart Strings,” is in production through Oct. 23 at the Linda Gross Theater in Chelsea. It is being produced by Atlantic Theater Company as the initial Atlantic for Kids production since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
It’s quite an achievement for Cataluna to take her play beyond the reef and across the continent. It’s also a moment for the state to support her mission — and others in her footsteps — to bring island themes and tales for audiences elsewhere to enjoy and discover.
At a time when even the Honolulu media shamefully does not acknowledge or write about local playwrights launching a play with clear Hawaiian roots, it’s an astonishing accomplishment for Cataluna to attract a New York group to stage the world premiere of “Heart Strings.”
The thread throughout her play focuses on hei, the centuries-old small-kid-time game, where a simple string or cord is the centerpiece, and game-players use their fingers to create varying triangles or rectangles and players delicately transfer the network of loops to each other. You might remember it as “Cat’s Cradle,” which has also been the name for this string game.
And, natch, batteries are not required. Simple idea, with historical roots, about everyday events or relationships, is at the core of Cataluna’s plays. Think “Folks You Meet at Long’s,” “Musubi Man,” “Home of the Brave,” “You Somebody,” “Flowers of Hawaii,” and “Extraordinary Stories for Ordinary Ohana.” Locally, her works have been staged by Kumu Kahua, Honolulu Theatre of Youth and Diamond Head Theatre. …
“Heart Strings” was intended to be staged by Iolani School actors (Cataluna previously taught there; her son remains a student there), but plans changed because of the pandemic. Who knew New York would kick off a Hawaii play? Like Kumu Kahua on steroids!
I recall when Cataluna was researching this play, seeking how-to’s of hei via Facebook. Not surprising, she got the job done — with no strings attached. She’s opened the doors for other island playwrights to attempt to get their works noticed and produced beyond the seas. …
A heavenly milestone for Bruno
So maybe now is a good time to talk about Bruno. You know, Bruno Mars, not the “Encanto” Disney Bruno.
Our local superstar now has six Diamond Single Awards, the first pop star to achieve this status. His “Locked Out of Heaven” tune has been certified Diamond, by RIAA’s Gold and Platinum Program. His earlier five Diamond hits are “Just the Way You Are,” “Grenade,” “When I Was Your Man,” “That’s What I Like,” and the collaborative “Uptown Funk” with Mark Ronson.
Way to go, Bruno! …
Sunday Manoa
Manoa Marketplace (rear area, beyond Safeway but not blocking Long’s) is undergoing renovations, so there are some concerns behind the boarded eateries and shops. I dined at Paisano one night, before taking in “Cabaret,” and navigating to the Italian restaurant was a challenge.
So folks thinking of going to Medici’s on the second floor, where the Tommy James Trio (with Dave Bixler and Dean Taba) perform on Sunday (Oct. 9), should anticipate a bit of a maze to get to the club; doors open at 5 p.m., show at 6:30 p.m.
And an update: Medici’s earlier raised its dinner-and-show prices to $75 (I had bought tickets at that price, for a postponed Shari Lynn Trio show), with meals served by waitstaff. But the return of the buffet brings down the price to $59 (partly because of patron outcries and perhaps a drop in attendees), with reimbursements to be made at the door, according to the Medici’s website. …
And that’s Show Biz. …