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HARRINGTON CELEBRATION 0F LIFE SET

A celebration for life will be held for the late Al Harrington from 10 a.m. March 25 at the Church of the Latter Day Saints, at 1560 S. Beretania St.

He died of a stroke last Sept. 21 at the age of 85. An American Samoan, he was best known as an entertainer, starring in his own Polynesian revue back in the day, and also co-starred on the original CBS-TV series, “Hawaii Five-0,” alongside Jack Lord.

His appearance as Ben Kokua on “Five-0” made him a household name. In the “FIVE-0” reboot starring Alex O’Loughlin, Harrington had a different recurring role as Mamo Kahike.

Al Harrington

But as the Polynesian Man, Harrington won fame as a Waikiki celebrity in a show that featured his vocal and storytelling talents. Earlier in his show biz life, he also was a Samoan fire knife dancer.

His last TV appearance as was an elderly uncle, a recurring role,on the Disney+  sitcom, “Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.,” last year.

Rosa Harrington, his widow, has shared the details of the remembrance event to honor and bid aloha to the former actor, educator, football star, coach, businessman, husband, father, and grandfather.

The agenda:

  • Family gathering and visitation, from 10 to 11 a.m.
  • Service from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Due to pandemic protocols that limit attendance at a funeral , the event is not open to the public. …

The forecast is Rain

Crossing Rain, the six-member singing-dancing boy band from Hawaii, will give a concert at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 Blaisdell Concert Hall, a prelude to an upcoming tour.

The lads, inspired by the legendary K-pop band from Korea, BTS, will feature tunes from their first album.

Crossing Rain will concertize Feb. 26 at Blaisdell Concert Hall.

Members include Wyatt “Monarch” Kaneshiro, Asher Morgado, Jorden Kealoha-Yamanaka, Shotaro Takasaka, Evan “Haru” Doria and Devin Teruya, who were assembled by agents eager to put an island spin to the K-pop phenom. The troupers range in age from 12 to 21.

The event is themed “Nice to Meet You,” alluding to the group’s introductory concert. And the band also has adopted a short-hand name tapping two alphabets,  XR, meant to reflect Crossing Rain. …

Tickets are $55 to $85, available at:
https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0A005C24F0D01E9E …

And that’s Show Biz. …

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‘MEASURES’ IS A PLEASURE, TREASURE

“Desperate Measures,” which is running at Manoa Valley Theatre through Feb. 6, is a delightful pleasure and a theatrical treasure, with Shakespearean origins but updated and set in an 1800s Wild West saloon loaded with likable critters.

This one had been on the MVT shelf for more than two years; it was scheduled to run in 2019 but was pushed back because of the pandemic crisis, and also scooted off the 2020-21 season, too. Considering the fact that this was dubbed a “problematic” play by The Bard himself back in the day, when “the play’s the thing” was the quote of the era, one wonders, was it jinxed?

In 2022, the playout’s the thing. The show’s Hawaii premiere ultimately is a jolly jewel.

A modest musical by David Friedman and Peter Kellogg, it is mounted with sprightly direction and choreography by Miles Phillips. He has corralled a lively, lovely and luminous cast, clearly enjoying the see-sawing pendulum of silliness and sentiment involving a handsome Johnny Blood (Drew Niles, conniving and raucous but contagiously delightful), jailed for allegedly killing Big Swede, which he insists was self-defense, but could be hanged for the crime. The local sheriff Martin Green (Garrett Taketa, exuding sympathetic logic) tries to help Blood’s  nun of a sister, Sister Mary Jo, aka Susanna (Christine Kluvo, possessing a sweet voice and an honest demeanor), who’s trying to overturn the hanging by requesting leniency from the Germanic Governor von Richterhenkenpflichtgetruber (enacted by an effectively sleazy Garrett Hols).

Of course, there are complications galore.

A saloon fave, Bella Rose (Alexandria Zinov, a charmer in looks, sexiness, and shenanigans), is talked into becoming a stand-in for Mary Jo to have sex with the Gov, to use that as a wedge for undoing Johnny Blood’s hanging. The victim was her boyfriend.

The cast of “Desperate Measures,” a musical on the shelf for more than two years.

While the Gov tries to woo Mary Jo, she becomes smitten — Lord willing — with the Sheriff. Meanwhile, Johnny Blood also has the hots for Bella and she’s open to a new beau.

There are expected gags, with chastity and fidelity as core issues; the real Mary Jo and the faux one have dance moments and also engage in a mirror routine, wearing identical wedding white dress wear, and borrowing the Marx Brothers’ classic mirror gimmick from the classic “Duck Soup” film, enacting reflective movements to foil the Gov. It’s a bit crude, but an effective gag.

When the German-accented Gov utters he wants to “Make Arizona Great Again,” there’s a ring of current familiarity and wonderment of slogan ownership.

Andrew Doan’s single saloon set, with a bar and walkway to a second level of brothels, creates the right atmosphere for the period piece; the four-piece house band, led by Jenny Shiroma, is stationed just inside the theater’s entrance/exit. A simple desk is the Gov’s office on the opposite side, with window panes alternating projection views of the outdoors or a church’s stain glass. A movable jail cell – where the imprisoned Johnny Blood spends most of his time with a drunken priest — is wheeled in when needed.

Jennifer Hart’s and Kimmerie Jones’ costumes, notably the frou-frou of the saloon dames, reflect an element of the Wild West, and Lisa Ponce de Leon’s hair and makeup define the era. Lighting by Jonah Bobilin and sound design by Lock Lynch brighten and enhance the visual and audible experience.

Some of the dialogue is delivered in couplets, but understandable to modern audiences unlike Shakespearean times; there’s a cadre of plot-moving tunes in the score by Kellogg and Friedman, but nothing hummable on the way home..

The show earned  the Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Musical and for Outstanding Lyrics, the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical, and Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Musical.  These accolades are warranted, by any measure. If you’re searching for a funfest, you’ll embrace “Desperate Measures.”

And that’s Show Biz. …

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MVT ADDS COMEDY, MUSIC SERIES

Manoa Valley Theatre just launched a 2022 “Music & Comedy Series” with a comedy show on Jan. 26.

It’s sort of a “dark night” project, with most shows programmed during
off nights when MVT season productions are dark, but a few are scheduled on weekends.

The remaining slate:

Ron Artis II
  • Feb. 14 and 15 – Ron Artis II.
  • Feb. 25 and 26 – Black Voices Matter, featuring Brandon Leake.
  • March 28 and 29 – Amy Hanaiali‘i.
  • April 16 and 17 – Shari Lynn and Kip Wilborn.
  • June 25 – Rolando Sanchez.

Showtimes will be at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. if second shows are slated, with normal seating unless pandemic protocols change. Facemasks and proof of vaccinations will be required.

For information/ticketing, visit www.manoavalleytheatre.com or call (808) 988-6131…

Welcoming the tiger

The Hawaiii Theatre will stage a free lunar year program to welcome the Year of the Tiger,

at 6 p.m. Tuesday (Feb, 1).

The Phoenix Dance Chamber will provide the cultural music, followed by a screening of “Picture Bride.”

For information, visit www.hawaiitheatre.com or call (808) 528-0506.

Adam Sandler

‘Murder,’ continued

Adam Sandler has been filming “Murder Mystery 2” in January, a comedy destined for Netflix. Not sure when the filming winds up.

The 2019 original was a hit with streamers but a miss with critics.

No matter, “MM” was a top title for viewers, so a sequel was a no-brainer.

Kyle Newacheck is directing James Vanderbilt’s script, with headliner Sandler joined by Jennifer Aniston and Luke Evans.

The plot involves a married couple invited to a billionaire’s party aboard a yacht in Europe and they become immersed in a murder investigation. …

Obama watch

Former president Barack Obama and wife Michelle have lingered in Hawaii this month.

Michelle Obama

Michelle marked her 58th birthday (Jan. 17) but how she celebrated has not been mentioned.

No. 44, not surprisingly, has been hitting the golf greens, spotted by some residents, but iPhone videos were not allowed to capture his swings. …

And that’s Show Biz. …

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KAPONO REVIVING ‘ARTIST’ SERIES

Henry Kapono is revisiting his popular Artist 2 Artist Concert Series, in which the prolific singer-guitarist-composer partners with fellow island talent sharing patter and music at Blue Note Hawaii, the venue at the Outrigger Waikiki resort.

The 2022 series – fifth in the ongoing bookings – is themed the “Hawaiian Legends Edition,” and will be held as follows:

  • March 15 – Kapono with  Keola Beamer and his wife Moanalani.
  • March 31 – Kapono with Jerry Santos.
  • April 28 – Kapono with the Makaha Sons.
  • May 26 – Kapono with Ledward Kaapana.

Showtime for all concerts will be at 6:30 p.m., with doors opening at 5 p.m., with dinner and beverage service available.

Beamer is the composer of “Honolulu City Lights,” his signature tune, and other classic island hits; Moanalani Beamer is hula stylist wife. He also is a respected ki ho’alu (slack key guitar) pioneer. Earlier, he was part of the brother act, Keola and Kapono Beamer.

Santos formerly was featured with Olomana, the duo that is best known for “E Ku’u Home O Kahaluu.” Mixing traditional Hawaiian with contemporary elements, Santos is a prolific artist still performing in selected venues. He is a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient from the Hawai`i Academy of Recording Arts, and has been inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.

The Makaha Sons is led by surviving member Jerome Koko; his late brother John Koko and the late Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole were former colleagues, along with Louis “Moon” Kauakahi, who exited the group. The Sons continue to be a versatile, harmonic act that also has been a Lifetime Achievement winner and inductee in the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.

Kaapana is a legendary slack key guitartist formerly with Hui Ohana and Ikona; his trademark baritone tones are matched by his extraordinary leo ki`eki`e (falsetto) voice. …

Remembering Frannie

Mufi Hannemann recalled her never-give-up mantra, her unending support and guidance, and her enduring friendship.

Malene Sai

Marlene Sai sang “I Love You,” one of her signature tunes, which resonated not as romantic love but an endearing friendship anthem, notably weaving in “Frannie” in the final lines of the song with tearfuil eyes. It was an aloha ia oe moment.

Frank DeLima was grateful for the opportunity to work a larger Waikiki venue, with her vision and leadership in fusing Glenn Medeiros as part of a revue following a Don Ho dinner show at the old Polynesian Palace. ‘Twas a concept no one ever imagined.

Linda Coble, an avid showgoer, appreciated the mutual fellowship she received over the decades … as a friend, not a broadcast personality.

Ron Lee, onetime manager of the Outrigger Waikiki showroom, said it simply: She was a great boss, firm but friendly, who occasionally gave him scoldings.

That’s the way the late Frances Kirk, aka Frannie, was remembered and applauded, in a small but warm celebration of her life at the Nuuanu Memorial Park under pandemic protocols, with facemasks and a 25-only headcount.

Kirk was best known as the manager of the Society of Seven group who helped put the Outrigger Waikiki resort’s Main Showroom on the map; notably, Kirk eventually served as the hotel’s entertainment director and secured other talent in the chain’s other venues.  She was embraced as a guiding light for her honesty, savvy and fairness as a hospitality industry leader, but also an admirable example of a good mother to two sons and daughter who always included her mom and dad in her life. Clearly, she wrote her own handbook in dealing with life’s challenges and opportunities.  Rest in peace, Frannie …

And that’s Show Biz. …