The Buzz

Red Session is back!

Remember college evenings spent skanking to Red Session at Anna Bannana's instead of studying for mid-terms? We do. That's why we're stoked to see one of Honolulu's best live multi-purpose bands of the mid-1990s reunite for a couple of local weekend gigs. And right before mid-terms, too. The group disbanded in 1999, a couple of years after moving to San Francisco, but the members remain close. Catch Red Session at 9 tonight at Anna's for $7 (21 and over only), or at 10 p.m. tomorrow at South Seas Village Hawaiian Hut for $8 ($10 for 18-20 year olds). For more information, call Anna Bannana's at 946-5190, or the Hawaiian Hut at 941-5205.

The big bunny

Harvey is a rabbit. A big rabbit. A big invisible rabbit. And Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, "Harvey," is about the only guy in the world who can see him. Is the man in question — one Elwood P. Dowd — the luckiest guy in the world or just the looniest? Find out this week when The Actors' Group brings back one of its most successful productions ever. "Harvey" played to packed houses last year at the group's homey Yellow Brick Studio in Kaka'ako. With Easter coming up, how can a reprise miss? $10. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Yellow Brick Studio, 625 Keawe St. Reservations strongly recommended. Runs Friday through Sunday until April 7. 591-7999.

You may have seen the Honolulu Festival before, but not quite like this: The weekend of free Japanese cultural performances and exhibits is the biggest ever, with 3,800 participants flying in from Japan. Some highlights:

• Today, 6-7 p.m. (opening ceremony) Honolulu Hale: live entertainment, Japanese food and health-fair exhibit, displays
• Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Hawai'i Convention Center: displays, performances by hula halau and koto players; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Ala Moana Center: entertainment, food and health displays
• Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Hawai'i Convention Center: Japanese entertainment; 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Ala Moana Center,:performances and displays; 5-9 p.m., Kapi'olani Park: food booths and entertainment; 5 p.m.: parade (retired University of Hawa'i baseball coach Les Murakami is grand marshal) on Kalakaua Avenue from Saratoga Road to Kapahulu Avenue.

597-8100 or honolulu-festival.com.

A choral-music extravaganza

Six choral groups. Three songs each. No waiting. The Honolulu Chorale presents its fourth annual Community Chorus Festival on Saturday. The O'ahu groups performing (besides the hosts, that is) include the Moo Gung Hwa Chorus, Gleemen Plus of Honolulu, Na Leo Lani Chorus, The Honolulu Men's Chorus, and the Silangan Singers. A Honolulu Chorale spokesman told us the group's set list would include selections from "Phantom of the Opera." Hmmm ... "All I Ask of You," anyone? Free. On Saturday, 7 p.m., at Harris United Methodist Church, 20 S. Vineyard Blvd. 538-0196.

A gathering of magicians

It's magic! And for the whole family, too. Sunday's Spring Family Magic Show, "Magical Moments," will feature magicians from the Mainland, and a handful of Honolulu's best adult and junior prestidigitators. Offshore magicians Sammy Smith, Steve Taylor and David Ginn come with outstanding resumes in educational and children's magic. Gerald Rojo II, Alan Arita, Clarice Galvez, Takeshi, Greg Hirashiki and emcee Glen Bailey will round out the show's local line-up. Tickets are $10 and $15. At 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday, in the Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall's Pikake Room. 526-4400.

Low-caste Indian women's lives examined

A powerful informational program on India's caste system and its effect on the country's dalit, or "untouchable" women, will be presented this evening as part of International Women's Day. Sponsored by the Hawaii Black History Committee, the Ambedkar Journal and the University of Hawai'i-Manoa Womens Studies Department, the highlight of the event will be a screening of "Bandit Queen." The acclaimed film details the life of outspoken India Parliament member Phoolan Devi, above, herself a dalit, who was assasinated in front of her New Delhi home last July. The program begins at 6 p.m., the film, at 7:30 p.m., at UH-Manoa Art Auditorium. Tickets are $6 ($4 for students). 239-8112.

The brunch that ate Waikiki

Astro Turf, tables and big blue umbrellas blocking traffic on Kalakaua Ave. again? Must be the return of Brunch on the Beach. Join thousands of food addicts as they wolf down affordable gourmet eats from some of Honolulu's best restaurants. Among the dishes we're looking forward to this Sunday are Sansei chef D.K. Kodama's Spicy Thai Chicken Coconut Curry with Fresh Local Thai Basil over Rice, and Mariposa chef Douglas Lum's Kalua Pig Chili Verde with Fried Eggs and Moloka'i Sweet-Potato Hash. Oh joy! There will be lots more dishes, of course; none of them over $4. All of this, and Jake Shimabukuro headlining the entertainment. Free admission. Scrip sales begin at 9 a.m.Sunday. On Kalakaua Ave. fronting Kuhio Beach. 523-CITY or 923-1094.

Not your ordinary circus

The New Shanghai Circus, which opened a three-day run last night at Leeward Community College Theatre, is a conglomeration of athletes and acrobats who perform a variety of feats dating back 2,000 years to traditional Chinese harvest festivals. Imaginatively lighted, complemented by enchanting scenery, the cast performs with choreographic precision in costumes designed to dazzle the eye and thrill the soul. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. today and 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday. The group previously has played the Hawai'i Theatre, and last year attracted standing-room-only crowds at the New Victory Theatre on Broadway. $35 for adults, $25 for students, seniors and active-duty military, $20 for children under 12, with reserved seats available at extra charge. 455-0385 or 455-0388.

If you're revved up about 2002- and 2003-model cars, SUVs, trucks, vans, cycles and more, the First Hawaiian International Auto Show at the Hawai'i Convention Center is the place to be, starting Thursday. Vehicles from the pages of Motor Trend magazine will be on view, including exotics such as the Lamborghini, Lotus and Ferrari. Show hours are from noon to 10:30 p.m.Thursday and March 15, 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. March 16, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 17. The first 500 box-office ticket holders March 16 get a free "Chevron car," and the first 500 on March 17 — Kids' Day — get a free Lego "Life on Mars" gift. $6 adults, $4 military and those 62 and older, $3 children 7 to 12, free for keiki 6 and under; discounts available at First Hawaiian branches, participating new-car dealers, or online at autoshowusa.com.

'Hawai'i Uncorked'

Here's one for the sip-and-nibble crowd: "Hawai'i Uncorked: A Celebration of Wines," from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Sheraton Waikiki ballroom, is a Hawai'i Public Radio benefit that offers samplings of premium wines paired with fare from the hotel's banquet menu, all augmented by dishes from the Hanohano Room, Sansei Seafood Restaurant, Chai's Island Bistro and Roy's Restaurant. Auctioneer Dennis Foley oversees a live auction of choice wines from 3 to 5 p.m. $65 ($55 for HPR members and others paying with American Express); 955-8821.

The man-eating, blood-thirsty plant named Audrey returns in "Little Shop of Horrors," the Howard Ashman-Alan Menken musical, playing at 7:30 p.m. today, Saturday, and March 15 and 16 at Mililani High School cafeteria. It's a presentation of Tri-School Etc., featuring students from area schools. Pictured, from left: Jessica Nakayama, Nathan Sagaysay, Andre Dela Cruz, Janice Okimoto and Carmen Jones. Kate Walters is directing. $7 adults, $5 students, at the door. 627-7747.

Mahler for everybody

The Honolulu Symphony Orchestra resumes its classical series of concerts this weekend, with guest conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson leading Mahler's Fourth Symphony, which features Chinese soprano Ying Huang in the final movement. The symphony, considered one of Mahler's best and most accessible, will be performed at 4 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Blaisdell Concert Hall. Wilson, associate of conductor the Dallas Symphony Orchestra until 1998, has a burgeoning career at the baton, both with orchestras and opera companies. Her credits include work with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Wiener Staatsoper ("Tosca") and Opera d’ Roma ("Aida"). Huang, who vaulted to fame after performing the title role in French director Frederic Mitterand's 1995 film of Puccini's "Madame Butterfly," is one of the top sopranos from China. Honolulu Symphony Orchestra principal percussionist James Lee Wyatt III performs the Percussion Concerto by Joseph Schwantner. $15-$55. 792-2000 (symphony box office), 591-2211 (Blaisdell box office) or 526-4400 (Ticket Plus).

Kiddie fare

The Waldorfaire, an annual fun fest for children, will happen from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Honolulu Waldorf School, 350 Ulua St., Niu Valley. The event assembles wee-sized activities ranging from game booths to face-painting, from pony rides to music; free. 377-5471.