SHOW BIZ
'ER' doctor could use a vacation in paradise

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

Show bits: Nobody's saying much about that Hawai'i-bound "ER" filming in April, but the buzz is that the story line has to do with Dr. Greene (played by Anthony Edwards) coming to the land of aloha to find his roots before saying adios to life and the top-rated NBC-TV show (Edwards leaves the show at the end of this season). You do know that his character's life is highly complex at the moment, with his health in question, his marriage in flux, his relationship with his daughter teetering. Sounds like Dr. Greene does need a vacation ...

At least one person on the set of "Hostile Rescue," the Bruce Willis movie in the midst of nighttime filming at Kualoa Ranch, must be extra-thrilled with Denzel Washington's Oscar win in Sunday's Academy Awards. The African American actor wondered where his "Training Day" director, Antoine Fuqua, was at the awards show; obviously nobody told him: Fuqua's here, directing "Hostile Rescue," a Revolution Studios adventure ...

We didn't fare well in crystal-balling the Oscars; of my predictions, I got four out of seven right, missing Washington, Jennifer Connelly (for best supporting actress) and "If I Didn't Have You" (Randy Newman's best song) ...

Chuck Boller, executive director of the Hawai'i International Film Festival, recently was president of the jury at the Milan Film Festival, yet still arrived home in time for Sunday's Oscar Night America event at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel ...

Marvelous 'Mame': It'll be tough to find a better show this season than Diamond Head Theatre's "Mame," which has been extended for four more performances, April 11-14. Reserve your seats today because sellouts are expected. You'll be charmed and moved by Shari Lynn's performance in the title role. She brings a powerful presence to the Auntie Mame persona, proving that there's both an actress and a dancer lurking behind that seasoned voice. Lynn's "If He Walked Into My Life" solo is a show-stopper — no frills, only thrills — and she sings it as if she owns it.

There's passion and polish throughout the supporting cast, too: Gene Allen as Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside is gentlemanly and heart-warming; Kanoa Goo as Young Patrick is a star of tomorrow — no mere kiddie trouper, but an actor and a showman (albeit very young, at 12) with sparkle in his eyes and a sweet tenor that holds up to Lynn's; Wisa D'Orso as bosom buddy Vera Charles is classic and classy; Zenia Zambrano as the nanny Agnes Gooch makes comic singing look easy; Cori Vas, in his stage debut as Older Patrick, boasts a voice to watch for.

The entire ensemble can sing and dance — clad in glorious costumes, framed with Donald Yap's brilliant delivery of the Jerry Herman score. The production rockets director-choreographer John Rampage to the pinnacle of an illustrious career ...

Random notes: While Jimmy Buffett and Tom Moffatt dined at Keo's in Waikiki, celebrating an overwhelming response to Buffett's beach jam last week at Duke's, Pink Floyd members sat nearby. Actor Bruce Willis, meanwhile, opted for take-out ...

Former KGMB weather anchor Ku'ualoha Taylor, now at KFMB-TV in San Diego, has been home for a wedding, but managed to visit her pals at her former station ...

Visiting: Ed Cassidy, former Honolulu magazine editor who now is marketing director at the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, and his partner, Charlie Landrum. They also paused at the Oscars party (Cassidy was a movie publicist before turning to journalism).

And that's Show Biz ...

Wayne Harada's Show Biz runs Wednesdays and Fridays. Reach him by e-mailing wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, phone 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.