Bright new talent, songs light up 'Dragonfly'

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

WINGING IT: When 'Ohi'a Productions revives its "On Dragonfly Wings" starting July 25 at the Hawai'i Theatre, it will feature new songs by Roslyn and new faces/voices. Most prominent will be Mary Gutzi, remembered as Grizabella the Cat in "Cats," who will take on one of the lead roles, Dora Dragonfly. "It has been amazing to hear Mary sing the new songs Roslyn has written, and to see her bring Dora to life," says Lisa Matsumoto, the show's creator and miracle worker. Gutzi is a certified stage pro, having performed such great parts as Fantine in "Les Miserables" and Emma Goldman in "Ragtime" in national tours. ...

Michael Furuya also has created a few new puppets for 'Dragonfly.' And watch for Matsumoto in a cameo as the Queen Bee. Chrissy Naruo will appear as Wendy in this homage to the late Alana Dung, and the cast is peopled by some formidable budding talent such as Kaitlin Kiyan, a "Star Search" contestant, and Trent Nakamura, who has distinguished himself in a flurry of TV commercials, and in "You Somebody" and "Honk!" John Bryan, musical director, adds his impressive presence as the Jamaican-speaking Carmine Caribbean Frog. The musical runs through Aug. 3. ...

ITEMIZATIONS: Lolly Totero, who wowed the town when she played Polly in "Crazy for You" at Diamond Head Theatre, still is linked to New York theater, working nights as a dresser on the Great White Way. She's done stints with Louise Pitre in "Mamma Mia!," Andrea McArdle in "Beauty and the Beast," and Eric McCormack and Robert Sean Leonard in "Music Man," and currently is a dresser for Toni Braxton in "Aida." By day, Totero is a real-estate agent to the stars and has ranked No. 1 in sales for two years at her Corcoran Group office. Totero was in Honolulu several weeks back. ...

Frank Diehl, a pastor who had planned to revive his conducting musical career, suffered some paralysis from a heart attack that struck a week ago while he was rehearsing his band for the Randy Smith tribute to Frank Sinatra. Diehl, who conducted for a string of local acts for several decades, was taken to Straub hospital and has been transferred to the Rehab Hospital to begin therapy. He has restricted use of his right arm and and leg. Smith has opted to cancel the show since he had toiled for at least six months with Diehl. And, yes, prayers for a speedy recovery would help. ...

If you Maui folks need an incentive to get a five-member team together for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters "Bowl for Kids' Sake" event 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Maui Bowling Center, how does a Harley-Davidson sound? The first bowler to bowl a perfect (300 points) game will win a coveted Harley, courtesy of Harley-Davidson of Maui. Call 242-9754. ...

RANDOM NOTES: At a recent Michael W. Perry-Larry Price Hanohano Room show atop the Sheraton Waikiki, there was a temporary brownout, wiping out the audio board. Perry and Price asked the station control room to air a few songs while the old control board on site could be jump-started. Perry noted the station (KSSK FM/AM) spared no expense on the old $94 equipment, prompting Chuck Cotton, KSSK g.m. (and market manager for Clear Channel Hawai'i), who happened to be in the house, to give Price a crisp new $100 bill to get a new mini-board. The outage also meant that Kanilau couldn't perform, but the group will be invited back. ...

Shane McDaniel, Russell Massey, Lorne O'Neal and Ryan Pierce — who sing as Justice, a country band from Texas — sat in with Don Humphrey and The Geezers recently at Arnold's in Waikiki. They were in town for a July 4 gig at the Marine base. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Wayne Harada's "Show Biz" appears Tuesdays and Thursdays.