Posted on: Tuesday, November 2, 2004

SHOW BIZ
Original Miss Saigon shines in solo shows

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

STAR POWER: Lea Salonga's solo concerts, last Tuesday and Wednesday at Blaisdell Concert Hall, confirmed her star power — and her theatrical posture. Clearly, the Filipina songbird — who has played Kim in "Miss Saigon" and Eponine in "Les Miserables" on stage, and provided the film voice of Jasmine in "Aladdin" and Mulan in "Mulan" — is a generous trouper. She treks down every road imaginable, putting a new spin on an old classic ("Someone to Watch Over Me"), doing '70s disco with karaoke fervor ("Dancing Queen") and demonstrating an actor's poise ("On My Own" and "I'd Give My Life for You"). ...

The 2 1/2-hour evening (we attended Wednesday's finale) had an intermission — sorta — with the musicians exiting and Salonga taking questions from the audience, which became kind of a TV talk-show chatfest. About moms ("Her fault that I wore those frilly things as a child"). About Filipinos succeeding on a national front (she applauded the efforts of and predicted good fortunes for "American Idol" finalists Camile Velasco and Jasmine Trias — the latter was sitting in the house with her mom, Nora, and visited backstage before and after the performance). And so on. ...

She introduced her husband, Rob Chien, in the house, but kept secret the fact that former Gov. Ben Cayetano and his wife, Vicky, were sitting in the front row. At one point, someone shouted that Army Community Theatre was doing "Saigon" next year and invited her to try out for Kim. "Why should I have to try out for a role I created?" she responded. (Not a put-down; merely a reality, since ACT's is a community endeavor, not a touring company). ...

Tom Moffatt, who presented Salonga in concert here, has picked up typhoon makeup dates next weekend on Guam. ...

PORT OF PARADISE: Singer Jimmy Buffett was spotted at the new Sansei Steak House in the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa last week having a great time, according to restaurant general manager Ivy Nagayama. Is this the new Margaritaville? ...

Bruddah Iz still is charming Californians. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's "Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World" is heard on a commercial on Proposition 61 (which supports financing for medical services and hospitals for kids), which features actress Jamie Lee Curtis as a spokeswoman. ...

NAMES 'N' PLACES: Allen Daviau, the noted cinematographer who was here last week for the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival, is a longtime pal of Ron Jacobs, so they've been hanging out together. Little-known fact: Daviau worked for RJ in California after they met in Fresno in 1963, when the latter was setting up KMAK, a sister station of the original KPOI-AM here. The bond continued two years later, when Jacobs was programming the legendary KHJ-AM in L.A., with Daviau doing publicity shots for the station. Daviau also shot a film for a student director, none other than Steven Spielberg, on his first movie, called "Amblin." And since then, Daviau has worked on several Spielberg blockbusters. On Friday, Daviau, Jacobs, Gavan Daws, Mac Simpson, Eric Weyenberg and Tom Moffatt talked story at The Willows. ...

The wildly colorful hand-painted murals and umbrella art at L'Uraku were a perfect backdrop for actress Maggie Cheung, actor David Wenham and Dr. Emanuel Levy, all serving as jurors of the Hawaii International Film Festival. Also present: festival director Chuck Boller and festival veep Jeff Chung, who also is g.m. of KBFD-TV. ...

BRIEFLY: Pianist Lang Lang, who made his Honolulu Symphony debut here recently, was a big hit at Sanders Piano in an event titled "Conversations and Playing with Lang Lang." Piano teachers Ellen Masaki, Bichuan Li, Peter Coraggio and Ann Tanabe brought their top students to play for Lang Lang in a master class setting, receiving valuable guidance. Piano enthusiasts Bill and Steven Sanders, Mark Wong, and Drs. Jorge Camara and Bradley Wong also attended. ...

Greg Zane is guest-directing "Seussical," opening Dec. 3 at Diamond Head Theatre. The cast features Colin Miyamoto as the Cat in the Hat, Scott Moura as Horton the Elephant, Stephanie Conching as Gertrude McFuzz, Grace Bell Humerickhouse as Mayzie LaBird and TX Tario and Ka'iana Kau sharing the role of Jojo. Emmett Yoshioka is musical director. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, or fax 525-8055.