Figaro, the barber in Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" (opening tomorrow night as Hawaii Opera Theatre's second of three operas), may date back to 1816, but the production at Blaisdell Concert Hall will have a modern spin. Like, wheels. Stephen Powell, the baritone appearing as Figaro, will tool around in a Segway (and masks), to blend the old with the new — a vision of director Lawrence Edelson. The Segway was purchased by HOT from Alan Rice, who has the Segway of Hawai'i franchise here, and the gizmo, favored by business folks who have a lot of ground to cover (beats driving, what with gas prices, and walking, which can be challenging), will be sold after "Barber" closes Tuesday. ...

NAMES 'N' PLACES: Hawai'i actor Mahiai Kekumu, who had Broadway ties in "Aida" and played Ramires in Saint Louis School's production a few years ago, now is in Osaka, Japan, where he has a 13-month contract with Universal Studios doing a pair of shows: Universal's Monsters Live Rock and Roll Show, in which he portrays Wolfie doing a solo to a Bon Jovi tune, and "Wicked," in which he portrays Chistery. Kekumu connected with former Islander John Bryan, a fellow Castle High School alum, who is Universal's casting director there, where Kekumu is the first Hawaiian contracted to do Universal shows in Japan. Kekumu hopes other Islanders will follow his lead. ...

Oh, yes, today is Kekumu's birthday. He was home recently, attending Lisa Matsumoto's funeral service, and accompanied his mom, Donna, to Martinez, Calif., to sing at her brother's funeral. Not the happiest kind of home visit. ...

Island actress Natasha Tabandera was in the opening sequences of last night's "Law and Order" on NBC, portraying a newscaster. "I don't die, yay," she e-mailed aunt Nancy Daniels, p.r. director of Outrigger Enterprises. ...

SAY CHEESEBURGER: Those NFL Pro Bowl All-Stars loved Cheeseburger Waikiki. The restaurant, at the corner of Ala Moana and Kalakaua Avenue, attracted Tony Gonzalez (Kansas City Chiefs) and his friends, after a Friday lunch and before a sunset cruise; Marcus Stroud (Jacksonville Jaguars), who also lunched on burgers and fries last Friday; and Jared Allen (Kansas City Chiefs), who lunched with family on Saturday and posed for pics and signed autographs for fans. ...

And Three 6 Mafia, the Oscar-winning rap group here for Pro Bowl festivities, discovered the restaurant at a Friday lunch, returning again Saturday, prior to their Pro Bowl Party at The O Lounge. ...

Pro Bowlers also descended on Benihana of Tokyo, the Japanese steakhouse at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Band members of Lifehouse and football players LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego Chargers), Warren Moon (Hall of Famer Houston Oilers early on, last with KC Chiefs), Tony Richardson (Minnesota Vikings), Chester Taylor (Minnesota Vikings) and Darren Sharper (Minnesota Vikings) were chopsticking through their meals. ...

TALK ABOUT PEOPLE: Jimmy and Vicki Borges had breakfast at the Kahala Resort the other day with visiting pals Pat and Peggy Colvin from Saratoga, Calif., and Dick and Helen Sandin from Michigan City, Ind. Borges pulled out a cell phone, dialed and got everyone to sing happy birthday to RJ, who, not surprisingly, turned out to be Hollywood actor Robert Wagner, a longtime Borges buddy. Those lucky enough to know Jeremiah (as we've called Borges) always get a singing birthday message, moi included. ...

Tiny Tadani will host the '70s Nightclub Reunion IV, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. May 10 at the Ala Moana Hotel's Hibiscus Ballroom. The bands will include Greenwood, New Experience, White Light, Power Plant and Glass Candle — familiar folks, if you boogied to their music in the '70s. New Experience is the reunion to watch — with original members of The Krush: Edwin Ramones, Bucci Canencia, Wade Kuroiwa and Macky Galbiso, who will perform — along with Rachel Gonzales and others. Tickets are $40 reserved, for seating in the ballroom, and $35 standing room (and seating in adjacent quarters). Call Candy Au at 955-4811, ext. 4250, beginning March 17. ...

MAUI WOWIE: Cathy Nobriga Kim of Maui's Roselani Ice Cream got a distraught call from Dolores Kolosovky, of Dodgeville, Wis., requesting five half-gallons of her fave flavors. Kim agreed, though reluctantly, explaining: "We normally don't ship ice cream to the Mainland ... the cost is prohibitive and we're not set up for it," said Kim. She packed the goodies in dry ice, only to discover that Kolosovsky was stuck in 24 inches of snow in Madison and unable to drive home to Dodgeville. But the woman cautioned her hubby to lay off the spoon till she returned. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.