The rounds of applause keep on coming for our Loretta Ables Sayre, who, of course, is a Tony nominee for her Bloody Mary in "South Pacific" at Lincoln Center. The latest hurrah comes from Hendrick Hertzberg in a blog in The New Yorker. He professes he is no theater critic but knows a great performance when he sees one. He reports on the six-decades-later revival of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, and hands out orchids to Paulo Szot as Emile de Becque, but waxes eloquent about Ables Sayre: "The character of Bloody Mary, a chubby middle-aged Polynesian souvenir seller whose daughter figures as the love interest of a young Marine, is played by a veteran Hawaiian lounge singer named Loretta Ables Sayre, and she is brilliant. In the 1958 movie (and, I assume, in the Broadway original), Bloody Mary is a concerned but clueless mom; Ables Sayre plays her as wheedling and angry, a mother who pimps her daughter even as she loves her."

He even throws in a political observation: "Those two adorable, latte-colored children are like a pair of little Barack Obamas. As in 'South Pacific,' today's ending will be a happy one only when the blonde from Arkansas realizes that all it takes for everybody to be a lot happier is for her to stop standing athwart the future those kids represent and start doing her part to make it happen." ...

SPEAKING OF OBAMA: Dewey Kim of the Chowder House recalls that Obama, while a Chicago senator, stopped by the Ward Warehouse restaurant, ordering a cup of chowder and a cheeseburger ... which prompted a girl to say, "That's what I'd like," echoing his order. Brian Schatz, Obama's campaign manager here and chair of the Democratic Party, has been in to dine, too. Which prompts the question: While Obama's pic graces the window, why not name the Obama chowder-and-cheeseburger special after the presidential nominee? ...

HITHER 'N' YON: Out Maui way, chef Mark Ellman is ready to launch Mala Wailea, his new restaurant at the Wailea Beach Marriott, with a June 12 private party, which will serve as part of a Maui Film Festival awards reception. Restaurant investors include Alice Cooper and Shep Gordon. Other owners include Don Nelson (Golden State Warriors coach), Mike Kroeger (Nickelback bass guitarist), Jerry Moss (A&M Records co-founder) Richard Donner (director, "Superman," "Lethal Weapon," "The Goonies"), Lauren Schuler Donner (producer, "X-Men," "You've Got Mail"). ...

The formal grand opening, benefiting the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, will be June 19; Ellman and his chefs Corey Waite and Renee Loux will prepare a gourmet meal, paired with wines provided by Mick Fleetwood from his own label, Mick Fleetwood Private Cellar. Cost is $179 a person; call Beverly Dela Cruz at Maui Arts & Cultural Center at 808-242-2787, ext. 237. ...

RANDOM NOTES: The Brothers Cazimero's "Destiny" CD release party is set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 13 (a date change) at Chai's Island Bistro. It's open to the public. The disc, already No. 1 in local sales, galvanizes Robert and Roland Cazimero's longevity and popularity. ...

Speaking of CDs: Remember Charo, the cutchie-cutchie cutie who spent a chunk of time doing shows in Waikiki? She has a new CD, "Espana Cani," with a fiery Spanish flavor with DJ mixes that are hot, hot, hot. Charo, who relocated to Las Vegas but maintains a home in Beverly Hills, will be grand marshal of the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade on June 29. That same day, she gives a concert at the Herbst Theatre. ...

NAMES 'N' PLACES: Sherry Shaoling was in town, connecting with The Forbidden World of Don Tiki, and the singer-model-actress also had a chance to perform at a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation fundraiser at the Royal Hawaiian before the hotel shut down for renovations. At a meet-and-greet, she encountered a 7-year-old named Rachel, who had juvenile diabetes, and who told Shaoling, "I love you," and presented a lei, complete with a hug. "She already knows how to prick her own finger to administer her own blood tests," Shaoling said. After a dance set, a gent lifted Rachel on stage and Shaoling walked the child to Lopaka Colon's tambourine and congas, letting her play with the instruments. "It's moments like these that I am so grateful for everything — life, health, love, family, friends, beauty and art," Shaoling said. ...

The is the 24th anniversary of the Universal ShowQueen Pageant, dubbed "The Ultimate in Boy Beautiful," and the pageantry — presented by Jason Kina — unfolds from 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) June 21 at the Hawai'i Convention Center. A sell-out of 1,500 is expected, so if interested, get your tickets now ($40 and $50 seats remain; the $60 seats are gone). Call 943-6066 or 372-9350. Maddalynn Ashton is the reigning queen. ...

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.