Actor Pierce Brosnan, the former 007 James Bond, stunned Blaisdell Concert Hall ushers and concert-goers alike as he dashed through the front doors of the theater Saturday night to see his close friend, saxophonist Kenny G, who was signing autographs in the lobby. Brosnan, with family in tow, attended both sold-out concerts last weekend - providing Hollywood glitz for the Honolulu Symphony Pops. ...

We've earlier mentioned Phil Nakayama, who has an ongoing love affair with vintage collectible T-shirts. (Got Sting to add his John Hancock to an oldie shirt). At the Kenny G concert Saturday night, Nakayama brought along Kenny's 1988-89 World Tour shirt (from a Waikiki Shell concert 20 years ago) that Kenny told him would be a collectible. Indeed, a couple of bandmembers who toured with the musician then (and still are part of his back-up) remembered it, too. ...

NAMES 'N' FACES: Pals of entertainer Nohelani Cypriano gifted her with a trip to Las Vegas and tickets to the Bette Midler spectacle at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. "I can't wait to go back again," gushed Cypriano, after returning home. "I hope I can meet Bette one of these days."

Cypriano's fave film is "Beaches." Her fave tune is "Wind Beneath My Wings." She adores the Divine Miss M. In Vegas, Cypriano also caught the Society of Seven with Lani Misalucha and Martin Nievera at the Flamingo. "So chicken skin," she said. Then again, everything went right for her; she won jackpots at the California Hotel, the Las Vegas Club and the Mandalay Bay. Can't get better than that. ...

Trust Bette Midler to tell it like it is. On "Extra" recently, she was asked about the shameful behavior of Hollywood young stars like Britney Spears, and she partly blames parents for the troubling reputations. "In my day," Midler said, "there was a lot more shame. Shame has gone out the window and that's a damn shame. I really miss shame because shame kept people in line." ...

WHEE, THE PEOPLE: KITV4 morning anchor Mahealani Richardson was at "Rap's Hawaii," the Honolulu Theatre for Youth sold-out hit, last Friday at Tenney Theatre. Turns out she and Charles Timtim, one of the three comprising the HTY ensemble, were onstage together at Kamehameha Schools in 1987, when she was a freshman and he a senior.

The play was "The Hobbit," and Richardson recalled her brothers were so into Reiplinger then, they mimicked his skits daily at school.

The play was an all-out laugh-riot, which captures Reiplinger's inventive and occasionally manic humor. When Kimo Kaona donned floppy doggie ears and went on all fours and starting barking, a real dog in the house started barking, too - and had to be led to the exit. Arf, arf! ...

Because of turnaway crowds, fellow actors Pomai Lopez and Kaona felt bad that some couldn't gain admittance, so they made pre-curtain calls outside to meet and greet the folks waiting and hoping. Both are in HTY's next play, "Ferdinand the Bull," so a longer "Rap" extension was not possible. It's quite possible, however, that "Rap's Hawaii" could be remounted for a June revival, according to Louise Lanzilotti, HTY managing director. In fact, if you want to attend, voice your support by calling HTY at 839-9885. ...

ITEMIZATIONS: Richard Vida, frequent Island visitor and currently one of the leads in the national tour of "The Drowsy Chaperone," celebrated his 45th birthday here during a week's break.

His partner, Bob Billing, conductor of the touring musical, was joined by Kevin Crewell, an ensemble member formerly with "Spamalot," and Christa Justus, exec director of Denise Rich's foundation that raises funds for cancer research (she also was dance captain for eight years for "Les Miserables"). The Vida birthday to-do, at Michel's at the Colony Surf, was the nightcap to a whirlwind holiday, where the group saw two Hawai'i Theatre spectacles, The Brothers Cazimero's Hana Hou! concert, and the visiting Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, offering raves for both. They dined at Compadres, Auntie Pasto's and Big City Diner, and spent time with friends Ed, Tina and Maddy Wary at their Kailua beach home, where Billing provided Maddy with some piano coaching. "Chaperone" is off to Minneapolis as it continues its tour, but alas, no Honolulu stop. ...

Vida, a New Yorker with vast stage credits (and one we can't forget - he danced in Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video), seriously wants to retire in Honolulu someday and get involved in the development of regional theater. He's previously given acting classes here and has been inquiring and connecting with local stage folks, like Hawai'i Theatre's Burton White, about the prospects. ...

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.