MURDER, MAYHEM, MIRTH IN WHODUNNIT

An oddity, “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” is neither a full-fledged musical nor a riotous comedy, though there are brief tuneful segments and a mix of laugher, amid a series of murders.

The whodunnit, playing at the Diamond Head Theatre, is actually quite charming. Actors eager to audition for a show (a musical, natch), along with a dancer, a singer and a comedian, who are seeking employment, so they assemble at the mansion of Elsa Von Grossenknueten (Lisa Konove, flamboyantly brilliant and in her prime) in Chappaqua, New York. The time is midnight (of course), at the height of a chilling snowfall (another of course). The theatrical figures hope wealthy Elsa will bankroll the musical, or so is the premise.

In actually, the estate is where three dancers were previously murdered by an unknown slasher, and a policeman, Michael Kelly (Michael Abdo, sleek in his sleuthing) is among the invitees and believes the slasher also is among the party guests. So everyone is a suspect;  or dead serious. a forthcoming victim.

The play, by John Bishop, is set in December, 1940, and opens with the murder of Elsa’s maid Helsa Wenzel (Brianna Johnston, fittingly domestic, who comes to life again, which viewers later learn how).  The slasher claims several more victims, terrifying the survivors, who are stuck in the snowstorm and the expected happens: the lights go out,  meaning more murders when they go on again.

The motley crew includes the singer, Patrick O’Reilly (Christopher Denton); the dancer, Nikki Crandall (Emily Lane); the comic Eddie McCuen (David Samsel),  a director Ken De La Maize( Lee Nebe); and a writing team comprising Roger Hopewell (Andrew Simmons) and Bernice Roth (Betty Bolton). They’re all wary of the lurking mayhem, beginning with the demise of Elsa’s friend, Marjorie Baverstock (Heather Taylor).

“Musical Comedy” cast: seated front, Lisa Konove, Michael Abdo and Heather Taylor; rear, from left, David Samsel, Emily Lane, Brianna Johnston, Christoper Denton, Andrew Simmons, Betty Bolton and Lee Nebe. — Brandon Miyagi photo, courtesy DHT.

An ensemble show, the cast builds chemistry with shared fear and mutual concerns about who is the killer. Frequent hilarity lessens the intensity of emotions in this kind of murder mysteries, and director John Rampage maintains a cadence of fright and laughs. Actress Konove, a veteran of many dramatic and comedic shows in the past, is in her element in this one, clad in flowing, elegant and colorful gowns created with authority by Emily Lane (doubling as a cast member), with Aiko Schick’s hair and makeup designs contributing to the era of the ‘40s.

A star is born, in set designer Randy Tandal’s auspicious debut as a stage designer, whose maginificent single-set spectacle is efficient and functional, with book shelves that spin to hide, then display, a hidden passageway. The one-view spectrum includes handsome doorways for entrances and exits, plus a clothes closet which conceals a body and also displays wardrobe. There are eye-filling gems including artwork on the walls and working lamps, working in sync with prop designer Travis O. Asaeli’s contributions – a desk, a comfy armchair, and a faux grand piano.

At long last, DHT has come of age, marking the first anniversary of the new theater with a set (finally) that demonstrates and reflects the magic of stagecraft. Clearly, greatness sprouts with time and talent. This set — and its creator — are winners! No set pieces to roll on and off stage; nothing to descend from the overhead fly space. What you see is what you get–excellence.

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“The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940”

A play by John Bishop, about theatrical types gathering at a mansion, where murder is on the menu and a snowstorm prevents an escape

Where: Diamond Head Theatre

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; also at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays, through Feb. 18; extension playdates, 7:30 p.m. Feb.23 and 3 p.m. Feb. 24

Tickets: $37 to $62, at www.diamondheadtheatre.com or (808) 733-0274

And that’s Show Biz…

HEAVENLY DINNERS START FRIDAY

Heavenly, the new restaurant in Hawaii Kai, will open for weekend dinners – Fridays through Sundays – beginning this Friday (Feb. 9).

The swanky, healthy-dining eatery on the marina at the Koko Marina Shopping Center, will take reservations with seating beginning at 5 p.m.

Heavenly has been open only for breakfast and lunch, from 7 a.m. daily, and its unique seating — with regular tables in the front half of the restaurant, and comfy, unusual sofa and cozy chairs in the zone fronting the marina — has been a hit.

I popped in for breakfast this morning – my second –following an early doctor’s visit at 7 a.m. —  and was surprised the long lines weren’t there today. Since my Jan. 5 surgery to remove my problematic gall bladder, I’ve been gradually consuming appetizing meals like Heavenly’s egg benedict, with choice of salmon or Canadian bacon, beneath the poached egg. ‘Twas my first reintroduction to eggs and boy, was it yummy, with hollandaise sauce with lilikoi butter, three fingers of Okinawan potato, and salmon. A small kale salad was included, it’s not my choice salad greens.

My earlier visit, before my surgery, was a sensible pancake duo with berries and a splendid homemade syrup. I would have had this again but opted for something new.

The restaurant is gorgeous if you’re seating facing the marina; the view is spectacular, and with sliding glass windows fully open, it feels like you’re dining at a waterfront resort with real palms and vine as part of the charm. The near hour I spent at breakfast, there were no pesky flies.

The décor, with a surfboard on one wall, reflects a  lifestyle of a surfer. Indeed, a surfer opened the first Heavenly in Waikiki in 2014 and a decade later, Hawaii Kai is blessed with this second option from Zetten Inc., Japanese owners who operate six other restaurants in Waikiki.

I had a peek at the dinner menu for the Hawaii Kai restaurant, and the offerings will range from steak to lamp chops to mahimahi, cold and hot tapas including lettuce wraps and jumbo shrimp cocktail to fried Takoyaki to Kauai garlic shrimp, fish and shrimp tacos to Koko Head loco moco, and custard pudding ala mode to itoen matcha tiramisu, and special drinks such as smoothies, lemonade, fruit drinks and special coffee drinks. For now, however, not all items on the menu will be immediately available.

Can’t wait to have a dinner experience here; it took Heavenly like a year and a half (perhaps longer) to finally open at its location next to the reopened Assaggio, and it should be a greater neighbor.

Moena Cafe, the upscale breakfast place, may have lost some customers with Heavenly just a few doors down. Its major nighttime competition might be Roy’s Restaurant at the Hawaii Kai Towne Center on Kalanianaole Highway, but hey, all restaurants have their devoted following based on cuisine.

HULA SHOW: HISTORY REPEATING

Something old is new again.

Several generations ago, the Kodak Hula Show was a must-see, must-do freebie attraction for tourists at the amphitheater adjoining the Waikiki Shell. The sponsor for 65 years  (from 1937 to 2002) was Kodak, the film- and camera-making company, which logically presented a mid-day hula attraction for visitors to catch a “Kodak” moment.

Remember, back then, when everyone eager to shoot photos needed a camera, plus film, making Kodak a logical player in this endeavor. When Kodak shut down, so did the hula show.

But nowadays, few tote a camera when taking pictures; an iPhone has become the camera of choice. And a new edition of the milestone hula show is expected to attract a new generation of fans, beginning Feb. 15, at the same amphitheater of the renamed Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell, staged by the non-profit Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement., in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu.

Hooray, history is repeating itself, and for the better. The show will be staged from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays, with veteran announcer Kimo Kahoano as host. He was the emcee of the original show in its later years.

Producers are CNHA and Roy Tokujo of Hawai‘i Entertainment Productions; Kipe Ebana will co-direct with Nā Kumu Hula  and Merrie Monarch winners Tracie and Keawe Lopes.

The show will embrace traditional and new mele that honor Waikīkī, featuring hula dancers from six award-winning hālau from across the state. And the historic cut-out letters will be returning, too, an update of the photo-moments of yesteryear.

Surely, there will be some fresh faces and newbies amid the cast. Perhaps a couple of recognizable tutu and kupuna types would embellish the roster and find appeal for the visitors. One name that ought to be considered, who brings a lot of personality, vocal dynamics and even humor to the plate, is Karen Keawehawai‘i. Just an opinion, from this corner. …

A touch of Hawaiiana at the Grammys

Island performers Kawika Kahiapo and Bobby Moderow are participating in a Grammys weekend showcase that began yesterday (Feb. 1) and continues today (Feb. 2) and tomorrow (Feb. 3) at Duke’s restaurants in  Southern California.

Kawika Kahiapo and Bobby Moderow

The events are a benefit for the Grammy Museum and TS Restaurants’ Legacy of Aloha. TS Restaurants operates Duke’s in Waikiki and the participating L.A. sites.

Yesterday’s event was at Duke’s Malibu, where Kainani Kahaunaele was guest performer.

Today’s show, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Duke’s Huntington Beach, and tomorrow’s, from 4 to 6 p.m., will be at Duke’s La Jolla.

Entrepreneur Alan Yamamoto organized the gigs…

‘Hamilton’ regains No. 1 slot

“Hamiton,”Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mega-hit, has bounced back to reclaim the No. 1 slot of Broadway grosses. It was a pioneering production that reigned as the enduring and first $1 million dollar attraction, and for a spell, was also a regular $2 million dollar blockbuster.

The Top 10:

1 –”Hamilton,” $1,725 million

2 –“The Lion King,” $1,1701 million

3—“Wicked,” $,163 million

4—”Merrily We Roll Along,” $1,598 million

5—”MJ The Musical,” $1,349 million

6—“Gutenberg! The Musical!,” $1,462 million

 7—“Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” $1,120 million

8—“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” $1,145 million

 9— “Aladdin,” $1,120 million

10—”& Juliet,” $1,058 million

The complete list of grosses, courtesy the Broadway Guild:

And that’s Show Biz…