Frank De Lima, the Portuguese prince of comedy, brings his ethnic gags to Chinatown’s Portuguese restaurant, Adega, at 8 p.m. Saturday. If you’ve yet to try the savory cuisine, now’s a good time — and you get a side portion of laughs.
"I am probably going to do the Auntie Mary Tunta skit for sure — and maybe talk of my trip to Portugal," said De Lima, who’ll be right in his element. He’s dined at Adega previously (I was there, along with other friends, and he helped navigate us through the menu), and finally worked out the specifics to stage elements of his Portuguese-precise act for the first time at Adega.
While the restaurant has a designated "stage," it is a very casual space where small bands have gigged. De Lima, who is our town’s pipeline to local Portuguese gags and ethnic-specific finger-pointing, might also spring his sumotori dance, a spinoff of PSY’s "Gangnam Style." What, no "Harlem Shake"?
The comedian’s backup duo, Na Kolohe (David Kauahikaua and Bobby Nishida), will provide music.
Admission includes dinner. Advance tickets are $40, tickets at the door are $45 and space is limited. Call 566-5909 for reservations. …
THE VIDEO FILE: Yes, Sports Illustrated model Alyssa Miller is the mermaid in Train‘s filmed-in-Hawaii "Mermaid" music video, now on YouTube, but the clip is somewhat diffused with so many diverse elements. It features the likes of tyke ukulele strummer Aidan James, "Hawaii Five-0" co-star Daniel Dae Kim, a number of Pro Bowl footballers, NFL cheerleaders and a cast of thousands — because Pat Monahan and his buddies taped the video when Train did the pre-show at the Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium earlier this year.
Monahan is on stage, on the field, in the bleachers, on the beach, amid the "Five-0" trailers (you recall, he had an acting spot on the CBS series taped during his Hawaii visit). Not exactly a "Hey, Soul Sister" outing, but gratuitously colorful with scenes of paradise that have got to please both the NFL and the Hawaii Tourism Authority. …
THE NEW NORMAL: "next to normal," Manoa Valley Theatre’s trailblazing musical, is powerful, fascinating and involving. The Tony-winning play — about a dysfunctional family facing emotional disaster because of bipolar disorder — stars Alison Aldcroft, M. Wesley Watson, Kyle Malis and Kanani Rogers. The piece seesaws from raw, surprising dramatic turns to soaring vocals that reflect pain and hallucination, augmented by a gamut of elements ranging from shock therapy to hypnosis. It’s a feather in MVT’s artistic cap — a risky and brave choice and a rousing and inspiring musical that has heart, soul, humanity and hope. Tickets: 988-6131. …
By the way, two changes are on the MVT calendar: Its season finale, "Buddy," the Buddy Holly musical, has been replaced by "Godspell 2012," from the composer of "Wicked," due to unforeseen challenges. "Buddy" tickets will be good for the June 27 opening and thereafter. And Manoa Marquee, the fundraiser themed "Rock ‘n’ Roll Is Here to Stay," originally set for April 21 at the Manoa Ballroom of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, has been rescheduled for May 19 at the Pacific Club. …
CALENDAR CUES: Vanita Rae Smith directs another Readers Theatre play — "Red," a drama about artist Mark Rothko — at 7 p.m. April 2 and 4 and 2 p.m. April 7 at Pohai Nani Retirement Center’s Bacon Auditorium in Kaneohe. Actor Peter Clark will slather paint over the canvas as classical music blasts from the record player, with Scott Francis Russell portraying the old lion’s assistant. Admission is free but calabash donations will be accepted. Reservations are suggested but not required; call 254-4885. …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist; reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com; read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at www.staradvertiser.com.
