Artist Margaret Keane, the ex-Honolulu resident whose troubled life with a manipulative husband who took credit for all of her jeepers-peepers big-eyed paintings, has a cameo appearance in "Big Eyes," the Tim Burton flick that explores the deception behind the eyeballs.
You can see her in the early moments of the film, sitting on a San Francisco park bench with Golden Globe-winning Amy Adams portraying her in the foreground.
Keane likes the film; however, she hasn’t been particularly effusive with the brief background role and told Carl Swanson of vulture.com: "They tried to make me look like an old woman … they had me in a ’60s I. Magnin suit, which didn’t fit."
Her currently graying hair wasn’t colored to depict that younger moment in time, when Keane did all those wide-eyed wonders from the ’60s to the ’80s, while her then-hubby, Walter Keane, took the credit based on the notion that folks wouldn’t buy paintings by a woman.
I remember meeting Margaret, back in the day when she was married to Dan McGuire, then a sports columnist with the Honolulu Advertiser, where I was employed. Folks who grew up locally knew she was the creator of those paintings with the haunting big eyes; so the film’s depiction of the devious practices of her lying hubby was a revelation. …
WHEE, THE PEOPLE: Shari Lynn, in a tour de force performance in The Actors’ Group’s "George & Ira & Shari & Jim," put in hours of research to write, stage and format this wonderful cabaret show exploring the tunes of George and Ira Gershwin.
It winds up its sell-out run at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Brad Powell Theatre at Dole Cannery Square. Featuring pianist Jim Howard, "G&I&S&J" is suitable for touring, so don’t be surprised if it receives new life in clubs or theaters here or elsewhere. Shari’s vision and passion, with theatrical embellishments provided by director Brad Powell, makes this a viable tribute show she can forever be proud of. And perhaps inspire other club and stage regulars to leap into this path of artistic fulfillment. …
With Makamae Auwae earning a callback from Disney for the title role of the Polynesian animated feature "Moana," auditions are off and running. Singer Tahiti Rey, who works at Disney’s Aulani resort, also is awaiting a callback, with casting receiving her video tryout, for the mature role of Langhi. Ron Clements and John Musker ("The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin," "The Princess and the Frog") will co-direct. …
AROUND TOWN: Making good on a promise to return to Hawaii this month, New Zealand singer John Rowles is holidaying here with his two sons, Dane and Blake. …
Nick Kawakami, a member of ManoaDNA, is a realtor associate at Marcus Realty, expanding his business profile. Besides music, he’s part of the Iolani Sportswear ohana, too. …
Two-four-six-eight, who do we appreciate? Marcus Mariota, No. 8 of the Oregon Ducks, of course. "Eight" rhymes with "great" and "fate," too. So what if the cards weren’t in Mariota’s favor in the college championship game, where the Ducks lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes 42 to 20? He remains a bona fide hometown hero with extraordinary humility and sportsmanship.
Hey, Marcus, Robbie Acoba of Side Street Inn Kapahulu invited you (via KHON’s "Wake Up 2Day") to stop in to enjoy pork chops and fried rice next time you’re in town. …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
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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.
