Singer Loretta Ables Sayre is reconnecting the dots of her musical career, from lounge singer to Tony-nominated Broadway star, as she preps for her Wednesday night return to Blue Note Hawaii.
“It’s an interesting little reunion of sorts,” she said of her assembled crew. Her special guest will be trumpeter Mike Lewis, joined by musical allies eager to make music together. Keyboarder Jim Howard worked with her at the Halekulani’s Lewers Lounge. Bassist John Kolivas played at her first gig in Waikiki with Keola and Kapono Beamer at the Reef Hotel. Kolivas was musical director for “You Somebody” at Diamond Head Theatre, she recalled, “because he was working closely with Keola (who wrote the ‘Somebody’ music) since our Beamer days.”
Lewis was in the orchestra when Ables Sayre co-starred with Andy Bumatai at the Royal Hawaiian’s Monarch Room. He gigged for 20 years in New York, where the singer saw him during her run as Bloody Mary in “South Pacific” at Lincoln Center.
Such is the magic of camaraderie. “When we sit down to rehearse, it doesn’t seem like work,” Ables Sayre said. “We have the chemistry and synergy. … (Howard) knows all of the songs from the American Songbook and he is so attuned to what I do, it seems like he even breathes with me.”
Besides jazz standards, she’ll include a couple of Burt Bacharach hits. “We saw him at the Blue Note recently and I realized how many of his songs are in the soundtrack of my life,” she said. “Some of those songs have been circling around my heart and my mind since then.”
Meanwhile, she and husband David Sayre have assembled their oversized Christmas tree in their living room, getting a jump start on the Yuletide.
Ables Sayre performed at a Life Foundation fundraiser/retirement party for Paul Groesbeck at the Moana Surfrider, the same evening the POTUS was Waikiki-bound. …
Castle on a cloud
Kudos to one and all for that marvelous “Les Miserables” at the Ronald Bright Theatre at Castle High School. On all fronts, this abbreviated school edition — despite a few isolated deleted scenes — is profoundly moving, with exceptional voices, devoted direction by Karen Meyer and resourceful orchestrations by Daren Kimura. The talent was plucked from 21 high, middle and elementary schools throughout Oahu. So Ron Bright’s inspiration continues.
For her part, director Meyer said, “I’ve always been humbled to be doing Mr. B’s work. I learned from the best.”
Noah Faumuina (Jean Valjean) and Jeremiah N. Ulufanua (Inspector Javert) were commanding and powerful as the protagonist and antagonist. Mia Shelbourne (Fantine) soared on “I Dreamed a Dream,” Angel Ordenez (Eponine) owned every breath of “On My Own,” while Saoirse Ryhn (Cosette) displayed “A Heart Full of Love” from the get-go.
The Thenardiers (John Palermo and Christine Kluvo) lacked the visual comedics of the adult connivers but were “Masters of the House,” providing giddy delight.
“Bring Him Home,” the show’s signature ballad, displayed Faumuina’s operatic depths; Ulufanua’s Javert suicide tune (a variation of “Stars”) was poignant.
Ewan DiBartolomeo (Marius) delivered a solemn “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables,” and Isaac Scott (Enjolras) elevated the rah-rahs of “Do You Hear the People Sing?,” the battle cry performed by the revolutionaries.
Hurrahs, too, to the superb orchestra of 20-plus, the choreographic team, the army of set and costume volunteers, and the brigade of parents running a silent auction in the lobby to generate funds. “Les Miz” winds up at 3 p.m. today. Call 233-5626. …
Pledging ‘Allegiance’
For its upcoming 50th anniversary season, Manoa Valley Theatre has scored a coup: rights to the Hawaii premiere of “Allegiance,” the George Takei-inspired historical musical that played Broadway two seasons ago.
Playdates, in the spring of 2019, will be finalized later. The show, with unjust wartime racial discrimination, resonates with many Asians here, since family members were incarcerated at camps like the one in Honouliuli on the Ewa plain. …
And that’s “Show Biz.” …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist. Reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com.
