Magician John Hirokawa, the centerpiece of the "Magic of Polynesia" spectacle at the Ohana Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, has signed a new five-year contract that will extend his residency through 2013 in the Las Vegas-style showroom expressly built for his craft.

"I'm blessed," said Hirokawa. "I've been here entertaining for 19 years, with my last 10-year contract (at the Beachcomber) that ended Monday, and I'm so grateful that Roberts Hawaii has faith in what I'm doing. I started out doing magic as a kid; I'll be an old man soon."

Hirokawa said that Roberts CEO Robert Iwamoto will update the production "with heavy investment to overhaul the show." This, Hirokawa said, despite the soft economy and downturn in the visitor industry. Roberts owns the longrunning magic spectacle starring Hirokawa.

"Two years ago, we were doing 1,000 (patrons) a night," said Hirokawa. "We're lucky to have 200 a night now. That's why it's important to get a new show going ... to rebuild interest. I would say that we'd be ready to open by next February or March."

With the dwindling visitor traffic, Hirokawa said, he contemplated retirement, but Roberts convinced him to stay on, promising to maintain the integrity of the production by retaining the large cast and to beef up visitor tour packages in fertile markets in China and South Korea.

"Roberts is a diversified company, in the transportation business," said Hirokawa, referring to the numerous tour buses bearing the Roberts name. "So I wish I could make those high gas prices disappear." ...

THREE-MENDOUS: "Return of The Three Phantoms," the theatrical spectacle with the ample skills of Craig Schulman, Cris Groenendaal and Kevin Gray, earned three standing ovations at last Friday's premiere at the Hawai'i Theatre — and I assume the Saturday and Sunday audiences responded similarly.

What wonderment — carefully selected tunes that matched the three different Phantom "types," the diversity only enhancing the show, with a concept of what's it like to be an actor. In solo, duo or trio configuration, the "Phantoms" revue defined the caliber of professionalism — and repeatedly demonstrated the trio's camaraderie.

SOLO SIZZLERS? Gray's "Gethsemane," the under-appreciated and rarely-sung "Jesus Christ Superstar" tune, and "Anthem," the stirring favorite from "Chess" were wildly applauded, as were Schulman's signature "Bring Him Home" from "Les Misérables" (still a tear-jerker) and "Why God Why?" the anguish-laced melody from "Miss Saigon." Ditto, Groenendaal's "Send in the Clowns" from his Stephen Sondheim repertoire (this, from "A Little Night Music") and "Mr. Cellophane," the "Chicago" smoothie that is everything but transparent.

"Music of the Night" was the centerpiece, tapping all three voices, and "White Sandy Beach" — yep, the local fave — was one of two encores. Sue Anderson's grand and graceful support, on the grand piano, enhanced the prevailing intimacy and inspiration from the vocal trio.

From start to finish, the show had unexpected thrills and imagined vistas of bygone stage shows — with the three voices as scenic paintbrushes. In short: three-mendous! ...

Schulman hosted an apres-show party at Compadres — a time to unwind after the first-ever performance of "Return of the Three Phantoms." It was the first time Gray's wife, Dodie Gray, got to see the show. ...

Schulman also dined with singer Al Waterson and wife Nancy Bernal at Nick's Fishmarket one night — joined by Ben Dowling, Nick's owner, who later flew to the Mainland to connect with Pat Bowlen, former Nick's honcho and owner of the Denver Broncos, to watch the Denver-San Diego game together in Denver. The Watersons befriended Schulman when he did "Les Miz" here, and the dinner was a birthday party for Waterson. ...

TROPICAL TOPICS: Na Leo has been performing in Japan, and the trio dazzled the audience at Tokyo's most prestigious showcase club, Billboard Live, complete with hula dancers. One booster of the trio's career and a longtime fan: Kamasami Kong, who helped the then-young Nalani Choy, Angela Morales and Lehua Kalima Heine when he was affiliated with "Brown Bags to Stardom" and they were starting up their career 25 years ago. "I was more impressed than ever," said Kong. ...

Singer Yvette Nii will tour and record with the L.A.-based Hiroshima shortly. She's touring with the band now, performing tomorrow at Anthology in San Jose and Saturday at the Cerritos Performing Arts Center in Cerritos. ...

Ruth's Chris Steak House general manager Don Asam, a soccer fan, was right on the ball, recognizing Natasha Kai from the gold medal-winning Olympic soccer team when she dined at Restaurant Row. ...

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.