February 19, 2010
LEE HARTGRAVE REVIEWS - CURTAINS AT LESHER CENTER
LEE HARTGRAVE REVIEWS
CURTAINS UNFOLDS AT THE LESHER
Curtains the musical, is based on an original book and concept by Peter Stone. It’s a comic look at what goes on backstage. Some of what goes on is a murder. It keeps you guessing about who killed an untalented star of the musical ‘Robbin Hood of the Old West’. With a title like that -- it is a musical that is doomed to failure.
In comes a police detective who also moonlights as a musical theater buff. Along the way, he finds the killer and also love. Curtains has lyrics by Fred Ebb and music by John Kander – with additional lyrics by Kander and Holmes. Ebb died before the musical was completed. Ebb and Kander are known for some great hits over their career, but I have to say that this musical will never go down as one of their best.
And that is where the DiabloTheatre Company comes in. They took this musical and gave it their all. Just like in the story on the play. If you’ve got a bad musical -- no matter what you do, it’s not going to be great. Pleasing perhaps, but never great.
“Curtains” had a short run on Broadway and it was only because of the main star “David Hyde Pierce” who is so clever and talented that it lasted as long as it did. The musical did get eight Tony Award nominations and Hyde Pierce did win the award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. However, that did no save it from closing on Broadway.
There are some fun moments in the play that remind of shows like “Noises Off” and others of similar style. Keep in mind that the purpose of these kind of shows is to keep you guessing about who is doing the murders. Since there is not A Butler, you’ll have to figure out who it is. And, it IS a surprise. That is one of the highlights in ‘Curtains’.
The musical highlight is the song (Show People) also reprised in the second act. The Detective finally solves the case: And the murderer is…? We won’t tell.
Detective Gioffi tells everyone that he could be Fred (like Astaire) to Niki’s Ginger (as in Rogers) that sequences into the elaborate fantasy sequence where the Detective becomes a dancing Fred. The fantasy scene is fun.
The show closes with a kind off limp ending. The problem with the script is that it is all over the block. It’s hard to know when they are just rehearsing or actually putting on the real show. There is just too much going on in this convoluted show.
There are some great lines that are delivered smartly by members of the cast: About Critics: “Critics are people who want to make a living killing other peoples dreams!” Can’t disagree with that. Here’s more: “What kind of genius has a mind?” Love this one: Talking about an actress – “Would you help her?” – “Why not, I’ve been carrying her all night!” Critic says: “I try not to fraternize with the people I review” – unlike a Critic I know (R.C). Another critic comment: “I tried to say something nice about your production!”
THE CAST: Tom Reardon (Lt. Frank Coiffi) is unfailingly entertaining. The entire members of the cast (which are numerous) are “nimble, likable and unexpectedly enjoyable!”
(Emily Garcia, Derrick Silva, Alyssa Bond, Amy Nielson, Anthony Finley, Tom Reardon, Lia Metz, Sharon Reiterkirk, G. Scott Phillips, Renee DeWeesse, Dustin Riggs and Hilary Mc Quaide.)
CURTAINS IS A LIKEABLE MUSICAL THAT SOMETIMES GETS TANGLED UP IN THE CURTAINS. But, the Diablo Theatre Company pulled out all the stops. Really, I doubt that anyone could do any better.
A FINAL NOTE: WHY IS THE THEATRE SO COLD?
RATING: THREE GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!! –trademarked-
At the Lesher Performing Arts Center in Walnut Creek
(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed many articles to the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday Datebook and produced a long-running Arts Segment on PBS KQED)))
