A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)

[Yankeefan007]

A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#1

Posted: 3/7/07 at 6:30pm

Sorry SPRING AWAKENING, sorry GREY GARDENS, there's a new musical on the rilato that skates rings around both of you. It's name is CURTAINS and I consider it to be the best new musical since THE PRODUCERS.

It's opening night of "Robbin' Hood" at Boston's Colonial Theatre, the place to be for out-of-town tryouts, when the lackluster lead is mysteriously murdered. The entire company and creative team are suspects. Enters: a musical theater-loving police detective with a Jimmy Stewart accent, there to solve the crime. The events of the night transpire in front of our eyes.

Featuring a glorious, memorable, and hummable score by the great Kander and Ebb, an especially funny book by Peter Stone and Rupert Holmes, show-stopping choreography by Rob Ashford and great, fast-paced direction by Scott Ellis, CURTAINS is one of the few shows that brought a smile to my face from start-to-finish.

The very talented, uniformly excellent cast features the surprisingly talented David Hyde Pierce as Lt. Cioffi, the musical theater lover there to solve the crime, fix the show, and get the girl (the great Jill Paice), the wonderfully brash Debra Monk as Carmen Bernstein, the over-the-top producer, the glorious Jason Danieley and Karen Ziemba as the Comden-and-Green-like songwriters (the latter of whom takes over the lead). Everyone else, and I'm sorry not to mention them all, is too good for words.

The show now runs a perfectly paced 2 hours and 35 minutes. I've read reviews about boredom here and there, but I completely disagree. No boredom there. None, at all. The song-list features a few discrepancies, I don't know when the changes went into place. The 2nd version of "In the Same Boat" is now placed before "Kansasland." The reprise of "I Miss the Music" follows that, replacing a reprise of "Thinking of Him." I don't know how this impacts the show, having not seen it earlier, but it works beautifully now.

Everything about the design is Tony Award-worthy: huge, eye catching sets by Anna Louizos, lucious costumes by William Ivey Long, and great lighting by Peter Kaczorowski. My one complaint was the large line of speakers that blocks the top of the proscenium. Kudos to Louizos for the intricate details of the backwall, featuring names of former attendants of the Colonial (noticed James Kiernan - is he somebody?) and memoriums for the deceased who had and had no connection with the show. I was able to pick out Ebb and Stone's names, as well as a huge "Daniel MacDonald," who recently passed. I suppose they'll be adding Darlene Wilson's name to the wall soon enough.

All said, go see CURTAINS. To quote Jerry Herman, "the simple, hummable showtune is alive and well on Broadway."

Here, it's playing at the Hirshfeld.

[wonderfulwizard11]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#2

Posted: 3/7/07 at 6:34pm

Glad you liked it Yankee!

Out of curiosity, how do you think this compares to Drowsy? Is one better than the other, or can they not be compared?

I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

[D2]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#3

Posted: 3/7/07 at 6:34pm

RathnIat: Who are you and what have you done to the real Rath?

Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)

Updated On: 3/7/07 at 06:34 PM

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#4

Posted: 3/7/07 at 6:35pm

^Who's the impersonator?

Updated On: 3/7/07 at 06:35 PM

[BobbyBubby]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#5

Posted: 3/7/07 at 6:37pm

Is there a release date for the cast album? They have a label right?

[Yankeefan007]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#6

Posted: 3/7/07 at 6:43pm

wonderfulwizard11 - they can be compared in that they both have musical-obsessed characters. My particular favorite line in CURTAINS was when Cioffi said "it's an honor to be on stage with every one of you." That said, I enjoyed them both very much (though if I had to see either of them again, I'd give CURTAINS first preference).

BobbyBubby - spoke to John Bolton following the show. The album is being recorded the Monday after opening.

[BobbyBubby]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#7

Posted: 3/7/07 at 6:45pm

Oooh, how golden age of them! That's great news. Thanks Yankee.

[FallintoLight]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#8

Posted: 3/7/07 at 6:55pm

I greatly enjoyed the show when I saw it in LA this past summer. I'm excited to see it here! Hopefully I'll be seeing it next week. I think they outdo a lot of the other shows out right now.

[Yankeefan007]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#9

Posted: 3/7/07 at 7:05pm

Regarding Tony Awards for the cast (I'm sure that'll be a question), Pierce and Monk are shoo-ins for leading actor/actress. I'd rule Ziemba featured, for the simple fact that she has no chance getting nominated for lead. Hibbert also has a definite nomination for featured actor.

[shesamarshmallow]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#10

Posted: 3/7/07 at 7:11pm

*praying for a Tony for Hibbert*

broadwayunderstudies.com - most underrated performers on broadway

[Yankeefan007]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#10

Posted: 3/7/07 at 7:50pm

At least a nomination. Guaranteed.

[luvtheEmcee]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#11

Posted: 3/7/07 at 7:57pm

So you think Pierce is a definite for the win or a nomination?

I'm seeing it in a little over a week. I'm a big Kander and Ebb fan, so there's no way I can go in with ill-will toward the show over the Tony battle -- in fact, I expect to like it very much -- but I'm almost hoping I don't like his performance so I won't be torn.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

Updated On: 3/7/07 at 07:57 PM

[ashley0139]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#12

Posted: 3/7/07 at 8:03pm

Very interested in this show, though I know little about it except for the all-star cast. I hope to see it sometime in the future. Sounds very fun!

"This table, he is over one hundred years old. If I could, I would take an old gramophone needle and run it along the surface of the wood. To hear the music of the voices. All that was said." - Doug Wright, I Am My Own Wife

[Yankeefan007]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#13

Posted: 3/7/07 at 8:04pm

Definitely a nomination, though I still think Raul has the edge (as does Pierce, which he states in an article in the Playbill).

The score is a Kander and Ebb mixed bag of tunes - 95% new melodies, with some of their old themes thrown in ("It's A Business" sounds a lot like "When You're Good to Mama," the "Wilkommen" vamp is thrown in as incidental music when a vamp is called for.) It's a great, catchy score - I can't get the songs out of my head!
Updated On: 3/8/07 at 08:04 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#14

Posted: 3/7/07 at 8:07pm

Yeah, I saw that article. What a sweet thing for him to say.

The Cabaret kick-backs are going to make me happy!

A work of art is an invitation to love.

[courtnyj]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#15

Posted: 3/7/07 at 8:14pm

Sorry Emcee...don't think you'll be able to resist him. DHP wins even the skeptics over. He's the heart and soul of the show!

[luvtheEmcee]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#16

Posted: 3/7/07 at 8:16pm

Oh, I'm not skeptical at all. I have no doubts that he's very good. I think he's very talented and incredibly charismatic. I adored him in Spamalot and fully expect to enjoy his performance in Curtains. In a silly way, I hope I don't -- because if he's as incredible as people are saying, my stance on the Tony thing might just waver!

A work of art is an invitation to love.

Updated On: 3/7/07 at 08:16 PM

[courtnyj]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#17

Posted: 3/7/07 at 8:20pm

Sorry...didn't mean to imply you were skeptical...I just meant everyone loves him by the end of the show!


Updated On: 3/7/07 at 08:20 PM

[Yankeefan007]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#18

Posted: 3/7/07 at 8:21pm

You can't help but love them all by the end, hell, by the end of the third song.

And the chemistry they all have is sublime.

[wonderfulwizard11]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#19

Posted: 3/7/07 at 8:23pm

Look at it this way, Emcee: If you end up loving DHP, then you have a really good chance of your favorite winning Best Actor.

I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

[luvtheEmcee]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#20

Posted: 3/7/07 at 8:27pm

=P

I'm sure I'll like him, but even if I end up thinking he deserves the award too, I think we all have to face the fact that I'm still going to want Esparza to win. (For whatever record there may be, faux super-serious tone, people! Just so I don't get bitten in the ass down the line by people who cannot read a joke without disclaimer.)

Anyway, to stop jacking the thread, I'm so excited. Curtains is the new show I've been most looking forward to this season.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

Updated On: 3/7/07 at 08:27 PM

[Yankeefan007]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#21

Posted: 3/7/07 at 9:11pm

Did "Kansasland" sound reminiscent of the OKLAHOMA Dream Ballet to anyone else?

[jv92]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#22

Posted: 3/7/07 at 9:24pm

Will this win Kander and Ebb another Tony?

[Yankeefan007]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#23

Posted: 3/7/07 at 9:32pm

Hard to say. I'm not a fan of Spring Awakening but love the bulk of the score.

If it does win, as I wrote in my original post, it'll be another La Cage trumping Sunday in the Park with George.

[ClumsyDude15]

re: A Glorious CURTAINS (3/7 Matinee)#24

Posted: 3/7/07 at 9:34pm

Now, I REALLY wanna see this SHOW.

"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.