Brief Comments on CURTAINS (3/22, Evening)

Had to catch it once more before it closed. Just so happened that tonight, the year-anniversary of their opening, was the most convenient.

Bullet points (hehe) on things I wouldn't have pointed out the first 2 times I saw it:

1. Still the only show I've seen in the longest time that makes me grin from start to finish. Also the only show that I'm itching to direct.

2. Patty Gobel is giving the performance Patti LuPone would give as Carmen Bernstein. They bare striking resemblance to each other, physically and vocally. Gobel was a great replacement for Debra Monk (who was out all day), nailed every joke, great voice, very intimidating (in a Shirley Markowitz kind of way...we'll see how many people get that reference). Still would love to see LuPone give the role a shot.

3. Erin Davie - nails all the jokes and makes the most of the part. Great chemistry with David Hyde Pierce (who you can still tell is having the time of his life). Davie just needs to loosen up. A LOT. I don't know if she doesn't have confidence in her dancing, but you can easily read through her facial expressions that there's some difficulty.

4. Dear Megan Sikora - I love you. SO MUCH. You have it all. Personality, talent, a killer body, blonde hair...okay, enough of that before it gets creepier.

5. Book scenes drag it down. Scott Ellis needs to come back and work on the pacing. Unfortunately, I think the show is too "inside." The show has played to the theater-savvy crowds already. Now, with the tourists from podunk in the audience, the theater jokes don't fly. Unfortunately, neither do most of the other intelligent jokes.

But other than that, CURTAINS is in great shape. Very, very, tremendously sorry to see it go.

I'll be taking questions now.

Farewell Curtains When is it closing? I saw it last month and thought it was so much fun, but unfortunately could tell it was on its way out since there was approximately 23 people in the balcony with me.

June 29.

Place was packed tonight.

I loved Megan Sikora! She was hysterical and was a great dancer. I hope to see her in more in the future.

Curtains was one of the best theatre experiences I have had. I agree that when you are there, you grin from start to finish. I was fortunate to see the original cast. I thought everyone was perfectly cast........ and Noah Racey seemed as though he was performing for just me. Several audience members remarked on his connection to the audience.

I'm glad to hear Gobel is doing well. She was about as exciting as a doorknob when I saw her go on for Marin Mazzie in Ragtime about 100 years ago. She definitely took a leading role and made it feel like an awkward supporting performance.

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You wish.

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Yankee, where were you sitting? I was working tonight! Wish I'd known you were coming.

I heart Megan Sikora. She's a total sweetheart.

What row? Oh my gosh, I probably sat you. I didn't notice you sitting on the stairs, because I would have moved you. I was too busy doing crossword puzzles in the stairwell. Shhh. That was after I admonished some kids in the back for listening to their iPods and shining their cell phones all over the place.

Yes, Patty is very forceful as Carmen. She doesn't do the dry humor thing Deb Monk does at all. It's a very Patti-esque performance, and I think she does it wonderfully. She looks great, too! They have her in really flattering costumes and wigs.

I saw Patty as Carmen back in January. She did a great job. Was sad Deb was out (but I had seen her, so I was fine with that), but I was thoroughly impressed with what Patty did.

I saw it for the first time earlier this year, and it was the first show since Spamalot opened that I immediately wanted to go back and see again. The theatre seemed packed when I saw it, so I was surprised and saddened to hear it was closing.

I now really want to see Patty in the role.

I *love* Megan Sikora. Her dancing in "Kansasland" is worth the price of admission.

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