Brief Comments on CURTAINS (3/22, Evening)

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/22/08 at 11:38pm

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.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/22/08 at 11:40pm

LuPone really would be a great Carmen.

[singtome8]

Posted: 3/22/08 at 11:41pm

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.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 3/22/08 at 11:41pm

Finally someone comments about Megan! The most underrated performer in that show.

I love this show, and everyone in it so very much. I can't wait to see it at least once again before it closes.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/22/08 at 11:44pm

June 29.

Place was packed tonight.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/22/08 at 11:59pm

Megan Sikora is fantastic. When I saw her in APPLAUSE she stole the show from everyone else, I missed her every time she was off-stage. Her dancing in that show was brilliant, her comic-timing ingenious, and her singing was perfection. Love her, can't get enough of her.
Glad to hear Erin Davie is good in the role. She is the main reason I'm coming back to the show.

[pli1018]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 12:03am

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

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 12:04am

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.

I'll be taking questions now.

... Ben Brantley, is that you?

[coryografer]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 12:04am

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.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 12:06am

Em - On the nose!

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 12:07am

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.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 12:07am

I too recently saw the show and while I have very mixed opinions about the show/score/book I thought everybody in the cast was having the time of their life. David Hyde Pierce is such an amazing actor and I can clearly see why he won the Tony over Raul. Megan Sikora, Noah Racey and of course Debra Monk were all fabulous! And maybe I was just paying too much attention to Pierce, but I didn't see any looks of difficulty from Erin Davie (who I thought nailed the role).

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 12:11am

You wish.

[zepka102]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 12:13am

I'm too upset about this show closing. Between this and Drowsy Chaperone a few months ago... it's a shame! I'm glad you enjoyed it just as much this time

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 12:19am

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.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 12:24am

I was the guy sitting in the stairs of the house right aisle (between seats 101 and 2) of the mezzanine. Just not enough room in those damn rows!

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 12:46am

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.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 12:50am

oo, I've been so curious about how Gobel is as Carmen. it's not surprising that she reminded you of LuPone, because when I saw Curtains, all I could think was how much Jessica Crenshaw reminded me of Patti's Reno Sweeney.

Updated On: 3/23/08 at 12:50 AM

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 12:52am

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.

[StageFan2]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 1:13am

Thanks for update Yankee. As always - very much appreciated. Glad to hear it was packed. I hope that packed houses continue though closing for this fine show and its full company of wonderful performers. They deserve a fine send off.

I was caught off-guard by the closing announcement. It seemed; and still seems, abrupt.

I too will be sorry to see Curtains go. I have my ticket for the final show - paid full premium price for an orchestra seat - a tip of my cap and a fond thanks to this hard working company and the most fun I've had at a theatre in a long time. I look forward to seeing them one and all, in their future projects.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 1:26am

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.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 8:03am

Shbrt - A guy with a beard sat me. But I could have seen you coming in!

[gilliane]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 8:29am

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.

[stella985]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 9:26am

Just to add to how amazing Megan Sikora is, while she was rehearsing Applause she was still doing Curtains, and rehearsing a third dance project. She's fabulous. I hope there are a lot of good parts in her future.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 3/23/08 at 9:39am

I now really want to see Patty in the role.

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