Curtains in LA- Page 4

[Magdalene]

re: Curtains in LA#75

Posted: 7/27/06 at 11:23am

Damn, this show better get to NYC---I'm drooling!!!

"NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"

[BwayBaby18]

re: Curtains in LA#76

Posted: 7/27/06 at 11:46am

Erin really does make stupid choices.... Millie and now this.

[BroadwayBaby6]

re: Curtains in LA#77

Posted: 7/27/06 at 12:36pm

Two different readers posted "Stinker" ratings on the calendarlive.com LA Times website reader reviews and those are the only ratings on there now. In case you have your own opinion re the show you saw, you may go on there and post your ratings. It sounds like the show may need some pre-New York work work but it sounds like it's definitely in better shape than the final incarnations of The Visit and Steel Pier.

"It does what a musical is supposed to do; it takes you to another world. And it gives you a little tune to carry in your head. Something to take you away from the dreary horrors of the real world. A little something for when you're feeling blue. You know?"

[TxTwoStep]

re: Curtains in LA#78

Posted: 7/27/06 at 1:08pm

I think Monk can do no wrong as an actress, but the last couple of workshops I've seen her do in NYC her voice was somewhat hoarse (granted, this was before she went into Mama Morton on B'way). Is she back at full throttle? Daniely also recently had some vocal problems, causing him to leave ZHIVAGO in La Jolla; loved his singing in the SOUTH PACIFIC Carnegie Hall telecast, so I hope he's fully recovered.

Hyde Pierce is one of my favorite actors, and I also like Ziemba. It would be really interesting to see it fully staged after the reading I got to see. Any news on a theatre for it opening up in NYC?!?!?

Will: They don't give out awards for helping people be gay... unless you count the Tonys. "I guarantee that we'll have tough times. I guarantee that at some point one or both of us will want to get out. But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life..."

[COOOOLkid]

re: Curtains in LA#79

Posted: 7/27/06 at 1:09pm

Is the show officially open? Or is it in previews? If so, when is the opening night?

"Hey, you! You're the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber!" -Family Guy

[Rathnait62]

re: Curtains in LA#80

Posted: 7/27/06 at 1:12pm

Tx, I saw Debra as Mama and she sounded fantastic - totally outsung Velma during "Class."

It might be a little late to add a song for Karen - they did during NEVER GONNA DANCE, but they did it early in rehearsals. The fact is, she's not the lead, so she's not going to be onstage non-stop.

Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson

[Smaxie]

re: Curtains in LA#81

Posted: 7/27/06 at 1:20pm

Meanwhile, a very favorable post over at All That Chat
Curtains - All That Chat

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

[Rathnait62]

re: Curtains in LA#82

Posted: 7/27/06 at 1:22pm

Thanks, Smaxie.

I think this is going to be Monk's breakout role - finally.

Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson

[ErinDillyFan]

re: Curtains in LA#83

Posted: 7/27/06 at 2:16pm

BwayBaby18 - A little harsh. Millie did not seem to be her choice which ever story you believe. I don't think you can fault any mother for not leaving a 2 month old to go back to work.

[whiskedaway]

re: Curtains in LA#84

Posted: 7/27/06 at 4:47pm

I just got some Hot Tix for tuesday night. very excited!

[trikaraokeidol]

re: Curtains in LA#85

Posted: 7/28/06 at 1:11pm

I saw it last night.

The cast is great and I disagree that Nikki was the weak link. I don't think there was a weak link in the cast at all. For me the weak link was the choreography and direction. Often times, the actors seemed to be wandering around the stage with no real purpose. David Hyde Pierce was great and Debra Monk was great too...but at a murder mystery, people should be talking about whodunit at intermission and there was none of that here. It was more fluff than mystery which I'm not sure how they are going to fix. The songs were ok, but too ballad-heavy about characters we don't yet really care about. And as for the SHOW PEOPLE number - I kept hoping they would just do LULLABY OF BROADWAY instead - that is what that number should have been if they are going to go there. Act 2 heated up and it felt like somethnig finally happened that was worth watching.

They have plenty of time to work it all out and there is enough talent there for sure to do it. I hope they do!

[BroadwayBaby6]

re: Curtains in LA#86

Posted: 7/28/06 at 4:16pm

I have never seen so many people divided about a show in my life...1/2 the reviews on the calendarlive.com website are raves and the other 1/2 are "stinkers". I'm seeing it on Sunday night.

I am wondering whether the people who hated this show are the same people who didn't like "Drowsy Chaperone". I personally loved "Drowsy" and was laughing non-stop.




CURTAINS LA TIMES READER REVIEWS

"It does what a musical is supposed to do; it takes you to another world. And it gives you a little tune to carry in your head. Something to take you away from the dreary horrors of the real world. A little something for when you're feeling blue. You know?"

[Smaxie]

re: Curtains in LA#87

Posted: 7/28/06 at 5:13pm

Yeah, well...here's another positive post over at ATC. Something seems pretty fishy over at the LA Times site.
Curtains - All That Chat

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

[BroadwayBaby6]

re: Curtains in LA#88

Posted: 7/28/06 at 5:28pm

Well..Michael Ritchie has earned his share of enemies by laying off most of the theatrical development staff. As one who didn't like 90%+ of the plays that came out of the Taper labs, I didn't feel sorry to have let them go. I, however, don't particularly share Michael Ritchie's taste in plays. His favorite play is "Stones in His Pockets" which I absolutely hated.

"It does what a musical is supposed to do; it takes you to another world. And it gives you a little tune to carry in your head. Something to take you away from the dreary horrors of the real world. A little something for when you're feeling blue. You know?"

[trikaraokeidol]

re: Curtains in LA#89

Posted: 7/28/06 at 6:06pm

I loved Drowsy. Saw it four times.

[Incognito]

re: Curtains in LA#90

Posted: 7/28/06 at 6:32pm

As far as Show Posters go, I'd rate this one a ten. I love it...

Life is...just a bowl of cherries...

[Rathnait62]

re: Curtains in LA#91

Posted: 7/28/06 at 8:10pm

Why do most of those negative reviews seem to be written by the same party?

Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson

[latheatrelover]

re: Curtains in LA#92

Posted: 7/29/06 at 2:44am

I saw the show tonight and loved it. It was terrific and did remind me of Drowsy in that it's old-fashioned and fun, without any dark side. Everyone in the cast was great and I'd love to see it again. I particularly liked Pierce, Ziemba, and Megan Sikora, who reminded me a lot of Kristin Chenoweth...and with good reason, she was the understudy for Glinda.

Updated On: 7/29/06 at 02:44 AM

[Smaxie]

re: Curtains in LA#93

Posted: 7/29/06 at 11:01am

Fun photo and interesting article about the show's history on the LA Times website.
LA Times - Curtains

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

[pelham]

re: Curtains in LA#94

Posted: 7/29/06 at 11:09am

Dear Broadwaybaby18,

Your comment about Ms. Dilly is so far beyond your knowledge of what really has happened in her life and in her career. I will only say to you that her choice to forgo this production had to do with starting her family and giving her newborn daughter the energy and full time mothering she so richly deserves.
Please, before you make comments like that stop and think that there might be other, much higher, priorities in one's life that need to be thought of and considered.
Updated On: 7/29/06 at 11:09 AM

[Rathnait62]

re: Curtains in LA#95

Posted: 7/29/06 at 1:42pm

Great article, Smaxie.

And great pic!

Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson

[AshleyBrownFan123]

re: Curtains in LA#96

Posted: 7/29/06 at 2:38pm

Nice pic, smaxie

What theatre will it play in New york.

Let us milk the cow that is theatre-Monica Trausch

[YouWantitWhen????]

re: Curtains in LA#97

Posted: 7/29/06 at 2:39pm

Hmmm - maybe I will go and see it on Tuesday.

I work just a few blocks away, so tempting . . .

[PersonofInterest]

re: Curtains in LA#98

Posted: 7/30/06 at 5:20am

So, I saw the show tonight and I was really excited. All the buzz the past week about it, and the NY announcement, very exciting. But, I am sad to report that the show is not in very good shape at all. It has potential, but for the most part, it is pretty horrible. Pierce is FANTASTIC and so is Monk. Unfortunately, Monk as a THUD of a number in Act 2 called "It's A Business" that is an absolute nightmare. She does the best she can but the poor woman is left on stage with a suddenly mean spirited number and a 2nd act plot twist that is almost unbearable. Debra actually looked like she was in pain and just trying to get through it. Ziemba is really good, but the part isn't a perfect fit. She gets by just fine, but it's not Ziemba at her best. Jason Danieley is also slightly miscast, but only vocally. He is very charming and engaging, but the role sits very strangely in his voice and almost sounds too low. Edward Hibbert is really great and has some of the best dialogue, but he gets a little one-note at times and mugs just a HAIR too much. The biggest disaster of the show is, undoubtedly, Jill Paice as Nikki. GOOD GOD she is dreadful! I never saw Woman In White, so can't speak to anything else she has done, but she is positively awful in Curtains. She plays the typical Broadway understudy actress stereotype the entire show and plays it BADLY. Not a word out of her mouth sounds sincere or interesting and she has about as much charm as a thumbtack. Vocally she is fine, I guess, but again, uninteresting.
The direction is lazy and the choreography uninspired, with the exceptions of the number "A Tough Act To Follow" and "Thataway."
All the dance numbers take a very long time to climax and when they do, they don't live up to the amount of time invested already. Even "Thataway" could stand to have a minute or so shaved off.
I do think there is hope for Curtains and I look forward to seeing it in a few months to see how it has shaped up. If everyone involved could just get on the same page about what kind of show they are putting on (farce, mystery, high comedy, classic musical) I think it could work. Just make a damn choice people!

[tophertilson]

re: Curtains in LA#99

Posted: 7/30/06 at 6:12am

It occurs to me that I have never seen a musical mystery that actually worked. Ever. SOMETHING'S AFOOT? NICK & NORA? Awful. Unless one counts DROOD, but that seems to be something else altogether.

Some genres just aren't workable, I suppose. Can anyone think of a good musical mystery?

"Me flunk English? That's unpossible!" - Ralph Wiggum