"Curtains" is a letdown!
"Curtains" is a letdown!
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#0"Curtains" Is A Turkey!
Posted: 8/10/06 at 2:48am
What a mess. Dreadful book ( was never a fan of Peter Stones work. The score is mediocre at best. Not one memorable number. Except for Ms Monks second act number ( I will look up the name tomorrow.. I am so tired)
The cast is excellent. Karen Ziemba does what she can. Jason Danielly has nothing to do. Edward Hibbert is wonderful in the kind of role he has done before.
Tonight was opening night and it seemed like a very subdued affair. Lots of celebrity watching. Marissa, Kristen, Bruce Villanch, Fred Willard. Biggest kick for me was meeting Sean Cassidy. The man still looks hot. He was seated with his pregnant wife and William Ivey Long. The wife liked my shirt. I told her I liked her husband. They were so nice. 
Off to bed.
nomdeplume
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/20/05
#2re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 2:54am
Dame, your new av is a little down at the mouth.
So you're saying it's a waste of a Karen Ziemba in the production, not that she got wasted, right?
I know how you DO love a scandal.
#3re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 3:36am
I was there too thanks to the free standby tix. I'll add to DAME'S star spotting list Jason Robert Brown, Sara Ramirez, Ron Rifkin, Joel Grey, Jason Alexander, Tracey Ullman, Doris Roberts, Betty White, and some others I may remember later. Missed Fred and Sean but saw Kristen, Bruce, and Marissa as well.
I haven't been keeping up with the posts on this show so I went in not knowing anything or having expections. I would've probably enjoyed it more sitting closer up but still thought the show was a lot of fun. I really liked the choreography a lot... I didn't know Megan Sikora could do all that!
Peter
Leading Actor Joined: 5/28/03
#4re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 3:58amIts going to be interesting to see what the reviews are for this one. I didnt think it was a completely bad show, but it definitely was disappointing and certainly second rate Kander and Ebb. Given their pedigree though, I wouldnt be surprised it will get mainly positive notices, or perhaps mixed but far less flaming than other less successful composers would receive if they had penned it.
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#6re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 9:19amIs this show coming to Broadway or planning on it?
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#7re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 9:20am
Popular,
I can't believe you were there. I actually spotted friends in the standby line. You all got sent to the balcony.. and some woman got hysterical over people not putting back the seats they used on line right? Will I ever really meet you?
And tobiasragg; I wasn't delusional. The show stunk. They know it . We knew it. I forgot to mention the star.. David Hyde Pierce is always excellent.... But I felt his role was poorly written and under developed. And kind of lost in so much going on.
Best thing in the show.. Deborah Monk.
#8re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 9:23amThis show had better make it to New York. Still upset about OVER AND OVER and THE VISIT...so sad.
#9re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 9:47am
Dame- I know!! The lady was in red and apparantly she made a stink about EVERYTHING!! Not just the chairs. To the point where even... well YOU noticed her! Were you in line too? We were about 7 people in from the front of the line. She played line police asking how many spots people were holding and making sure that noone snuck in before her and THEN once inside she kept on moving up to empty seats until someone came and kicked her out. Each time the rightful ticket holder of that seat came by and she moved back up the whole balcony started clapping. It was hilarious. I'm the one in the middle, so next time keep your eye out and say hi.
Updated On: 8/10/06 at 09:47 AM
SueleenGay
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/03
#10re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 9:48am
Best thing in the show.. Deborah Monk.
Duh.
I am sorry to hear you didn't care for it. How long were K&E working on this show prior to Ebbs death? Hasn't this been kicking around for years in some form or another?
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#11re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 9:53am
Popular,
No I wasn't in line. But I did see you. Your very pretty.
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#12re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 10:00am
Popular,
I am at Megan Mullalys set today if you want to come and say hi.
#13re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 10:03am
Awww, you're sweet. Thanks for the compliment and the invite. Can't today but thanks for the offer! Have fun.
Updated On: 8/10/06 at 10:03 AM
#14re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 10:07amPopular, I must say, that's a very nice picture of you.
#16re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 10:30am
Start your own thread, why dont'cha, Dame?
Sheesh. I put my review with the rest of the BWW reviews so far on the "Curtains in LA" thread.
Show off!
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#17re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 10:38am
Popular, you are so cool! You should come to NYC on February 23rd for the first preview of TPQ...I will definitely be there that evening!
To get back on topic, I am eager to see Debra, Karen and David on stage again! Wish I could make it out to L.A. to see this there...looking forward to reading an official press release about its NY transfer.
Updated On: 8/10/06 at 10:38 AM
ErinDillyFan
Broadway Star Joined: 7/14/06
#18re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 11:32am
Just because this show is not the new greatest thing does not make it a turkey.
It is a much better show than Mamma Mia or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I don't think it measures up to DRS or Spelling Bee.
Curtains is definitely a throwback as far as style is concerned. I think it holds up very well against "Kiss Me Kate" or "Annie Get Your Gun" which are musically and setting wise more contemporaries to Curtains than anything playing right now.
Style preferences are really at the heart of the debate about this show, I would much rather see Curtains again than see Wicked again.
#19re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 11:39am
This show is no where near the league of Kiss Me Kate or Annie Get Your Gun.
It's not as good as Wicked, either.
I even liked Mamma Mia better. Although the book was just as slight as Curtain's, the ABBA songs were FAR superior to these (final) Kander/Ebb/Holmes tunes. I saw the show last Saturday and can't remember one single melody or song. That's pretty unusual, for me. They're completely forgettable.
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#20re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 12:33pm
I don't think the songs were forgetable, but I do agree that there wasn't that "one memorable moment" that people talk about afterwards. I thought some songs were more clever than others (when I have my playbill near me I may update with my favorites) but I can't honestly say that one stood out way above the rest.
Without a Trace - easier said than done. I'll do my best to see it once it gets to NY but looking forward to your review in the meantime, as well as everyone elses!
#21re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 1:10pm
Dame, did you mean to say Ziemba is "tiny-waisted"?
I think calling it a "turkey" is a bit harsh from everything I've heard and read. And, now that's what will be in people's minds since they will see it as a glaring thread title.
#22re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 1:23pm
Speaking of Wicked...
I saw the show on Broadway with the OBC and loved it. I saw the tour yesterday in OC and was very disappointed. Julia Murney was "saving her voice" and not belting or holding notes at all. Kendra was grossly over-acting and she simply does not have Cheno's pure operatic soprano. The gentleman who played the Wizard was quite good but he was no Joel Grey. Without 3 phenomenal leads, WICKED does not hold up very well as a show.
As for Curtains, it's a very fun show. It's as funny as DRS and its score is much much better than DRS's pedestrian 3 chord tunes.
#23re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 1:35pm
Reply To The Wicked Discussion:
No one could ever replace Kristen. A lot of the script was based on her persona and her voice. You can't expect Kendra, or anyone else, to be able to live up to her. SHe set a high bar for all of the Galinda's. Kendra does overact, but the last show that i saw of her, she did great. She added a lot of her own cute, funny things into the show. I enjoyed it.
Reply to Curtains:
Michael Reidel has said that "Curtains" might be moving to the Imperial.
<^>BROADWAY is LOVE<^>
<^>RENT is LOVE<^>
<^>WICKED is LOVE<^>
<< Me and Norbie. I look icky becuase I was FREAAAAKKKIIINNNGG out.
#24re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 2:13pmWow! I hope it does move to the Imperial...that'd be awesome! (not good news for DRS though)
#25re: 'Curtains' Is A Turkey.
Posted: 8/10/06 at 2:14pm
I know. I LOVE DRS, don't get me wrong, but when John Lithgow and Norbert left, I think the show started a slow death. Sherie can't carry the show all by herself, you know.
As for "Curtains" gonig there, I wish it luck, however, I don't think it will do as well as most shows do on Broadway.
<^>BROADWAY is LOVE<^>
<^>RENT is LOVE<^>
<^>WICKED is LOVE<^>
<< Me and Norbie. I look icky becuase I was FREAAAAKKKIIINNNGG out.
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