My CURTAINS Review (3/27)

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 7:52pm

Hello,
Yesterday I saw CURTAINS. It took me a whole day to figure out what I REALLY feel about this show.
First off, I saw Kelli O'Hara and her fiancee there (I sat in front of them),and they seemed to enjoy the show.
ANYWAY, This witty show is cleverly packaged, just when the whole story unraveled- it turned out to be a little less than what I bargained for.
Before I continue,I just want to praise Debra Monk and David Hyde Pierce for their standout performances. Debra Monk is very funny, and David Hyde Pierce is an adorable and fun. The rest of the actors did their jobs well, too.
The sets, choreography,lighting,and design aspects of the show were very well put together, everything LOOKED well crafted. The book and score I just was not crazy about.
The plot is twisted up detective-style,with a mystery going on at the theater of a show in its out-of-town tryouts, but a lot of the time I just felt like the plot is just a bunch of scenes, searching for a laugh or two by giving joke after joke. Most of it is funny, but a few of the jokes just fall sort of...flat.
The score is not very interesting. I remember the tune of only a couple of the songs, the rest was just a blur of bland.
So, I say, if you want to see an optimistic and fun musical, but a bit jumbled up, go see CURTAINS!

Updated On: 3/28/07 at 07:52 PM

[bundy5000]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 8:10pm

I have to agree there are some catchy songs but most of them arnt

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 10:30pm

bump

[Josephine2]

Posted: 3/28/07 at 10:35pm

Nice review. Your thoughts seem to fall within the general consensus about this show.

[tabbynyc]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 12:35pm

Good review! I feel the same way about the songs and the story. But, funny thing, I saw it a 2nd time and I really liked it alot. I think since I didn't have to concentrate so hard on what was going on (my brain is usually on overload so it doesn't take much to lose concentration) I could enjoy the characters more. Plus the 1st act is really slow and should have been speeded up a little. Another difference I felt was the audience; the 2nd time had a great audience with lots of participation.

[TIGGOSAURUS]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 5:21pm

I think the score DEFINITELY grows on you, so I hope the CD comes out soon and sells well. I've seen the show a couple of times and found myself humming 'It's a Business', 'Coffee Shop Nights', 'Show People' 'What Kind of Man', 'Tough Act to Follow' and 'She Did It' (among others!) in the following days.

On reflection, the plot is a little convoluted but it carries you along in the moment while watching the show which is surely just as important?

The cast is the strongest argument for seeing this musical imho - so many talented performers giving their all and obviously having a blast at the same time. Their enthusiasm, energy and commitment is infectious. As many have said, Debra Monk and David Hyde Pierce are the standouts - and that is really saying something given the company they're keeping!

Debra Monk embodies all that people love about the 'biz that is show' in 'Show People' & 'It's a Business' while DHP is adorably melancholy, moving and mesmerising in 'Coffee Shop Nights' (shouldn't that be 'Cioffi Shop Nights' )? Plus he shows himself to be a WONDERFULLY accomplished song & dance man in 'Tough Act to Follow'.

Go see this show and have fun!

[AudreyTwoTwo]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 5:50pm

i am happy to hear yet another good review. I am seeing the matinee next week, and I am very excited! It seems like such a good show!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 6:43pm

I agree with your review. The show is forgettable. Why do you recommend it though?

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 7:23pm

I recommend it because it wasn't a total mess. It had its spots, and I think other people will like it more than I did and see thigns in it that I didn't, I guess.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 7:25pm

Good review. Yeah, I think you've fallen into the general consensus as well. I liked some of the songs, but overall the score wasn't anything SPECTACULAR; however, I think once you listen to them over and over again, they will grow on you and you'll become attached. Some of my favorites were "Show People," "It's a Business," "Thataway," and "Tough Act to Follow." I think there were a couple of others but I forgot the titles.

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 7:28pm

I loved Show People and the "she did it/they did it" song, but most of it is forgettable.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 9:45pm

I loved this show the first time I went, but to be honest, the score didn't "stick" with me until the second viewing. As soon as I walked out after my second time, I found I couldn't get It's A Business, Thataway!, and She Did It out of my head. Others pop up from time to time as well.

they're still there. I can't wait to get the CD!

[Trish2]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 10:06pm

I have to agree with tiggosauras as i felt the cast made the show. DH Pierce is the heart of the show and is such a warm, charming presence. He is at ease with his singing and dancing as he is with his acting. Monk and Ziemba certainly do their thing and Racey is spot on as the choreographer. I did feel the direction to be somewhat bland with many scenes having the actors in straight lines, yelling across the stage to one another. Sometimes these "backstage" musicals suffer from the huge cavern of a set that rarely changes, and to me that can make a bad book seem even more drawn out. There were stretches in the first act that could have been trimmed. Daniley seems somewhat of a stuffed shirt to me and i find him lacking emotion, whereas Sikora is just a blast as the over the top, gymnastic chorine.

I must admit I thought Rob Ashfords choregography a bit dull and limited to mostly vulgar staging that wasnt period in the least. The show also features what i believe to be one of the most mismatched male ensembles I've seen in years. For a couple of them , it was their first Bway show and it showed. Don't you just hate when ensemble members break the 4th wall to check out the audience? It's a bit early in the run for that.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 10:13pm

"I must admit I thought Rob Ashfords choregography a bit dull and limited to mostly vulgar staging that wasnt period in the least."

I saw that as part of the joke - Bambi is talented but also trashy!

[Corine2]

Posted: 3/29/07 at 11:45pm

David Hyde Pierce was fantastic. I was really impressed.
All I can say was I had a blast. The show is pure fun!
David H Pierce is joyful, funny and adorable. It made my week.
No, it is not "Grey Gardens" but it is very entertaining.
Karen Ziemba and Noah also shine. In fact, the whole cast is fabulous. Updated On: 3/29/07 at 11:45 PM