Laurie’s “That’s the Ticket!” B’dway Review: “Curtains”
Though I am embedded out here in the New York ‘burbs, I try to get into The Big City on occasion to catch some culcha. And a few days ago I had just such the occasion: I went to a preview of the new Broadway show “Curtains.”
The show officially opens on Thursday and after that, I predict tickets will be hard to come by. So here’s a big tip from moi. Go to the web site (www.curtainsthemusical.com) or pick up the phone and call 1-800-432-7250 RIGHT NOW and order ‘em while you can. (If you don’t live close enough to NYC for a day trip, think about an overnight visit.) A musical comedy in the great “who dunnit” tradition, "Curtains" takes place in Boston in 1959 during the pre-Broadway try-outs for a new show. When its talent-free leading lady meets an untimely demise during one evening’s curtain call, a stage-struck detective (David Hyde Pierce of “Frasier”) works to solve the crime – and the show's kinks.
So just why do I think “Curtains” has great big smash written all over it?
1. Both my daughter (the musical theater addict) and I (the regular old occasional theater-goer) LOVED it. The last time we agreed about anything was on May 17, 2004 at 2:17 pm EST, so this alone is Big News.
2. It’s laugh-out loud funny, thanks to a terrifically smart book and some lyrics by theater genius Rupert Holmes (best known for “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”).
3. It features the last (fantastic) score by the legendary songwriting team of John Kander and Fred Ebb (“Cabaret,” “Chicago,” “New York, New York,” etc.).
4. It has everything else: Tony-worthy performances by the oh-so-talented David Hyde Pierce and the hysterical Debra Monk as the producer’s wife/stage mother extraordinaire, plus dazzling choreography, sets, costuming, great big fabulous production numbers, the works.
5. And finally: it’s an equal opportunity entertainment experience. You can take your “I don’t like musicals” significant other, your “I don’t like you” 12-year-old daughter, and/or your “I don’t like anything” mother-in-law; there’s something for everyone. And they will all actually have something to talk about when it’s over — how much they enjoyed it and what a genius you were to think of getting tickets.
This theater-goer gives "Curtains" a standing ovation. Enjoy!
Comments
Thanks for the tip. It's so hard to find entertainment that suits my whole group. This might be it!
