The word of the day on Friday, Feb. 28, must have been “authentic,” because it was written all over Spring-Ford’s opening night of “Curtains!” This musical comedy enthralled and captivated the audience while making them privy to the passion that goes into producing a show (and, apparently, investigating a murder).
“Curtains!” opens with the end of the opening night performance of Robbin’ Hood, the fictional show-within-a-show that drives “Curtains!” forward. Just as bows commence, haughty leading lady Jessica Crenshaw collapses backstage and is taken to the hospital, only to be pronounced dead later that night.
This is when we are introduced to Detective Frank Cioffi, played by Grayson Dryburgh, seemingly Robbin’ Hood’s only fan. He is assigned to investigate Jessica’s death, but ends up resurrecting the dying production along the way.
At the same time, writers Georgia Hendricks (Emily Dyer) and Aaron Fox (Steven Cox) rekindle their relationship; while Cioffi and rising star Niki Harris (Violet Tulig) start a new one.
All of this is exacerbated by the fact that since Cioffi has put the theater on lock down, two more murders occur, forcing everyone to confront their problems as the tension of the murderer in their midst brings the cast to a boiling point.
The plot is pulled along by some absolutely phenomenally produced musical numbers. Act 1 alone graces audiences with the delightfully humorous “What Kind of Man” as Georgia, Aaron, and producers Carmen Bernstein (Lila Weingarten) and Oscar Shapiro (Dane Bailey) look over some less than favorable reviews, “The Woman’s Dead”; in which director Christopher Belling (Foster Stewart) encourages the cast to use Jessica’s death to improve their acting skills, and “Show People” displaying Cioffi’s love for the theatre.
Act 2 begins with the rousing group number, “He Did It”, in which Robbin’ Hood’s company speculate on who among them committed the crime.
“He Did It” is also an example of what I believe to be the backbone of the show: the ensemble. They work together wonderfully and bring energy to the show during the group numbers; of which there are quite a few.
Later, we see Cioffi and Niki’s relationship blossom in “A Tough Act to Follow”, which functions as a fantasy shared between them of what their relationship could be. It is structured like a classic Broadway love song, wedding bells and all.
As Robbin’ Hood finally comes together, we hear the culmination of the song Aaron has been struggling to finish the whole show with “In The Same Boat Complete”.
In terms of standout performances, there are almost too many to count. Dyer really shines as lyricist Henricks, and Cox delivers a powerful performance as her ex-husband and writing partner, Aaron Fox.
A more subtle standout in the cast is Bailey as Oscar Shapiro. He provides a very distinct portrayal of the flustered investor and his reactions add depth and humor to the already comical show.
Charlie McGinty brings the laughs as choreographer and leading man Bobby Pepper, and Stewart comes through as director Christopher Belling, delivering snappy one-liners that left the audience giggling.
Overall, “Curtains!” is a nearly three-hour show that is packed with humor, unity, and heart. The production is a must-see for anyone looking to see a glimpse into the process of producing theatre and the passion that goes into it.
