Bobby (Charlie Fields) and Georgia (Katherine Stein) dance up a storm in “Curtains” at Hillbarn Theatre
CURTAINS: A Musical Whodunit. Music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb and book by Rupert Holmes. Original concept and book by Peter Stone. Directed by Nancy Fitzgerald-Metzler Hillbarn Theatre, 1285 EastHillsdale Blvd., Foster City, CA. 650-349-6411 or www.hillbarntheatre.org.
May 7-31, 2015
CURTAINS at Hillbarn Theatre struggles upstream “In The Same Boat” [rating:3]
John Kander and the late Fred Ebb began their Broadway debut with the musical Flora the Red Menace in 1965. Since that time they have gone on to further fame with shows, to mention a few, such as Cabaret, Chicago and Kiss of the Spider. Curtains began in Los Angeles before traveling to the Broadway in 2007 receiving mixed reviews but a number of Tony nominations with a Tony Award for David Hyde Pierce. After a run of over 500 performances it was released for local productions and the West Coast premiere at Foothill College, under the direction of the legendary Jay Manley in 2011 was a smash hit with equity actor Ryan Drummond in the lead role of Lt. Frank Cioffi.
When the faded screen star and supremely untalented leading lady Jessica (Deborah Rosengaus) of Robbin’ Hood is murdered during her opening night curtain call it is up to theatre aficionado Lt. Frank Cioffi to solve the case, save the show, and maybe even find love before the show reopens, without getting killed himself. It just happens that the victim is detested by the entire cast of 25 who are all suspects. The only non-suspects are the fine unaccredited off-stage orchestra. Yes, he solves that murder and two others that take place before the final curtain. The audience, in the final, final curtain call is warned, “For anyone telling the ending, it will be ‘curtains’.
The entire evening is a put-down, or is it send-up, of every musical comedy and mystery play to hit the boards. The time is 1959 when Boston was “the” tryout city for Broadway bound plays and rewrites were the de rigueur. Well with a dead leading lady would the understudy Niki (Brandy Collazo), be the “leading suspect” thus moving into the lead role? Or could it be Bambi (Jessica Maxey) the understudy’s understudy who would become the real understudy when Niki the understudy moved into the star role? Not so fast, the dictatorial egotistical director (Raymond Mendonca) has other plans, putting the lyricist Georgia (Katherine Stein) in the lead, separating her from her composer partner Aaron (Christopher M. Nelson) thus breaking up a potential romance. (Think Marvin Hammlish in They’re Playing Our Song). The corny rewrites of “In The Same Boat” begin, are rehearsed, dumped and re-rehearsed in hysterical fashion until they finally get it right in the second act.
Hillbarn mainstay Ross Neuenfeldt severely underplays the role of Lt. Coiffi to the point where his character becomes ineffective. Fortunately, he is supported by some talented cast members. Sasha Motalygo plays the hard-bitten lady co-producer and stage mother Carmen Bernstein with enough verve to take on the role of Rose in Gypsy. She dominates the stage every time she belts a song. Then there is Jessica Maxey’s eye-popping transformation from bimbo Bambi to sexy acrobatic dancer that is a show stopper. Brandy Collazo and Katherine Stein have beautiful singing voices that match their beauty. By far the most talented singer is tenor Christopher M. Nelson in his solo “I Miss the Music.”
Many members of the cast get to throw some great zingers adding greatly to the humorous raunchy lines . . . of which there are many (I would direct the Kama Sutra with a Richard Rogers score!.“Theater is a business and The Show Must Go On . . . horses—t replies the cast!)
On opening night there was an added treat; Artistic Director Dan Deemers fills in as Sid Bernstein and has more than a passable singing voice.
From this reviewer’s viewpoint, this production of Curtains like the play-within-the- play needs fixing to reduce the 2 hour and 35 minute running time and sharpen the direction.
CAST: Arlene Barruca, Alyson Chilton; Johnny Harmon, Amnon Levy; Roberta Wooster, AnJu Hyppolite; Niki Harris, Brandy Collazo; Bobby Pepper, Charlie Fields; Marjorie Cook, Christine Baker; Aaron Fox, Christopher Nelson; Randy Dexter, Daniel Norberg; Jessica Cranshaw, Deborah Rosengaus; Harv Fremont, Gregory Lynch; Jane Setler, Jessamy Collier; Bambi Bernet, Jessica Maxey; Oscar Shapiro, John Rinaldi; Georgia Hendricks, Katherine Stein; Connie Subbotin, Katie Hontalas; Detective O’Farrell, David Meacham; Ensemble male, Michael Vetter; Roy Stetson, Patrick Lahey; Peg Prentice, Patty Grewell; Christopher Belling, Raymond Mendonca; Lt. Frank Cioffi, Ross Neuenfeldt; Darryl Grady, Russell Ward ; Carmen Bernstein, Sasha Motalygo; Sid Bernstein, Dan Demers; Mona Page,Tori Heibel.
ARTISTIC STAFF: Choreographer, Jayne Zaban; Scenic Design, A. J. Diggins; Master Electrician, Aya Matsutomo; Assistant Lighting Design, Stephanie Dittbern; Properties Designer, Alexandra Nemchik; Costume Design, Valerie Emmi; Sound Designer, Jesse Scarborough; Hair & Makeup Designer, Emily Bright; Stage Manager, Amanda Roccuzzo; Assistant Stage Manager, Michelle Klingler.
Kedar K. Adour, MD
Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com
Bobby (Charlie Fields) and Georgia (Katherine Stein) dance up a storm in “Curtains” at Hillbarn Theatre
