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Post by marion on Jan 15, 2020 20:42:54 GMT
I am going to see this at Wimbledon tomorrow but started the thread as I have a spare ten minutes.
Curtains, a musical of which few will have heard, is by Kandor and Ebbs, the third of their C musicals after Cabaret and Chicago. Now one hesitates to ask why we have all heard of the other two but not this one! Anyway, poor old Ebbs died before it was finished.
This is basically a musical within a musical. A show about Robin Hood, transposed to the American midwest, is about to launch when the leading actress is murdered. The lead detective is a musical theatre fanatic who has to solve the crime, and I believe, tries to fix the play. It stars Jason Manford as the detective, Carly Stenson (aka Mrs Danny Mac) and in some locations (sadly including Wimbledon) Ore Oduba. I know he won Strictly but isn't he a presenter? Can he act and sing?
This was supposed to be a pre West End tour but they have just played there as a play finished early so they filled the slot! That should mean any wrinkles have been ironed out, one hopes. I'll let you know how we get on!
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Post by marion on Jan 17, 2020 12:24:34 GMT
I really enjoyed it! Some of the group weren't very keen but I had a great time! Sure, it is no Chicago or Cabaret but it has a lot of charm and the company were really good. Great dancing and singing, even Ore had a pleasant voice! Although Jason Manford is the above title star, it seemed very much an ensemble. JM did pretty well I thought but he doesn't do the more demanding dancing, but what he does provide is affability in spades. It is quite a long tour so if it pops up nearby at a reasonable price I would say it is definitely worth a visit.
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Post by pearl06 on Jan 18, 2020 9:29:50 GMT
Thanks for the positive review, Marion. I was given a ticket for this by my grandchildren. We are all going on 9 April to the Mayflower in Southampton.
Ore Oduba is a person I wouldn't normally go out of my way to see but on this occasion I will grin and bear it.
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Post by yankee on Jan 22, 2020 18:15:48 GMT
Is the lead character meant to be a tough guy, film noir private eye in the vein of Phillip Marlowe or is it more light fare? I saw that David Hyde Piece played the lead in the original Broadway production and I don't see him in that type of role. I know he does loads of theatre but I always think of him as Niles Crane.  |
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Post by pearl06 on Jan 22, 2020 19:03:46 GMT
I think it is more light hearted as that part is played by the comedian Jason Manford.
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Post by Miranda on Jan 22, 2020 22:50:24 GMT
Pierce is superb at slapstick. The ironing scene in Frasier is pure genius. Not that it's relevant to this play.  |
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Post by marion on Jan 23, 2020 13:37:29 GMT
Is the lead character meant to be a tough guy, film noir private eye in the vein of Phillip Marlowe or is it more light fare? I saw that David Hyde Piece played the lead in the original Broadway production and I don't see him in that type of role. I know he does loads of theatre but I always think of him as Niles Crane. He is a nice, warm character. He is a great fan of musical theatre and spends his summer holidays working in a community theatre project, and he has bright ideas about how to improve the musical in this show as well. |
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Post by yankee on Jan 23, 2020 17:21:07 GMT
Thank you so much Marion! That makes much more sense. Yes Miranda the ironing scene is brilliant! That is why it would be difficult for me to think of him playing a Humphry Bogart type. Glad Marion clarified. |
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Post by pearl06 on May 22, 2020 8:51:29 GMT
Well I never did get to see Curtains! The last week of the run was cancelled due to lockdown!
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Post by marion on May 22, 2020 9:44:07 GMT
You never know Pearl. It may be resurrected next year! I have a bunch of tickets in a box which have not been used, although the last one wasn't until July I think, Hairspray. I doubt that will be back on though.
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Post by pearl06 on May 22, 2020 10:35:00 GMT
The money for the tickets was refunded so it is unlikely. I'm not bothered.
I have been watching Miss Saigon on Now TV. Oh my goodness, it is so sad. The acting is superb as is the singing. We saw it in London years ago but Tom hated it! It is the 25 year anniversary of the show.
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Post by marion on May 22, 2020 11:51:28 GMT
Yes I saw it years ago too. I thought it was good.
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Anymore to come?
