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'Curtains' remembers a golden age

By Matt Windman | amNewYork Theater Critic

6:30 PM EDT, March 22, 2007

In Broadway¹s 'The Drowsy Chaperone,' the protagonist, known only as Man in Chair, fawns over the cast of a long-lost Broadway musical and dreams whimsically of taking part in it. In 'Curtains,' an unintended sequel to 'Drowsy Chaperone,' the protagonist -- a police detective and musical theater fanatic-- goes a step further by actually meeting the cast of a 1950s Broadway musical, solving their murder mystery and falling in love with the ingénue.

'Curtains' almost never happened. Peter Stone, its original book-writer, passed away four years ago and Fred Ebb, its lyricist, passed away two years ago. Revisions have since been made by composer John Kander and writer Rupert Holmes.

The end result resembles the lighthearted spirit of a 1950s musical comedy.

Two comedy numbers delivered by Debra Monk, 'It¹s a Business' and 'Show People,' easily stand out.

Unlike 'Drowsy,' which is a postmodern homage to old-fashioned musical theater, 'Curtains' feels as though it comes from the lost and found of golden-age musical comedy, resulting in (mostly) good and (some) bad consequences. In addition to David Hyde Pierce as the detective, 'Curtains' brings together a wonderful ensemble of performers. Still, this could have been a stronger musical, as evidenced by its flat, somewhat lackluster first act. The problems result from Scott Ellis¹ hit-or-miss direction and Rupert Holmes¹ over-written, seemingly unedited dialogue.

Curtains Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 West 45th Street, 212-239-6200, $61.50-111.50. Tues 8pm, Wed 2 & 8pm, Thurs-Fri 8pm, Sat 2 & 8pm, Sun 3pm. Open Run.