Curtains aims, in the words of a popular old commercial, to "double your pleasure, double your fun." Same goes for Manatee Players. They succeed, for the most part, in entertaining with a tune-filled musical while hooking you on its backstage murder mystery.
Though slighter than the top achievements of that major duo, Kander and Ebb, it may be their cutest. It certainly gains from the comic flair of Rupert Holmes who, after the deaths of lyricist Ebb and author Peter Stone, finished their twofold spoof.
Plot one concerns a 1959 try-out, hopefully for Broadway, of "Robbin' Hood of the West" in the sung-about "Wide Open Spaces" of Boston. Its first preview, lambasted by "What Kind of Man?" but critic Daryl Grady (insistent Jim Cross), finds its no-talent but
sexy leading lady (Trina Rizzo) dead. To determined producer Carmen (brassy pro Nancy Denton), Grady will give a two-day chance at "curing" the show's ills before re-reviewing. Though he praised only understudy Niki (sweet Diane Dawson), the lead now goes to former musical star Georgia (Melanie Dan).
Set to work on writing songs while reuniting with estranged husband Aaron (Travis Rogers), she's apprehensive about returning to the stage. After all, the male lead Bobby (Dan Yonko, assured at singing but acting awkward), seems to have figured in the marital separation.
Plot two brings in theater-loving Lt. Cioffi (stellar Steve Dawson) to solve the murder. He sequesters in-house all who were present during the crime. Excited by being with so many "Show People" and completely taken with Niki, he gets involved in developing the show.
Meanwhile, chorus girl Bambi (Gabi Guinta, cute and confident) moves to standout as a solo dancer. More murders happen or are attempted. While Niki keeps coming up with "evidence" full of her fingerprints, it's learned that the stage manager keeps secrets. Lt. Cioffi questions why so many are working for very little money in a show they seem to want to leave. Onstage, though, they make the most of being "In the Same Boat" -- three glorious times in ever-better versions!
Rick Kerby's direction and choreography make each successive musical number, from the wild western "Thataway" to Cioffi and Nikki's dream of a Champions' dance on a stairway, "A Tough Act to Follow." Kirby should, however, quicken the pace in the last quarter of the show.
Steve Dawson couldn't be better as Lt. Cioffe, whether sleuthing, singing and dancing, or romancing. You don't miss any of the theatrical jokes, since he projects them so well, and his enthusiasm via Cioffee for developing the musical is infectious.
Melanie Dan and Aaron Fox sing tentatively at first and soon get better, but she always acts with conviction. As the eager to succeed director, Rodd Dyer swishes in sympathy with Cioffi's opinions, pleasantly matched in temperament by the always reliable Denny Miller as a show backer.
You'll love Nancy Denton's Carmen, particularly with her show-stopping, "It's a Business." As her husband Sidney, Michael Nolan evidences why he's the butt of her jokes.
The ensemble gives sometimes uneven but earnest support. Rick Bogner and his musicians never let the cast down. Scenery designer Donna Buckalter commendably provides many set changes, whether elaborate as a '50s musical might require or simple overnight sleeping quarters created by hanging sheets. Lighting meets the needs of time, characterization, and places, as do costumes.
If you like old-fashioned musicals, you should be doubly pleased by Curtains and its production by Manatee Players.
