Delightful “Curtains” for Lyric Theatre
Curtains is a musical that ran on Broadway and was so well received that it picked up 8 Tony Award nominations. Now you can see it here in Montreal. David Hyde Pierce won one for Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a musical. It makes for a delightful de-stressful night (or matinee) out as it is a murder-mystery-musical-comedy. It is is being performed by the Lyric Theatre, which has entertained us since 1965.
The show takes place in 1959 on opening night of “Robin Hood of the Old West”. The “leading” lady is not terribly good at leading in that she can’t remember her lines and isn’t very good at acting, singing or dancing. Someone makes sure her opening night is her closing night as she is murdered during her curtain call – so the whole cast is cast under suspicion. The sub-plots twist and turn around the zany characters.
Since I grew up on Broadway, I can’t resist a show.This one has fabulous choreography; The cast does an amazing job of precision dancing. A fun song was “The Woman’s Dead” with a surprise reprise at the beginning of the second act (Look for the dead lady, Helene Charbonneau as one of the most expressive dancers in the rest of the play).
The cast punches out the clever rhymes in “Thataway”, Jonathan Eidelman sings from his heart “I Miss the Music” and Adam Gallay and Ange J Murphy do a delightful singing/dancing duet. Nancy Stewart is really comfortable on that stage. Kevin Kibby has the best witty lines and enjoys tossing them at you.
The Lyric Theater has 44 in this cast (including the Lyric Theatre Singers) as well as 13 in the orchestra. It is directed by Bob Bachelor, musical director is Jean-Francois Trudel, choreographer is Mary Sarli, set and lighting is by Mark and Tina Bye, and Karen Pearce had fun gathering all the period costumes.
Who doesn’t need some laughter in their life? Do make room for this in your busy schedule.
Location: DB Clarke Theatre, 1455 boul. de Maisonneuve
Dates: May 31, June 1 &2, June 8 & 9: 8pm; June 2 & 9: 2pm
Tel: 514-743-3382
Prices: $22-$42
www.lyrictheatrecompany.com