'Curtains' is a Delight at Reston Community Players

When I noticed that the first production of the Broadway hit musical Curtains was to be held at the Reston Community Players, I was a little shocked. After all, the musical had eight Tony Nominations and was written by the talented team of Kander & Ebb.

I'm sure there must an interesting story how a small community theater in Reston, VA was able to get the rights to the show which only closed in 2008 on Broadway.

First, what a joy it was to step into the CenterStage Theater at the Reston Community Center located in the Hunter Woods Village Center. You can even go for a swim before the show.  This was the first time I've been to a location of a theater in the middle of a shopping center with a Safeway, has six restaurants, and a Dairy Queen which you could even use at intermission.

After my experience in Reston, I am really jealous of the lucky folks who live nearby. The Reston Community Players has been around for more than 40 years. As they say in Latin, Res Ipsa Loquitur (the thing speaks for itself). They do four major productions per season.

What a lovely theater they have, with great theatrical lighting and yes, they even have an orchestra pit.  Almost all of the 290 comfortable seats were filled. Before the show began, I was curious how many instruments would be in there. Would you believe 14 pieces (with 22 musicians listed in the program who rotate) under the capable baton of Mark Deal and they were wonderful?

As you walk into the theater, the curtain has in script "Robbin' Hood of the Old West". The audience is watching a try-out of a new musical at the beautiful Colonial Theater in Boston (being originally a Bostonian, I got a big chuckle about this). The year is 1959. As the curtain opens, the country-western show is about to end with the song "Wide Open Spaces". It is quite apparent that the leading lady, Madam Marian played by Jessica Cranshaw (actually played by Kate Keifer) cannot sing, act, or dance. Keifer does this convincingly. Soon, she is murdered on stage and the fun begins.

The play deals with the theme that the show must go on.  The actors who were not thrilled to take the show to Broadway as is (for obvious reasons), jump on board after many changes are made with the able assistance of the Boston detective Lt. Frank Cioffi (played by the terrific Blakeman Brophy) who is a closet Broadway musical fan, who, while trying to find the killer, is constantly making wonderful suggestions to make the musical a success. (I only wish Brophy had a Boston accent.)

Cioffi (on Broadway played by David Hyde Pierce who won a Tony for the role) convinces co-producer Carmen Bernstein (the wonderful Sue Pinkman) with the anthem "Show People" which is incredibly similar to the other anthem "There's No Business Like Show Business".  One other gorgeous number is "I Miss the Music" beautifully sung by Joshua P. Redford.

The flamboyant director Christopher Belling (a funny Tom Flatt) suggests that lyricist Georgia Hendricks (the lovely and talented Katie McManus) take over the leading role since she was a former actor, can sing, and knows the show inside and out.  And the rest as they say...

This is not the best example of Kander & Ebb. There may be a reason this show has not as of yet gone on tour. However, this cast is full of energy under the direction of a very talented Andrew JM Regiec who also did a great job on the sets (which include a steamboat).

If you were curious about Curtains but never made it to Broadway, if you're a fan of Kander & Ebb, if you like musical theater, or if you just like to support local community theater, get to Curtains before the curtain falls on Sunday.

Reston - you don't know how good you have it!!

The remaining season includes:

The Trip to Bountiful Jan 22-Feb. 6

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change March 5 to March 27

As You Like It April 30 to May 15.

Read some nice interviews by Joel Markowitz at http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/10/23/community-theatre-prepares-area-premiere-of-broadway-hit-curtains/.

For comments, write to cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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