As most show folk will tell you, the road to an opening night can often be bumpy. Unbeknownst to audiences, there can be more drama behind the scenes than ever plays out in front of the footlights. Such is the case for the fictitious musical "Robbin' Hood," the central feature of the hilarious play within a play called "Curtains," now playing at the Jerome Mirza Theatre at McPherson Hall at Illinois Wesleyan University.
"Curtains" is a clever and comical mashup of a big-budget musical and a film noir detective yarn that earned actor David Hyde Pierce the Tony Award in 2007.
Hyde played the role of gumshoe Frank Cioffi, a hard-nosed detective and community theater aficionado who investigates the mysterious death of the less-than-stellar leading lady of "Robbin' Hood," Jessica Cranshaw. It seems the unpopular diva met her demise during her curtain call. Final bow, indeed.
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All the typical suspects are quickly identified. The ingenue Niki Harris, who accidentally gets her fingerprints on every key piece of evidence. Bambi, the ambitious chorus girl, her mother, the tough-as-nails producer, the artistically emphatic director. Just about everyone has a motive.
Cioffi, played here by the talented Robert Wilson, sequesters the cast and crew for the duration of his investigation, stopping occasionally to re-block a few dance numbers and fall in love with the ingenue (Kaitlin Feely). They say the course of true love never runs smoothly, and for the detective, that seems to be the case, for during his investigation, two more victims meet tragic ends.
Speaking of love, the estranged songwriting duo of Georgia Hendrix and Aaron Fox (Kamilah Lay and Jace Le Garde) are forced to work together on this production, revealing that at least one of the pair is still desperately in love. Le Garde as Fox reveals his truth in the beautifully executed ballad, "I Miss the Music," showcasing a disciplined vocal artistry that will serve him well as he pursues a career in the arts.
Additional musical highlights include "It's a Business," "Thataway" and "A Tough Act to Follow." And I would be remiss if I didn't mention audience favorite Chris Woodley who brought the gloriously campy director Christopher Belling to life.
Directed by Jean Kerr, this production is well balanced, producing consistent chuckles throughout the evening. Though a tad long at nearly three hours, the audience seemed fully engaged. "Curtains" also is visually stunning with a bold color pallet established by scenic designer Whitney Lehn Meltz and wonderfully supported by Olivia Trees' costume design.