Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
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Free Music Notes for Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
Free Music Review: CURTAINS
Hit: 5 Stars
"Curtains" is possibly the last completed score for Kander and Ebb and it's appropiate that it is a valentine to musical theatre. "Curtains" is a show within a show and concerns the out-of-town tryout os a new musical "Robbin Hood" at the Colonial Theatre in Boston. After the finale "Wide Open Spaces" of the new show the cast is backstage awaiting the reviews and hurl scorn at the critics who have panned their new musical (What Kind Of Man) but throw roses at the one reviewer who has kind words for their show. There are a couple of rousers for the musical in question called "Kansasland" and especially "That-a-Way" featuring the marvelous Karen Ziemba. The incredible Debra Monk playing the producer of "Robbin Hood" shows which side of the aisle she sits on vis a vis art and commerce "It's a Business."
Oh did i forget to mention that "Curtains" is also a murder mystery? It seems the leading lady has been poisoned and in walks David Hyde Peirce as Frank Cioffi a Boston Police Detective who soon shows he is more soft shoe than gumshoe. Mr Peirce has a neat song and dance "A Tough Act To Follow" with a ingenue he has become smitten. Another clever touch finds the composer having trouble nailing a song "In The Same Boat" and scattered through the show and the CD are three versions plus a completed version the inspiration coming through the detective.
"Curtains" may not have the bite of "Cabaret" or the show-biz razzle dazzle of "Chicago" but it's a strong solid score and i'm sure somewhere in Heaven Fred Ebb must be smiling down and leading the applause.
Free Music Review: There's No People Like Show People
Hit: 5 Stars
Here's a terrific cast album, one that will remind you of an earlier, more sophisticated time in the history of the Broadway musical. John Kander and the late Fred Ebb wrote some of my favorite scores--CABARET, CHICAGO, THE RINK, and my personal favorite, ZORBA, among others. CURTAINS is a charming show, a real throwback to the musicals I loved when I was younger. Musicals have definitely changed in the last few years, and not all those changes are for the better. This original cast album is a brilliant reminder of that fact.
The score of CURTAINS is a delight, start to finish. It's deliberately silly and old-fashioned, and it's very witty, too. You can always count on Kander and Ebb to provide one new standard song per score, and here the showstopper is the rousing, infectious "Show People." There are also some genuinely funny comedy numbers and a couple of lovely ballads. David Hyde Pierce and Debra Monk are right at home with this material, and they are joined by a supporting cast that really knows how to put on a show.
I don't know when we'll see such a tuneful, intelligent work of art on Broadway again, if we ever do. CURTAINS may well be the last of a vanishing breed of American entertainment. Let's enjoy it while we can. Highly recommended.
Free Music Review: A Musical for Adults
Hit: 5 Stars
If you love traditional Broadway musicals, CURTAINS is the show for you. Unlike many other current entertainments, it is an original--not based on a movie, earlier play, comic book or theme park ride. It is content to be what it is--an old-fashioned musical wrapped around a murder mystery.
CURTAINS has an impressive pedigree, beginning with the legendary team of Kander and Ebb, plus Peter Stone and Rupert Holmes. It also has a large, sumptuously talented cast, a wonderfully convoluted plot, and a collection of songs that add up to a valentine to musical theatre.
"Coffee Shop Nights" is the musical equivalent of an Edward Hopper painting. "Show People" has lyrics that recall a certain Irving Berlin classic and a melody reminiscent of early Sondheim. "Thataway" and "It's a Business" boast lyrics that rival Cole Porter's for sheer cleverness.
The beautiful lament "I Miss the Music" is made even more poignant by Jason Danieley's delivery. Other interludes will bring to mind the music of Richard Rigers and George Gershwin.
If you love Broadway musicals, you owe it to yourself to see CURTAINS, or at least to buy the cast album.
Free Music Review: This is a very entertaining cast recording
Hit: 5 Stars
This is a very entertaining cast recording. I have never seen the show live, so this cast recording is the next best thing. The late Fred Ebb did a great job writing this funny entertaing songs. John Kander did an equally superb job composing the music for them. Curtains is a musical within a musical plus a murder mystery. Every cast member shines on this. Debra Monk is one of the stars. I think she steals the show on tracks like "Thataway" and "It's A Business. These songs are so funny. Debra Monk has a wonderful sense of humor, and it shows on these tracks. David Hyde Pierce is the detective investigating the murder. He has a pleasant delivery on the track "Coffee Shop Nights" David Hyde is so charming on the duet "Tough Act To Follow" with his love interest in the musical Jill Paice. Jason Danieley really stands out on the track "I Miss The Music" This track is one of my favorites, because of his strong resonant singing voice. "In The Same Boat" is such a cute sounding number too. I enjoyed this cast recording so much.Free Music Review: Just as Fantastic as the Show!
Hit: 5 Stars
CURTAINS, the new murder mystery musical comedy starring David Hyde Pierce, Debra Monk, and Karen Zemba is finally out on cd! The cd is a blast to listen to, and it is like taking the show home. It includes all of the full versions of the songs and even some of the hilarious jokes! But if you didn't see the show and you bought this cd, you wouldn't understand what is going on and what the songs are about.
Debra Monk (who plays Carmen in the show) makes the cd. She has a lot of funny numbers such as "What Kind of Man?" and "It's a Business". Let's not forget the GREAT number she sings with David Hyde Pierce "Show People"
Karen Ziemba sings a lot of songs in the show but the ones worth listening to is "Thinking of Him", witch she has a beautiful singing voice in, and the best number of the show "Thataway!"
If you enjoyed the show CURTAINS then you have to buy this cd, but wait to buy it if you didn't see the show yet.