He Did It! No, She Did It!! Oh Whodunnit Already!!!

Feels good to be going back for a theatre trip! I've been away for a few weeks travelling around Europe before it all goes to pot (5 countries and 6 cities in 8 days, you can read all about that here). 

I've now been back at work at week, and fought the freezing (in comparison to Rome) Autumn blues with a theatre trip to Manchester with my parents - of course!

This was back at the Palace Theatre. 9 to 5 had moved out and yet another musical comedy had moved in: the UK premiere of Curtains, a lesser-known Kander and Ebb piece, starring Jason Manford (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Carley Stensen (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Ore Oduba, Rebecca Lock (Mary Poppins) and more. 

Set in a Boston theatre, an out-of-town tryout for a Broadway musical is put on hold as the unpopular lead actress is murdered on opening night. 

Everyone in the cast and crew is a suspect and it is up to Lt Frank Cioffi (played by Manford) to not only solve the case, but save the show. 

As stated before, Curtains is not as well known as Kander and Ebb's works, such as Chicago and Caberet, not premiering in 2006, 4 years after Fred Ebb's death - it does however bring back a style similar to the golden age of the 40s and 50s in their numbers, a rare feat for a 21st century musical (technically). It did win a Tony in 2007 for David Hyde Pierce's performance as the Lt. and was nominated for 7 more. This production is the UK premiere, starting in Bromley last week, and continuing around the country. 

The cast, as I said before, has some big names attached to it; and they performed well. Manford has never failed to surprise me yet, from Leo Bloom to Caractacus Potts to Lt. Cioffi - he certainly knows how to pick a part that suits him. Rebecca Lock was fabulous (dah-ling) as Robin Hood's producer, Carmen; and I must also mention Samuel Holmes as director Christopher Belling - a British perfectionist, he was deliciously over-the-top. 

I think I need to mention Ore Oduba, playing Aaron Fox, composer of Robin Hood. His star his been rising and rising ever since his Strictly Come Dancing win a few years ago (like his professional dance partner Joanne Clifton - she's been in everything from Thoroughly Modern Millie to Rocky Horror). 

Oduba made his theatrical debut as Teen Angel in Grease recently - a completely different part! In this, he would have had a lot more to do - I did like his voice but it was strained a couple of times on the big higher notes, perhaps as expected. I did enjoy him though - well done Ore, you had a good crack at it :D

While there is plenty to celebrate with Curtains, there is one big issue that needs a fix; and that is the proportion of all the different plot devices - allow me to explain. 

We Brits love a good whodunnit, from Holmes and Poirot, to Jessica Fletcher and a personal favourite of my family, Father Brown. With all these great detective stories, you follow the clues and allow the picture to form in your head - and all the side plots weaving into the mystery somehow, whether they're directly involved in the mystery or red herrings.

With Curtains, the case to me seemed that there was JUST as much focus on the side plots than the mystery. This was especially the case with the love story angle between the Lt and dancer Nicki. No fault at all to Leah West's performance, but she was given a VERY bad card - possibly the most ingenu-ic and generic love-interest I have seen in a LONG time! 

Also would any detective start hooking up with one of their suspects.....? If they go by the book at least...

It seemed it often wanted to focus on that, the "big show" and the farcical elements, rather than tell us who the bloody killer is!! And when did the Lt. found a clue, it seemed out of blue, making it hard to follow the mystery along. 

Dw, no spoilers though. I wouldn't be THAT evil! 

Having said all that, it does not by any means make Curtains a bad show - it may just come from me, as we do like our detective shows in casa Hutch. 

If you want one that doesn't take itself too seriously, then I would 100% recommend Curtains. It is also the rare chance to see a show from one of Broadway's best known duos that isn't often produced. 

The show finishes its run in Manchester tonight, but continues its run across the country.