After 5: Killer of a Show

“Curtains,” a musical running through May 16 at the historic Landers Theatre in downtown Springfield, makes use of the play-within-a-play formula made famous by “Noises Off” and “The Producers.”

Springfield Little Theatre Artistic Director Beth Domann, well known for many roles on the Landers stage and her stand up comedy, along with music director Susan Gravatt and choreographer Lorianne Dunn (and a great technical staff, cast and group of musicians), has put together one of the funniest, tightest productions Springfield Little Theatre has ever presented. The “Curtains” cast is large, the music and dance numbers are numerous, and there’s not a hitch in the entire affair.

Set in 1959 in the Boston theater district, the plot revolves around a rather bad musical called “Robbin’ Hood of the Old West,” whose producers are fine-tuning it before (hopefully) heading to Broadway.

When people affiliated with the play – beginning with the decidedly untalented leading lady – start turning up dead, Detective Frank Cioffi is called in to investigate. Realizing someone in the cast is the murderer, he sequesters the entire company – and locks down the theater.

This is an opportunity for the company to rework what is obviously a pretty lame production and also affords Cioffi to fall for one of the actresses who is, like everyone else, a suspect.

The action is fast-paced and funny. There are a number of hilarious songs, including “The Woman’s Dead,” “He Did It,” and a combination number that intertwines several versions of the showstopper, “In the Same Boat.”

“It’s the best and the worst of show people,” director Domann says of the play’s characters. “And we have an incredibly talented cast. The show is so funny, and then it’s heartwarming.”

“Curtains” also has a gimmick, and that’s not a belittling term. Each night, the cameo role of Detective O’Farrell will be played by a different notable person. The actors range from radio and TV personalities Ned Reynolds and Randy Stewart to businessmen Jack Stack, Andy Lear and Kirk Elmquist.

Elmquist, a partner at Morelock-Ross Group of Cos., says he may have gotten bitten by the acting bug in his first experience on stage.

“I’ve been asked to audition for Daddy Warbucks. And this just might be the help to get me involved,” he says. “I have a good sense of humor about myself, and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

“Curtains” is a whole lot of fun, packed with great musical numbers, an engaging mystery and a good deal of humor.[[In-content Ad]]