Curtains

Dronfield MTG are a very inclusive society with many families involved at all ages not only performing but also creating set pieces, props, costumes and acting as FOH . Curtains is not an overly well-known musical so well done for taking this” musical comedy whodunit” and on giving your audiences something different from the many better-known shows. Set mainly as if backstage in rehearsal utilising strategically placed set pieces and cleverly having waggon wheels and other furniture in and around the orchestra pit along with the orchestra members wearing country style clothing and cowboy hats. Well done a lovely touch. Your director Sarah Betts in her first directing role clearly worked hard in creating this theatre piece.On many times during the production the whole cast are involved on stage so giving everyone enough direction so as to maintain involvement but not overdoing the movement so as to detract from the principals was well thought out and delivered. The choreography and experience from Andrea Powell were well executed by the performers with some excellent picture scenes. The showgirl section all in red and black along with the simple but cleverly thought out three bed section were my particular favourites. Your MD Judith Haywood led the extremely well-balanced orchestra very well, maintaining excellent volume levels so as to not drown out the actors and singers and not forgetting your solo performance as Sasha in The Man is Dead. Along with your work bringing the best out of ensemble and principals alike. The sound and lighting worked well except for some frustrating crackling with one of the mics. The backstage team worked well in reducing changing time allowing the production to flow well and compliments to all those involved in costume making and sourcing. They looked very appropriate throughout. The FOH were all very welcoming as always. 

I particularly like the way you give each performer a character name in the programme but forgive me I will not be mentioning everyone by name, this however takes nothing away from the roles and small cameo pieces undertaken. The inclusion of all ages is lovely to see and affords a great stepping stone for the younger members to learn and gain valuable stage awareness from the established principals. Curtains is a long show with a fine array of songs and many almost play like scenes involving lengthy sections of prose. 

Mark Cunningham as Cioffi the detective, a massive role to undertake with many well performed scenes, the all American policeman not only trying to establish the killer whilst re arranging the rehearsal[P1] [P2]  and suggesting many better ways to perform the show along with trying to win his love interest Niki played by Beth Black. A powerful performance throughout Mark with some memorable songs including Show People, A Tough Act to Follow and your solo Coffee Shop Nights. Niki by Beth Black. Well done, an excellent character part with some well delivered lines, great singing and lovely visual asides along with your beautifully performed duet with Cioffi. A Tough Act to Follow. Janet Black as Georgia, wow such a lot to learn, a great performance with lovely singing and acting , your interactions with Aaron as co-writers and questioning stage decisions with the show director Paul Black performed brilliantly along with a number of well performed scenes with your stage daughter Bambi , played by Ellie Ashmore.. Cara Chester as Carmen another very well performed role with major involvement throughout, your solo work in It’s a Business was great along with many others, a full-on character performed excellently. Dave Hoyle as Aaron Fox the co -writer,  another well executed role of singing and acting and the solo of I Miss the Music was one of my particular favourites. A number of smaller cameo performances by David Allen as Sidney Bernstein,  Ian Price as Daryl Grady and Frank Badger all performed convincingly and well delivered with lots of involvement in the story telling business areas of the musical. Ellie Ashmore as Bambi gave a very commendable performance as the writer’s daughter or should we say step daughter !! Great dancing and singing along with an easy stage presence. Paul Black as the show Director Christopher Belling, many of his actions and the way he played the role kept me thinking of another Christopher of TV fame. A large very involved part performed to the highest standard along with singing, I really enjoyed The Women’s Dead number. The way you portrayed being always right at the same time as taking credit for all others people’s better suggestions was just great. Gayle Hazelby as Joni Harmon,  the stage manager and much more , a great well performed part giving the no nonsense feeling to the role , well done. Another well performed role undertaken by Julie Ballin as Bobby Pepper, with plenty of involvment in memorable numbers , The Women’s Dead and In The Same Boat being two of my favourites along with well performed emotional scenes . Rachel Cooper-Bassett doubled her roles as initially the off-key star of the show Jessica Cranshaw delivering larger than life badly sung notes before being the first to die, much to the delight of the remaining cast and then adopting the role as Roberta Wooster another full on character part performed extremely well. As I mentioned earlier there are many smaller but none the less integral character parts to this production all performed well. The show has plenty to entertain, many excellent songs, the devious whodunnit plot, the romances and the sadness. The ensemble maintaining good stage presence and character throughout.

The musical even though less known than some has much to enjoy performed by the hard working Dronfield MTG, a few tickets still remaining so support your local theatre company with their musical, Curtains.

Thank you again for inviting us to see your production and excellent hospitality.

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