"Curtains" is a "whodunit" musical based on the book by Rupert Holmes with lyrics by Fred Ebb and music by John Kander, with additional lyrics by Kander and Holmes. The Wood River High School Wolverine Players will perform an adapted version of the musical on Wednesday, April 28, and Friday, April 30, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 1, at 5 p.m. at the Community Campus theater. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors and high school students and free for middle school students.
Set in 1950s Boston, "Curtains" is a play-within-a-play murder mystery. When the untalented lead of "Robbin' Hood of the Old West" is murdered during her opening night curtain call, a detective and theater enthusiast is called to solve the crime before the show reopens.
"Curtains" resonates a bit of "Chicago" and "Cabaret," mainly because it was written by the same writers, but it's silly and fun.
"It's high-school appropriate," said director Karl Nordstrom. "It has a lot of naughty humor but it's still OK for families."
Nordstrom said he wanted to do something big and thought a murder mystery would be fun, especially for the school's seniors, who have been in the theater for three years.
"I think it's very witty, fun with lots of humor," said actor Jeff Maxwell. "It's a murder mystery-comedy with a love twist."
Maxwell, Conor Zaft and Erin Burbank are seniors who will continue their love for theater beyond high school. Maxwell will attend Cornish College of the Arts in the fall, Zaft will attend Evergreen College and Burbank will be doing an internship with the Young Americans theater troupe in California.
"I am having lots of fun," said Brook Bower. "I smile, look pretty and say comments that fit."
Other cast members said the choreography is fun with lifts and flips, which are very cool.
"It's the first time doing drama," said Brooke Lawrence. "I'm having so much fun and I'm with great people every afternoon."
Nordstrom said more guys need to come experience the theater, and it's a great mixture of sophomores, juniors and seniors. The play has 33 cast members with a four-member band under the direction of Max Stimac, choreography by Sara Gorby, lighting design by Hilarie Neely and costumes by Janit Karrys and Cathy Reinheimer. In addition, graduating senior Elizabeth Dion, who will attend Northwest College of Art in the Seattle this fall, created the set design and is a company artist.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
“Curtains” is the spring musical for the Wood River High School Wolverine Players, which will take place at the Community Campus theater. Photo by Willy Cook
