Mingling with the audience before the opening, Encore Youth Theatre handle the convoluted plot of Curtains, a little-known final work by Kander and Ebb (Cabaret and Chicago), with great energy and enthusiasm.
This cleverly staged musical pastiche, a show within a show, Robbin’ Hood of The Old West, affectionately mocks Oklahoma.
Talentless diva Jessica Cranshaw, (excellently played by Polly Pike) is murdered during the opening night.
The cast and crew are all suspects in the mind of detective Lieutenant Cioffi (an outstanding, if slightly hurried, performance from Ed Morris) who also happens to be an aspiring theatre director.
He convinces the cast that the show must go on as his investigation continues, the body count rises and he falls for demure understudy Niki Harris, the exceptional Kayla Leeson.
The large company copes well with simple choreography on a small stage. The showstopping number Show People is impressive.
Jenni Walker gives a superb and mature performance as producer Carmen Bernstein. Jack Etheridge is delightfully comic as the show’s director. Natasha Aron as Georgia Hendricks stands out brilliantly.
RUPERT THACKERY
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