Review – Curtains, A Musical Whodunnit at The Regent Theatre*

Curtains is currently on at The Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent and stars comedian and stage performer, Jason Manford.  We were lucky enough to watch it last night in all its newly presented glory as they started their first performance for their UK tour right here in Hanley.   Curtains is an original story by Peter Stone, who unfortunately passed away prior to its competition, so it was rewritten by Rupert Holmes who is a British American playwright and composer. It was then put into action by the famous duo Kander and Ebb, who wrote the lyrics and music. You may recognise them from the classics Cabaret and Chicago. However, Ebb died the following year, also, prior to the Musicals completion. You might think that this was a sign for the curtains to close (‘scuse the pun), however, this was thankfully not the case – and it was completed by a collective of people who managed to get in on stage in 2007 only a few years beyond its start.

Curtains is a Musical whodunnit and is set in the late 1950s in the backstage area of a Theatre. The plot commences with the show being performed within the show and you meet the unlikely and untalented lead of Jessica Cranshaw (played by Nia Jermin) who is unbelievable murder right infant of you and the rest of the cast. This is where the mystery begins and the plot thickens. This leads us to the introduction of the lead character of Lieutenant Frank Cioffi played by the brilliant Jason Manford. Who you wouldn’t believe started his days as a glass collector in a comedy club only to be put on stage due to an act not turning up and the rest is history.

Manford, slots into the musical theatre like a duck to water. He can sing he can move (I wouldn’t fully say dance) and really captivated the audience when on stage. The whole chorus was amazing too. When they sang together their voices were so harmonised, it was really beautiful to hear. But the stand out performer of the night was Mrs Bernstein played by Rebecca Lock. The way Lock had played the character reminded me of the 1950s TV program I love Lucy, that starred Lucille Ball. She had the same red hair and red lips iconic of Lucy, and the same rude humour. Not only that but her singing performances were so well done. Her voices was again iconic of style of 1950s Americana.

Another thing I love about Musicals is the live music that accompanies then played from in front of the stage by the orchestra. The music is played so perfectly you feel like you could be at home sat listening to your studio produced soundtrack, blasting through the speakers. It is basically flawless! The orchestra was also perfectly timed with the cast and their vocals, or comedic moments that were accompanied by a ping on the triangle or clatter or the symbols. In addition to this, the sets were simply great, with the feel of being backstage in an old theatre enrobed with the typical bright red curtains you might remember. The lighting, which I feel I can never leave out, as it really is such an integral part, as the spotlights capture the actors during their poignant solos, or when it used to create the atmosphere within a scene.

It was genuinely a perfectly produced performance. The sound, down to the mini mics on the cast members to the level of sound from the orchestra, and the quality and reach of the vocals, was phenomenal. Equally, the interchanging set from each area of the stage, to the curtains and the lights; each felt at one with each other.

My only real critique would be that at times the theme/plot felt slightly rushed. Whether the script at times incorporated too much, meaning that the actors were at points having to rush out their lines with no pause for effect,  which could have made some of the funny moments even funnier. The only actor I felt truly won with the pause and effect of one-liners, was the role of Christopher Belling, the Director of the show, played by Samuel Holmes. He really had some funny lines and did seem to squeeze them in followed by a pause which totally added to the laugh out loud moments that occurred in the audience.

All in all (my favourite line if you’ve read our other theatre reviews) it was a really enjoyable evening with a brilliantly produced, and if you like a little murder mystery with the combined entertainment of music! Curtains, the whodunnit musical is perfect for you. You can’t fault the quality of writing by Kander and Ebb, which leads for a guaranteed triumph in a play like this.

The Regent Theatre Cast

JASON MANFORD – Frank Cioffi
CARLEY STENSON – Georgia Hendricks
ANDY COXON – Aaron Fox
REBECCA LOCK – Carmen Bernstein
SAMUEL HOLMES – Christopher Belling
LEAH BARBARA WEST – Niki Harris
ALAN BURKITT – Bobby Pepper
MARTIN CALLAGHAN – Oscar Shapiro
EMMA CAFFREY – Bambi Bernet
NIA JERMIN – Jessica Cranshaw
ADAM RHYS-CHARLES – Daryl Grady
MARK SANGSTER – Sidney Bernstein
MINAL PATEL – Johnny Harmon
KATE IVORY JORDAN – Ensemble
CHARLIE JOHNSON – Ensemble
GLEANNE PURCELL-BROWN – Ensemble
THOMAS-LEE KIDD – Detective O’Farrell/Ensemble
SAMUEL JOHN-HUMPHREYS – Harv Fremont/Ensemble
J.R. BALLANTYNE – Randy Dexter/Ensemble
KATHRYN BARNES – Ensemble/On-Stage Swing
ROBIN KENT – Ensemble/On-Stage Swing
PAMELA BLAIR – Offstage Swing/Assistant Dance Captain
BENJAMIN MUNDY – Offstage Swing/Dance Captain

Creatives
FRED EBB – Lyrics
JOHN KANDER – Music
RUPERT HOLMES – Book
PETER STONE – Original book and concept
PAUL FOSTER – Director
ALISTAIR DAVID – Choreographer
SARAH TRAVIS – Musical Supervisor & Arrangements
DAVID WOODHEAD- Set Designer
GABRIELLA SLADE – Costume Designer
TIM MITCHELL – Lighting Designer
TOM MARSHALL – Sound Designer
ALEX BEETSCHEN – Musical Director
JIM ARNOLD CDG – Casting Director
DAN LOONEY, ADAM PAULDEN & JASON HAIGH-ELLERY for
DLAP ENTERTAINMENT  – Producers

How much do the tickets cost?

Tickets are priced from £13. The show is suitable for ages 12+. 

How do I book tickets to watch Curtains?

Tickets are now on sale and available from the Box Office, by calling 0844 871 7649 or by visiting ATG’s website here.

Where is The Regent Theatre in Hanley, Stoke?
Piccadilly
Stoke-on-Trent
ST1 1AP
Tel: 08448717649

About Regent Theatre

The Regent Theatre is a theatre in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Constructed in 1929 as a cinema, it is one of several theatres in the city centre and one of two owned by the Ambassador Theatre Group. The building was converted for full-time use as a theatre in 1999, and since then has hosted a number of shows and musicals. The theatre is also the northern base for the Glyndebourne Touring Opera.

About DLAP Entertainment

Created by producers Dan Looney and Adam Paulden, DLAP Entertainment is an Olivier Award-winning production company, which produces, manages and finances multiple musicals, plays and concerts across the globe. DLAP have a produced a host of productions across the UK and globally including the recent multi-Olivier award-winning revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Company at the Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End; the smash-hit musical, Rock of Ages on tour in the UK and Ireland and international productions; the 30^th Anniversary Tour of Fame! across the UK, Ireland and internationally and The Wedding Singer, the musical based on the Adam Sandler movie: winner of the ‘Best Musical’ award at the Deagu International Musical Festival 2019. and starring Jason Manford and the UK premiere of the Frank Wildhorn, Don Black and Ivan Menchell musical, Bonnie & Clyde (West End 2020 prior to UK Tour).

Tips / Information

• Parking is ample either around the public car parks close to The Regent, but do check the rules. Some parking lots might need you to pay even at night. We parked up at intu Potteries and that cost us £1 (its fixed rate after 6pm).
• You can buy snacks and drinks inside the theatre, but remember if you want a drink at the interval, you can pre-order it so that there is no queuing when you get to the break in the show.
• Programme Booklets are usually on sale for £5, full details of the show and cast members are featured on it.
• The Regent is a beautiful theatre with ornate decor and traditional seating. It has plenty of performances out throughout the year and lots of variety.

Review by : Lex Ward

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Photo Credit :  Regent Theatre / Curtains / The Other Richard

* We were provided with press tickets in exchange for a review. All opinions are our own.