Dance, costumes stand out in 'Curtains'

As the curtain comes up, you are thrown into the world of a Boston theatre production. A thin, beautiful woman with a fancy dress and a clear need for attention stands apart from the rest of the cast of professional actors performing the best they can in the situation they're in. The colorful costumes and advanced dance numbers stand out in Bordentown Regional High School's production of "Curtains".

"Curtains" was written in 2006 by Rupert Holmes and first premiered on Broadway on March 22, 2007. It closed on June 29, 2008. The show won one Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for David Hyde Pierce. The music was composed by John Kander, and the lyrics were written by Fred Ebb. The show is based on the mysterious murder of leading lady and diva Jessica Cranshaw. A series of other shocking murders soon follow, leaving the audience and Lieutenant Frank Cioffi guessing who in the cast or ensemble is the murderer.

Bordentown Regional High School's production stood out for strong vocals, especially from the female leads, and intricate choreography that showed off the talent of some advanced dancers. The whole ensemble worked well together and stayed in character. The numerous costume changes and seamless stage crew really added to the experience.

Brittany Friedman, who played Niki Harris, stood out for her bubbly personality and smooth voice. She added energy to the show when necessary. Arden Walker, who played Georgia Hendricks, the songwriter turned leading lady, also had strong vocals and performed with ease on the stage. Matt Luyber, who played Lieutenant Frank Cioffi, provided comic relief and was a strong presence on the stage.

Kelly Ermi, who played aspiring actress Bambi Bernet, was the strongest dancer and moved with ease. Frankie Confalone, who played songwriter Aaron Fox, touched the audience with his rendition of "I Miss the Music", making it one of the most emotional moments of the evening. Every member of the ensemble as a whole was in character and never missed a beat in the elaborate dance numbers.

The makeup and costumes in this show caught the attention of the audience in each scene. There seemed to never be an end to 50s-style dresses that the female cast members wore. Although sound cues were sometimes missed, the sound was smooth for the most part, and there was rarely a moment when the cast couldn't be heard.

Bordentown Regional's production was well-rehearsed and performed, and was a pleasure to experience!