An architect with an interest in theater is starring as a detective with an interest in theater in the whodunit "Curtains," a play about a play that opens tonight in Lebanon.
Confused yet?
The Looking Glass Playhouse will present the musical comedy, which won three Tony Awards in 2007 during its 15-month run on Broadway.
"I got the opportunity to see it on Broadway, and I just knew we had to do it at Looking Glass Playhouse," said director Kathleen Dwyer, 48, of O'Fallon. "It's so much fun."
The show won Tonys for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (David Hyde Pierce), Outstanding Book of a Musical (Rupert Holmes and Peter Stone) and Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Debra Monk).
Music and lyrics were written by John Kander and Fred Ebb.
"That's how I got my orchestra," said Dwyer, a chemistry teacher in Maplewood, Mo. "They love Kander and Ebb. They're best known for 'Cabaret' and 'Chicago.' That's the caliber you're dealing with here."
"Curtains" is set in Boston in 1959. A community theater group is performing a musical called "Robbin Hood," a Western version of the traditional "Robin Hood." The lead actress collapses and dies on stage during the curtain call on opening night.
The poisoning is investigated by Lt. Frank Cioffi, played by Dwyer's husband, Ron Lippert. Cioffi also is a theater buff.
"He locks down the (Colonial Theatre)," said Lippert, 47, an architect. "He won't let anybody leave until he solves the crime because (the actress) had to be killed by somebody in the production. He tells them that he's sequestering them but that it will give them a chance to fix the show. It got terrible reviews."
Rae Sterrett plays Cioffi's love interest, Niki Harris, an actress in "Robbin Hood." She's described as a sweet, but naive ingenue.
"I know who the killer is, but I just don't know I know it," said Sterrett, 29, of New Baden, a Chinese language teacher. "He's doing it because of me in a round-about way."
Other leads in the high-energy cast are Stephanie Rhein, of Fairview Heights, as brassy Broadway producer Carmen Bernstein; Bruce Bowman, of O'Fallon, and Doreen Warfield, of Swansea, as the songwriting team Aaron and Georgia; and Caitlin Wade, of O'Fallon, and Brian Scheppler, of Fairview Heights, as dancing duo Bambi and Bobby.
"It has been the most fun cast I've every worked with," Dwyer said. "They're so talented and hard-working. This show is very demanding. They've risen to the challenge and excelled at it."
Lippert and his architect-colleague Gary Karasek created the set, which includes the Colonial's backstage and scenes from "Robbin Hood."
The show is considered technically difficult.
"We've got two people who are murdered and then several attempts," said Lippert, who also serves as assistant director. "So I had to find ways to safely try and kill people on stage. There are a variety of methods used. I had to pull out every creative device I've got."
At a glance
What: "Curtains"
Who: Looking Glass Playhouse community theater group
Where: Looking Glass Playhouse, 301 W. St. Louis St. in Lebanon
When: 7:30 p.m. tonight through Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday; 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2-4 and 2 p.m. Feb. 5
Admission: $10 with discounts for students, senior citizens, military personnel and groups
Tickets: Visit www.lookingglassplayhouse.com
Reservations: Leave a message at 537-4962
