RELATED STORY: Preview of Guild's "Curtains"

IF YOU GO: Charleston Light Opera Guild's "Curtains"has shows 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, June 26-28. At Civic Center Little Theater. Tickets $20. Call 304-343-2287 or see http://www.charlestonlightoperaguild.org

By Susan Bissett Spangler

For the Gazette

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A backstage murder set to music kicked off FestivALL last Friday, and it will close out the celebration this Sunday. The Charleston Light Opera Guild's production of the musical whodunit, "Curtains," brought vibrancy and color to this campy story based on the book by Peter Stone.

Set in 1959 at Boston's Colonial Theatre, "Robbin' Hood! A New Musical of the Old West" is wrapping up out-of-town tryouts. The story unfolds as a police detective, Lt. Frank Cioffi, arrives to investigate the backstage murder of the show's outrageously untalented star, Jessica Cranshaw.

Although Cranshaw dies early in the first act, Sallie Daugherty does her justice and brought gaggles of laughter from the audience at Charleston Civic Center's Little Theater.

The production also includes many Guild favorites such as Ted Brightwell, who plays Johnny Harmon, "Robbin' Hood's" stage manager; Bob McCarty as Cioffi and Laura Pennington as co-producer Carmen Burnstein.

Pennington's portrayal of Burnstein is top notch. She belts out songs as if she is performing alongside the best of Broadway. Pennington is a true show stopper and perhaps the actual star of this production.

Alan Pennington plays Sidney Burnstein, Carmen's philandering husband. Pennington appears on stage late in the first act returning from business (code for "tryst with a Broadway actress"). The New York dialect he brings on stage is priceless. In fact, one might argue that Alan Pennington actually steals the show at the opening of the second act when he appears large as life and looking quite ominous while singing with the orchestra.

Georgia Hendricks, the show's lyricist, is thrust into the leading role. However, the part seems practically written for Guild newcomer Emily Capece whose voice, dance moves and demeanor captivated the audience.

As composer Aaron Fox (Brian Deweese) pursues Hendricks throughout the show, the audience is entertained by Deweese's rich and forceful voice. Others performers to watch are Cary Brown (Nikki Harris) and Jennifer Lynn Arnold (Bambi Bernet). Brown is a Guild veteran who adds comedy and whimsy to the production. Bernet's character brings conflict with Carmen Burnstein (Bambi's mother). Her dance performance is not-to-miss.

Although, according to the storyline, the reviews of "Robbin' Hood" are less than stellar, there is no question that "Curtains" is a must-see for Charleston theatergoers.

RELATED STORY: Preview of Guild's "Curtains"

IF YOU GO: Charleston Light Opera Guild's "Curtains"has shows 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, June 26-28. At Civic Center Little Theater. Tickets $20. Call 304-343-2287 or see http://www.charlestonlightoperaguild.org

By Susan Bissett Spangler
For the Gazette

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A backstage murder set to music kicked off FestivALL last Friday, and it will close out the celebration this Sunday. The Charleston Light Opera Guild's production of the musical whodunit, "Curtains," brought vibrancy and color to this campy story based on the book by Peter Stone.

Set in 1959 at Boston's Colonial Theatre, "Robbin' Hood! A New Musical of the Old West" is wrapping up out-of-town tryouts. The story unfolds as a police detective, Lt. Frank Cioffi, arrives to investigate the backstage murder of the show's outrageously untalented star, Jessica Cranshaw.

Although Cranshaw dies early in the first act, Sallie Daugherty does her justice and brought gaggles of laughter from the audience at Charleston Civic Center's Little Theater.

The production also includes many Guild favorites such as Ted Brightwell, who plays Johnny Harmon, "Robbin' Hood's" stage manager; Bob McCarty as Cioffi and Laura Pennington as co-producer Carmen Burnstein.

Pennington's portrayal of Burnstein is top notch. She belts out songs as if she is performing alongside the best of Broadway. Pennington is a true show stopper and perhaps the actual star of this production.

Alan Pennington plays Sidney Burnstein, Carmen's philandering husband. Pennington appears on stage late in the first act returning from business (code for "tryst with a Broadway actress"). The New York dialect he brings on stage is priceless. In fact, one might argue that Alan Pennington actually steals the show at the opening of the second act when he appears large as life and looking quite ominous while singing with the orchestra.

Georgia Hendricks, the show's lyricist, is thrust into the leading role. However, the part seems practically written for Guild newcomer Emily Capece whose voice, dance moves and demeanor captivated the audience.

As composer Aaron Fox (Brian Deweese) pursues Hendricks throughout the show, the audience is entertained by Deweese's rich and forceful voice. Others performers to watch are Cary Brown (Nikki Harris) and Jennifer Lynn Arnold (Bambi Bernet). Brown is a Guild veteran who adds comedy and whimsy to the production. Bernet's character brings conflict with Carmen Burnstein (Bambi's mother). Her dance performance is not-to-miss.

Although, according to the storyline, the reviews of "Robbin' Hood" are less than stellar, there is no question that "Curtains" is a must-see for Charleston theatergoers.