Curtains, a musical by John Kander, Fred Ebb, Rupert Holmes at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Starring David Hyde Pierce, Karen Ziemba, Jill Paice, Jason Danielly, Edward Hibbert, and Debra Monk. It seems appropriate that almost a year to the day we posted our first "test report" on our Broadway Bridge and Tunnel Test, the "Drowsey Chaperone," we now review another musical that offers a loving look at the Broadway musical in the "golden age." "Curtains" perhaps the last work by Kander and Ebb that will be newly offered on Broadway offers a funny take on musicals like "Oklahoma!" and "Annie Get Your Gun." In Rob Ashford's bright choreography, there are sly allusions to Agnes De Mille's once groundbreaking dances for "Oklahoma!" which remain familiar to many because they are well preserved in the Hollywood film. "Curtains" is a clever and witty murder mystery which takes place behind the scenes and even on stage. The score is an expert concoction by two masters, Kander and Ebb, with help by Rupert Holmes who worked with an Original Book and Concept by Peter Stone. Kander himself was left on his own when Ebb died and wrote (unintentionally perhaps) a moving tribute to songwriting collaborators "I Miss the Music." There are several show stoppers including "Show People," "Coffee Shop Nights," "Wide Open Spaces," "It's a Business," and my favorite number "What Kind of Man?" a ruthless trashing of critics that may have contributed to the show getting less than stellar reviews from denizens of the Fourth Estate without a sense of humor. The critics may not have liked the show, but audiences do as "Curtains" is now playing to near capacity. The audience was wildly enthusiastic. When we went to the half price booth yesterday, only partial views were available, and we found the same result at the Box Office. Nonetheless we had a seat we enjoyed and loved the show, every minute of it. The sets are sumptuous and colorful, the costumes terrific and the talented cast which even includes the great Ernie Sabella (of Pumbah fame) in a small part, is outstanding. David Hyde Pierce sings and dances his way into our hearts along with his ingenue amour played by the beautiful Jill Paice. Debra Monk stops the show with "It's a Business." Jason Danielly sings the heartbreaking ballad "I Miss the Music" with just the right wistfulness. I won't give the mystery away, but I can tell you that the audience was buzzing with speculation up till the final moment when the solution is revealed. Although scribes have written that "Curtains" is a minor entry in the Kander and Ebb canon, I predict that it will assume a proud place in their work and have a long life on the road and in revivals. Another wag wrote that "Curtains" is good, but "Your Grandfather's Musical." Well my Grandfather's musical was "Show Boat," my Father's musicals were "Oklahoma" and "South Pacific" and my own very first musicals were "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Cabaret," so I'm not put off by the comparison. The cast album, which we purchased yesterday, confirmed our pleasure in the score as we happily listened to it on our commute home through the Holland Tunnel and beyond to New Jersey. Our Broadway Bridge and Tunnel Test grade for "Curtains" is A-