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| Home > NYC > "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" (a new musical) |
| "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" (a new musical) | | Date Created: Feb 15, 2005, 08:38 PM |
 If the title to this new Broadway musical sounds familiar, it's probably because you're familiar with the Steve Martin and Michael Cain movie from years back, or an earlier version starring Marlon Brando and David Niven. "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", in its new, musical comedy form, is bound to be Broadway's next big hit.
John Lithgow (of TV's, Third Rock from the Sun) stars alongside Norberto Leo Butz (a young musical veteran of "Wicked", "Rent" and "The Last 5 Years"), in a colorful, dastardly, and smashing production that is chock full of laughter and entertainment value. The two play con men, who charm their way through the French Riviera, and then bet each other on winning the love of a rich blonde starlett (played by "Aida" veteran, Sherie Renee Scott). The well-cast play is very engaging, and is a definite crowd pleaser, played up for full laughs by characters who often break the fourth wall to let us know they are putting us on. The action moves along swiftly, with musical numbers that vary from waltzes to rap! The stage design features minimal scenery that somehow manages to take us from the shores of the Riviera, to a luxurious mansion, to an exquisite hotel lobby in seconds flat. (It's no wonder, since this theater was once home to the immense revolving stage of Les Miserables. One can't help but chuckle while watching the palm trees and set pieces being pulled upstage by the splendidly dressed, bubbly singing background cast, as the stage revolves and pulls the set pieces into place).
Lithgow is appealing, and seeing him in person makes one acutely aware of his many talents. Butz sings his little heart out, and acts up like Rick Moranis on drugs, or rather, like Jack Black in "School of Rock", in a zany, no-holds-barred performance. Costar Sherie Renee Scott, dutifly soulful and ditzy in Aida, here plays a scaterbrain to perfection. I had seen the young talented pair perform together before in the moving off Broadway show, "The Last Five Years", and it was great to see this chemistry work so well again on stage here. Raves also go to the supporting cast, particularly Joanna Gleason and Greg Jbara, both of whom turn in fine, funny performances, she as an artsy optomist, and he as a French narcisist. Joanna, most notable from her role Into the Woods, is very interesting to watch, but occasionally feels as if she's once again stepped "into the wrong story", as her Woods character would sing, creating a subplot that doesn't seem to go anywhere (except to payoff in the end).
I wasn't familiar with the movie or story, so I found the subtle surprises and plot twists fun and interesting. However, the first act runs over an hour and fifteen minutes, and I fear those who might already know what's coming might be restless by 9:15.
As a musical production, there are moments which could have perhaps been envisioned better. One character, an oakie from Oklahoma, gets a full cowboy get up song and western dance number, but only after a long and slightly flat scene in which Lithgow's character tries to dissuade her from being interested in marrying him. The character is never heard from again. The dialogue in this scene, although used to play up the actress's part, could very easily have been set to music, which would have moved the scene along a lot quicker, thereby saving at least 10 minutes. Other scenes that didn't need songs, had themes that could have been expressed in dialogue. In total, I enjoyed the wide variety of musical styles used in the story, but a little stronger editing would have made this an even better show.
This show is perfect for older folks who want a charming night on the town, and great for tourist who need to see something on their trips into the city. There are a few profanities spoken and sung throughout the show, which might offend some. Kids might be bored. In my opinion, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is genuinely funny, engaging, and smells like a hit. At least it did to us last night.
(Note: My Dearest and I don't always take time out to see new American-made musicals. You can say in a way we are biased about this, because our interest lies more in the sweeping spectacles from abroad rather than what we consider to be often bland and boring Broadway fare. We're more into rock inspired offerings than old fashioned fuddy duddy-isms. But this new show, in previews at the Imperial Theater in NY, seemed like a fun & somewhat romantic way to spend our Valentine's Day Evening. And fun & romantic it was. "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" was anything but "dirty" or "rotten", it was both sparkling and ripe! --AG)
Photo: John Lithgow, Sherie Renee Scott & Norbert Leo Butz ©2005 from Broadway.com, Visit the show's Official Site .
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