DIRTY PRYCELESS SCOUNDREL!!

I was on a recent jaunt to New York City last week and was privileged to catch Jonathan Pryce as the newest scoundrel in the hit musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels housed at the Imperial Theatre. Mr. Pryce has replaced John Lithgow as Lawrence Jameson, a part made famous on film by Michael Caine in the 1988 film of the same name, remade from the 1964 film Bedtime Story featuring David Niven.

The rest of the cast remains in place, including Tony Award Winner Norbert Leo Butz as Freddy Benson, Rachel York as Christine Colgate, Gregory Jbara as Jameson's faithful assistant Andre and Joanna Gleason as Muriel Eubanks.

Mr. Pryce, who won the Tony Award for his portrayal as the Engineer in the Original Broadway Cast of Miss Saigon, takes instant command of the show in the opening number "Give Them What They Want", and from that point on he has the audience routing for his scheming existence.  Pryce's voice is must more polished than his predecessor.

What makes the show work, however, is the chemistry between Pryce and Butz, and love hate relationship that ends up bonding the two crooks together. The number "All About Ruprecht", allows Butz to put any notions of Steve Martin in the film out of your memory and makes the character much funnier and much more real. Watching Butz dry hump Pryce is an image I can't get out of my head.

The story goes into full throttle when Rachel York enters as America's Soap Queen and the bet that ensues between Freddy and Lawrence. Ms. York's voice is as beautiful to listen to as she is to look at. Her perceived naivety sets up the funniest and most touching moments in the show and with numbers such as "Ruffousin' mit Shuffhausen" and "Love is My Legs", the three leads take each other on the ride of their lives. The musical follows closely to the plot of the 1988 film, so for those who not seen it, I will not give away the final scenes.

The sets by David Rockwell allow the right mood of color and ambiance to inhabit the world the Lawrence Jamison has created for himself. The sound however was very uneven throughout the performance, with more a balance needed with Pryce's microphone and the orchestra.

Catch Pryce and Butz while you can. Mr. Butz is only scheduled to appear for another few months and missing these two dirty, rotten scoundrels would be the biggest crime of all.