Review: The Dirt on DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS

We all love the movie Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Because, really, what's not to love? The seasoned, elegant, upscale, and rather dashing con man Lawrence Jameson (played flawlessly by the sleek and sophisticated Michael Caine) takes a crude, grubby, aspiring con artist Freddie Benson under his wing (Steve Martin in one of his most brilliant and memorable roles). When the master and the protégé become competitors for the heart (and the fortune) of a naive ingénue, hilarity ensues. Unscrupulous leading characters, sexcapades, a hint of romance, a beautiful French Riviera setting, and lots of lying, cheating, dirty rotten deeds. Again, what's not to love about this story? But does the adaptation of the film work as a stage musical? Well...yes and no.

Cautionary Warning: Before we proceed any further with this review, it must be noted that this critic is not a fan of composer/lyricist David Yazbeck's work. It is this opinion of this critic that Yazbeck has a tendency to use gimmicky, self-indulgently witty, and often inappropriate, over-the-top lyrics to masque rather subpar scoring. His songs are more gags than anything else, the melodies are seldom memorable, and rarely moving.

That having been said, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a downright enjoyable show. Having seen it first in all its "glory" on the Broadway stage with the original cast, then the watered-down tour that passed through Los Angeles in 2006, and most recently in the more intimate regional production at the NoHo Arts Center, produced by Interact Theatre Company, there's no denying it's a fun show no matter the scale.

The most enjoyment can be derived from its source material. Jeffrey Lane's book sticks incredibly close to the film in plot, character, and dialogue, so fans of the movie will definitely be onboard. And, giving credit where credit is due, several of Yazbeck's songs are brassy, catchy, and the exaggerated lyrical jokes work well with this type of comedy, which often breaks down the fourth wall and calls self-reflexive attention to itself as a Broadway musical. Yazbeck's wit and topical humor suits material like this which is consistently devilish and lighthearted.

The folks at the Interact Theatre Company do a bang-up job of it, given their limitations of putting on a big-budget, full-scale Broadway musical in a small, regional theatre. Unfortunately, the limitations of the production tend of shed light on some of the show itself's limitations as well. Without the flashy sets and huge ensemble choreography, more attention tends to be paid to the contrived lyrics and rather two-dimensional characters. Its lots of fun for the most part, but the show's few attempts at sincerity or heartfelt emotion tend to fizzle and drag on.

Overall, the cast is a riot. Chip Phillips is a dead ringer for the original Broadway "Lawrence", John Lithgow, both in accent and delivery. Matt Wolpe's "Freddie" is lude, crass, downright hilarious. Supporting standouts include Susan Hull as the duped, emotionally confused heiress "Muriel Eubanks" and Tracy Powell as the Oklahoma princess who paints a delightfully horrific version about life in the panhandle. Comedic-wise, this bunch of actors is sharp, energetic, and deliciously rotten. Vocally, unfortunately the group as whole is slightly flat, muted, and tonally off. But not to the point that it detracts too much from the entertainment of the show.

Audiences in the mood for something, light, clever, and comical should pop on down to the NoHo Arts Center and see Scoundrels. It's ball, it's a blast, and it's a shame that it won't last. See it before it closes March 21^st.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

NoHo Arts Center: 11136 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, 91601. Tickets $30-15, can be purchased by calling (818) 765-8732 or visiting interactla.org.

 

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