DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS | THEATRE REVIEW
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Tues 18 Aug
One of the problems with adaptations is that comparison to the original material often disappoints. This can be especially true of musicals, with a history of high-risk disasters (Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark, the RSC 1988 Carrie) littered amongst the well-known success stories (The Lion King, Shreck). The latest high profile show on tour from the West End to arrive in Cardiff is a great example of an adaptation that is a success story: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, based on the 1988 film starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine, delivers an uproarious comedy that draws on the source film but creates something wonderfully new, unique and marvellous.
The plot centres around two conmen, the suave English gentleman Lawrence Jameson and the roughneck American Freddy Benson, who compete to see who can swindle an American heiress out of $50,000. Their resultant escapades provide much amusement and slapstick comedy, as they impersonate ridiculous characters in order to win the bet, whilst being mindful of a renowned, mysterious con artist known as ‘the Jackal’ lurking in the vicinity.
The book by Jeffrey Lane adapts the source material with skill and ingenuity, adding relationships not in the original and filling the stage with zingy one-liners. The music and lyrics by David Yazbek employ a variety of musical styles and moods, including a riotous ode to prairie life in Oklahoma?, jazzy numbers such as Great Big Stuf and the ending Dirty Rotten Number whilst also providing traditional solo crowd pleasers like Here I Am and Love Sneaks In. The lyrics are by turn witty, emotional and strangely bizarre in places, with an obscenity that drew audible gasps from the audience. I especially enjoyed the more sleazy, funk style numbers such as All About Ruprecht and the German Oompah Band vibe of Ruffhousin’ Mit Shüfhausen.
The cast are excellent throughout, with Michael Praed playing the consummate conman Jameson with just the right touch of vanity and arrogance, backed up by the wonderful drollness of Mark Benton as Inspector Andre, the corrupt French policeman in cahoots with Jameson. Benton’s comic timing, particularly in his blossoming love affair with the English tourist Muriel (elegantly played by Geraldine Fitzgerald) was a joy to watch.
But the real brilliance of this production lies in the performances of Noel Sullivan as Freddy and Phoebe Coupe as the duped Christine Colgate. Sullivan plays the madcap Benson with wit and energy, articulating perfectly the clash of con-artist cultures with Jameson, and his singing voice (as one would expect) stands out in the cast, with one notable exception. An announcement at the start of the show informed the audience that the role of Christine Colgate would be played by the understudy, to a groan from someone behind me, but they needn’t have worried.
Phoebe Coupe is a revelation as Christine, with a soaring, perfectly pitched voice and acting skills to boot. Coupe was a delight throughout, playing the ingénue Christine with a mix of wide-eyed innocence and charm, culminating in the duet Love Is My Legs with Sullivan, the undoubted highlight of the show.
Backed up with sharply choreographed dance numbers by an excellent ensemble directed by Jerry Mitchell and a fluid, imaginative set design based on the original London production by Peter McKintosh, this adaption lives up to the challenge of extending and, in its own way, improving upon the source material.
There’s a great twist at the end for those audience members unfamiliar with the film, and the pacing and timing of the show, particularly after the first twenty minutes, improved as the actors relaxed into their surroundings, but if you like witty, dynamic and slightly surreal classic musicals then you’ll love this show.
words ALEX WREN
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Until Sat 22 Aug. Tickets: £17.50-£45.50 / £50.50-£55.50 premium seats. Info: 029 2063 6464 / wmc.org.uk