2/21 Review of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

[Mattio98]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 10:37pm

Ever found yourself, for various reasons, just smiling for an extended period of time. Well Monday night, I did. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is the most fun I've had at the theatre in awhile. It's like a throwback to the old-fashioned musical comedies of the Golden Age of Broadway.

Let's start with the material. I've never seen the movie but I found the book to this show to be very witty and fast-paced. Bouncy and fun without being stupid. The score by David Yazbek is very good. I found myself humming various parts of the score throughout the day on Tuesday. Now there's always a big debate on whether hummable means good score and not-hummable means bad score. My personal opinion- it really depends on what the show calls for. This show calls for something catchy and fun and Yazbek delivers. One very smart thing he does is to never get too serious. Even most of the romantic, serious moments in the show don't stay serious for long before they get infused with a witty lyric or slapstick comedy. Jack O'Brian matches the material's fun, fast-paced style with his direction and Jerry Mitchell does some nice work with the choreography, especially in the second act.

Now let me say this- I almost had to pull myself away from the keyboard of my computer in order to hold off about writing about Norbert Leo Butz until this point in my review. This is a true breakout performance. I, like others, have really enjoyed Butz's work in shows such as The Last 5 Years, Wicked but this is his big break. He is the true star of this show. He's got a great voice, fantastic acting chops, and comic timing that is so good it occasionally stops the show. I just can't say enough about him in this show. John Lithgow is good but not great. He seems to do his best work when he's playing his "Alternate Character" while he seems disoriented and bored in his own character. His voice is servicable. Sherie Rene Scott does well in her character but doesn't truly break out until the last couple of scenes. I'll leave it there so that I don't ruin the show for people who haven't seen it. Gleason kept reminding me of Joel Grey in Wicked. While I think she did her best in the role and did very well with what she was given, her material has some weaknesses and it seems pushed. Gettelfinger also fares well with her first act production number.

Basically, it was a fun night at the theatre that kept me laughing and smiling almost all the way through.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 10:39pm

YAY!! I'm so in love with this show.

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 10:41pm

Agreed, especially about Norbert's coming timing.

"Wow. Wow. Woooooow... I mean, Woooooooow."

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 10:42pm

I also loved this show. Come to think, I've yet to meet a person who hasn't loved it.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 11:43pm

Yeah, I really kind of fell in love with it.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 11:48pm

That was a fantastic review Matt! I'm so glad you loved the show.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 2/24/05 at 11:49pm

Thanks!

[Razz77]

Posted: 2/25/05 at 12:04am

Yes - even if it isn't someone's "Kind of show" or they had minor problems with it, it is very difficult to straight-up DISLIKE this show...

[MissNY]

Posted: 2/25/05 at 12:11am

Definately an awesome show. I've seen it twice so far (once at its original 3 hours and then again after it was frozen) and I am going again in 2 weeks. It is that kind of show. I can not wait for a cast recording--there's bound to be one. I absolutely adore the songs. There was only 1 song the entire show that I didn't like, the one John sings at the train station about love. Norbet totally steals the show, he is unbelievable. Both times I saw the show he got the loudest applause. I hear the Tony calling his name...

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 2/25/05 at 12:39am

Have they fixed the opening number?

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 2/25/05 at 3:42am

melissa errico fan - I know what you mean. I felt the same way with The Full Monty (it's different in many ways, I know). But I don't know anyone that truly dislikes that show. Yazbek chooses great material to write on and delivers. Always highly enjoyable and smart.

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 2/25/05 at 6:25am

Wasn't it rumoured that Sh-k-boom were going to be recording DRS? There's nothing about it on their website though . . . I'm in the UK, but as a fan of The Full Monty I'm quite eagar to hear this score and an OBCR is the only way it's going to happen any time soon

[broadway betty]

Posted: 2/25/05 at 9:09am

I'm so excited about seeing DRS again! I'm so glad everyone agrees that Norbert's performance is wonderful and he truly deserves the Tony! Hot damn-I love it!

[Winkie Beer]

Posted: 2/25/05 at 9:39am

Yes, they have fixed the opening number. It feels like an opening number now, and presents what kind of con John Lithgow's character runs in a much more 'musical theatre way'. Basically there are now two short verses about particular women he cons. They're short, clever, have a good beat, and is a big improvement to women running around saying "oh take my jewlery!" or whatever they said before.

Act 1 sails now, and it doesn't feel like an eternity before "Great Big Stuff".

[Brodybaby03]

Posted: 2/25/05 at 11:16am

whats the rush policy for this show. Like if I go tonight and get there early am I going to be ok to get rush>????
Could someone let me know. Thanks

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/25/05 at 11:23am

lottery rush, 2 hrs before the show

[zippyjen]

Posted: 2/25/05 at 11:40am

I also loved thos show and i also agree about Norbert's comic timing. It truely is a breakthrough performance.

[AnothaPartofMe]

Posted: 2/25/05 at 11:48am

Did anyone stage door it? Has Sherie returned to the show yet?

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 2/25/05 at 2:41pm

Sherie was back last night.

[MissNY]

Posted: 2/25/05 at 3:00pm

I stage doored it twice, all except Joanna came out and they were all very nice

[dickmc]

Posted: 3/4/05 at 2:33am

Yes, I truly enjoyed this deliciously irreverent Musical Comedy as did the audience judging from the peels of laugher. I saw the show 3 times in the first week of previews and then again the last night of previews with a friend who also enjoyed it.

Yes, Butz gave a brilliant [Tony Winning] over-the-top-of-Everest** performance.

I will certainly see the show again during the run.

Ben Brantley's review was bias and his delight [with his own review of] The Producers is not shared by all. Many patrons after spending hundreds of dollars for their laugh-a-minute Producers tickets were heard to say, "it that all?"

Yes, Go to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels!

**Coined DMc 03/02/05

Posted: 3/4/05 at 2:35am

three times in one week?? do you work there??