DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS Review

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 3:02pm

DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS Review

Broadway has finally done it this season – the musical gods have created a stimulating and refreshing NEW musical. “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” which is now playing nightly at the Imperial Theatre is the first original musical this season that encompasses a rapture of pure bliss from the bouncy overture all the way to the finale ultimo without missing a beat. It is also the first time this season that the music, lyrics, and book actually benefit the talents of the performers on stage instead of hindering them. With such a gifted collaborative effort taking place eight times a week, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” is most certainly a show that will stand the test of time and be considered as one of the greatest New York nights out for many years to come.

With so many things going right in this show on so many different levels, it is with great respect to recognize the most superlative and consummate facet of the evening. Norbert Leo Butz, recently of “Wicked” fame and a little less recently of “Rent” and the Off-Broadway tuner “The Last Five Years,” turns in the performance of his young career and is the leading man of the season hands down. Butz uses the combination of soaring vocal skill, timely comedic acting, and nuanced likeability to create the character of Freddy; and he does it all to complete and utter precision. One tends to forget that his partner in crime, the great John Lithgow, who won a Tony a few seasons back for making the most of what was “Sweet Smell of Success,” turns in an equally stunning, if a little less showy performance. Together they are the team to beat and I must be amiss not to liken them to the dynamic duo of Bialystock & Bloom from the mega-hit, “The Producers.” Much like Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick did back in 2001, the amazing John Lithgow and incomparable Norbert Leo Butz have been handed material that is toasted to perfection.

This material has been adapted for the Broadway stage from the 1988 movie of the same name with a sense of knowledge, wit, and ease that is often very hard to accomplish the second time around. Jeffery Lane has taken full advantage and in turn has found boundless opportunities in making Launer, Shapiro, and Henning’s movie into a full fledged musical.

The story, for the most part remains the same. Lawrence (Lithgow) and Freddie (Butz) are con-men. Lawrence, with the knowledge of the profession of swindling, is forced to teach Freddy the high-society behavior. As luck would have it, the two con-men are forced to work together after a run in with Sara Gettelfinger’s (“Nine”) infectious Jolene. Finding that the small town on the French Mediterranean coast is not big enough for both of them, they agree to a bet involving Christine Colgate. And that is precisely where their scheme begins to go awry.

Played with stunning virtuosity and vocal supremacy by powerhouse Sherrie Renee Scott (“Aida” “The Last Five Years”), her Christine brings out the best and worst in the two swindlers. The gentleman agree to a bet: The first to wheedle $50,000 from Miss Colgate wins, the other leaves town. And here the games begin! Games that include many likings of mischievous and greed! From the help of Muriel (Joanna Gleason is her first sublime and worthy performance since “Into the Woods”) and Andre, (Gregory Jbara) the two men and the curious Christine bring forth antics that culminate in a Delicious Dirty Rotten Finale!

With so much going on, this show could have been a complete and utter disaster, but under the tremendous direction of Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” will become a delicious darling of the musical theatre repertoire. While Norbert Leo Butz may be the shows bodied star, it is David Yazbek’s contemporary and melodic music and lyrics that are the inner-strength giving this show its driving force. Knowing he had what it takes from “The Full Monty,” Yazbeck is leaps and bounds better here in incorporating poignant and laugh-out-loud humor in all the right places, not to mention a score that have one humming for days.

Jerry Micthell, who also choreographed this seasons bespangled dazzler “La Cage Aux Folles” layers the show with functional and no-nonsense dancing. He is certain to win a Tony for the previous and adding this sure-fire hit to his repertoire does not hurt matters. And Kenneth Posner’s lighting design along with David Rockkwell’s set give the show a sophisticated Mediterranean feel.

No matter how sophisticated and beautiful a musical this winner may be, it never is juicier than when it is being delectably dirty. A show not only for The ages, but for all ages young and old alike. “Little Women” is around for young girls, “Brooklyn” for American Idol lovers, but “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” is a buffet that will wet everyone’s appetite in one way or the other. Every show this season that claimed they were “good” (“The Good Body” & “Good Vibrations”) simply turned out to be rotten. Well it is an irony like no other that the show who claims it is “rotten” is so enchantingly GOOD!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 3:11pm

I
LOVE
THIS
SHOW.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 3:31pm

Agreed! Me too:)

[zippyjen]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 3:36pm

I really enjoyed it also and my mom won't stop talking about it! :)

[La Vie Boheme]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 4:27pm

Does John Lithgow have a great voice...or just good?

I can't picture him with a strong voice like Norbert.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 4:31pm

Just good. His comedy far outdoes his singing. Norbert steals that show, hands down.

Updated On: 2/12/05 at 04:31 PM

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 4:33pm

Lithgow's voice is okay. On Tuesday, there were quite a number of off-key notes.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 4:43pm

As if I couldn't be even MORE excited to see this show... less than six months!

[broadway betty]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 4:47pm

Hi people, I'm new and I just had to join so I could tell everyone how much I love DRS and Norbert. I've never seen a more exhausting performance and I laughed so hard that I seriously recommend stopping by the restroom before being seated. Norbert gives the performance of a lifetime!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 4:50pm

Gotta make it official....

Willkommen.
Bienvenue.
Welcome!

[thespian geek]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 4:52pm

... to Cabaret, oh! Cabaret. To Cabaaaareeet.

Okay, I'm done.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 4:52pm

yay, somone to sing with me!

[broadway betty]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 4:54pm

Thanks emcee. Finally, I'm a part of the madness!

[apdarcey]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 4:56pm

really need to see this show soon.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 4:58pm

That's about all of that song I know off of the top of my head. LOL

[broadway betty]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 5:09pm

Hey Emcee, I'm the girl who sent you the pm's today.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 5:14pm

I think that John Lithgow sounds the best he has ever sounded in this show. Have you noticed that whenever he does a musical, he's paired opposite an ubertalented young actor who can sing him unser the table (Butz, James), and an equally powerful female (Scott and Kelli O'Hara)?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 5:15pm

I know. Check your messages - I PM'ed you back again.

[dancersmom2]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 6:37pm

I
WANT
TO
SEE
THIS
SHOW
!!!!!!!

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 7:34pm

I'm seeing it next weekend, I'm so excited. But,I'm worried about my seats. I'm all the way on the right on the very end of the aisle in row F. Is there anything I'm going to miss?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 7:36pm

I sat right aisle row K on 1/31 and saw perfectly. Liz McCarthy was right in front of me.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 7:36pm

I din't think so. I was the third seet in, on the front row and caught everything just fine.

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 8:17pm

Very well written review! CANNOT WAIT to see this in June!

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 8:18pm

Saw the show today and loved it! Joanna Gleason gets the best song however and she pulls it off beautifully. Great great show, don't miss it!

[Feathah]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 9:23pm

My boyfriend and I are seeing it on Monday. I'm watching the movie right now (I've seen it tons of times so I already know the plot and twists.) Can't wait!