DRS- Not Impressed

Today with kids from my college I went to go warm up the last row in the Imperial Theatre at the Sunday matinee performance of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
Now I was really excited for this show because it has had a pretty good build up and it does have the Tony Award Winner Best Actor for this season, but let me just say I wasnt that amazed or impressed by this show.
I think the weakest part was the score. Not one good catchy song. Some of the songs were fun, but most were weak. I got lost in them- found myself staring at the set during ballads.
The show also reminded me of the Producers in some odd way- in its humor. Well, a weaker version. Something was just missing in all the scenes- may be there were too many- I found myself getting bored a lot.
I did highly enjoy Norbert Leo Butz. He had on-the-nose comic timing and he is perfectly disgusting in his part. This was his best role by far. He def. deserved his Tony. He owns that stage. John Lithgow, I could have done without. I dont think he did that much with the role and I usually love John Ligthgow. I just found him dry. Sherie Renee the same- she played the role just as she played Debbie and Amneris. I love her, but other than her great range being displayed in this role, she didnt blow me away. Sara Gettlefinger needed a bigger part. She was the only other person besides Norbert I enjoyed.
But those are just some thoughts- Does anyone agree or Disagree? I did however enjoy the set, costumes, and laughed at many of the jokes. Mostly Norbert. If he wasnt in this show, I would have been upset.
Sorry this is badly written- its Late and I'm oh so tired, but tell me what you think!

---

I agree 100%. I would have left at Intermission had I not spent so much money on them.

---

i agree wholeheartedly with your assessment of this particular
musical....I kept asking myself...why is this production a MUSICAL??? The songs never really forwarded the plot in any way.
I should state that i am a HUGE fan of the movie, and although
i didn't want to see a cookie-cutter portrayal of the characters of Steve Martin and Michael Caine, the show suffered greatly from
the performances of the leads. John Lithgow's character must
exude total confidence and sophistication. His characterization
boardered on the inane....just exactly like his character on
3rd Rock from the Sun!!! Norberts performance was the most engaging, and i admire him for taking alot of risky chances,
but NOTHING can replace the performance of Steve Martin from
the movie.
This is one musical that should've been recreated as a play.
I don't completely understand the need to make a musical out
of so many sleeper movie hits as of late. It makes me
wonder about the Wedding Singer and the like.
I am a big fan of the performers in the cast, but i feel
they were not showcased in the manner befitting them>>>>

Awww...I thought the show was quite enjoyable. Sure, it's not my favorite show, but it has it's moments. And yes, Norbert is amazing. The man really has no fear or shame onstage! LOL! :)

~Rosalynn

i agree...it sucked!!!

---

I saw DRS in early July with a group of friends. I didn't actually want to see it...I've only seen bits of the movie and hadn't really paid attention to the musical at all. Maybe because I don't care too much for comedy.

I enjoyed it. The songs were good, though not the memorable sort that stayed with me. I probably couldn't name more than one or two.

We didn't see Norbert, but Joe Cassidy was very good. Gregory Jbara was the highlight of the show for all of us and was very friendly at the stage door.

So I have to say that, while I wouldn't see it a second time, I liked it.

---

Hey, chacon san gout- I really enjoyed the show and the performances . On the other hand- I LOATHED Avenue Q and there are quite a number of folk who's opinions I normally respect on this board who adore it. SO... (P.S. Hope to see DRS again when next in town)

In my opinion, the show was fine, not amazing,not horrible, but i must say that i couldn't have asked for a more talented cast!

Not the most memorable show foe me! I enjoyed it for the most part but it didn't stick with me after leaving the theatre. I went to see it just to see Ms. Gleason live onstage. Although she had a very small part, she was still good. The music didn't really stick with me until I played the OBCR that they gave out at the door during the Dirty Rotten Giveaway. I do listen to it from time to time. But there was just something off about it. I did not care for the staging of the number "Oklahoma?". It just seemed really cramped. They did not utilize the entire stage which would have made it bigger and more fun. I was also excited about finally seeing Sherie Renee Scott. While ok, she didn't blow me away. Bitz and Lithgow I think were wonderful together though. Lots of fun to see Norbert let loose after seeing him in Wicked. And I really like Lithgow. Also enjoyed Greg Jbara. How could you not? He has a great voice, is a good actor and he is handsome as all get out!!

---

Um. Lithgow's ballad "Love Sneaks In" is one of the strongest moments in the score.

And touchingly performed by Lithgow.

Sorry, the song just has a lot of meaning to me.

Updated On: 9/5/05 at 12:26 PM

though Joanna and Greg have such small parts, they really make them their own and their comdeic scenes together is the reason i always come back. They are awesome!

---

The song would have been ok if I believed the character was really feeling it. But I didn't.

---

I haven't seen the show live, but the big song they chose to perform at the Tonys was very weak. Norbert sold the hell out of it, but the music and lyrics were pretty awful. I won't be racing out to buy a ticket any time soon.

---