Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Tour

Anybody know what's going on with the DRS tour? I just got a message on my answering machine that they've cancelled the entire first week of performances for the Hippodrome in Baltimore (Thanksgiving Week.)

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i don't know if this helps, but on www.jsonline.com there is this article . . . FRIDAY, Nov. 10, 2006, 2:25 p.m.
By Damien Jaques

'Scoundrels' performances postponed
The national touring company production of the Broadway hit musical "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" has postponed its Milwaukee engagement at the Marcus Center. Originally scheduled to run here Jan. 2-7, "Scoundrels" will delay its performances until Aug. 14-19.

Marcus Center Executive Vice President Tom Gergerich said the "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" tour is being temporarily suspended while modifications are made in the production.

Ticketholders to the scheduled January performances will be contacted with detailed ticket information.

hope they start up again soon!

Aren't they scaling the production back? I've heard talk of that, due to poor sales.

God, that sucks.

Well, I guess its true, with out Norbert, SCOUNDRELS is nothing.

Very well said, WRQ. Both times I saw DRS on B'way, I missed out on seeing Norbert. Initially, I felt disappointed - until the understudies, Joe Cassidy and Jason Gilman, took the stage and won me over completely.

But it wasn't just Freddy who captivated me. I thought the entire show was a riot - and very tender in places, too. When Jonathan Pryce as Lawrence sang Love Sneaks In, I thought it was one of the prettiest ballads I had heard in a long time. It was really touching because you felt the love he had for Christine, and you really didn't want to see her leave him. Her innocent charms had managed to melt his cold and calculating heart.

I do think that DRS requires an incredibly tight cast. All six major characters need to be expert comics in their own ways, and they need to have great chemistry. Such was indeed the case both times I saw the show - first with Pryce, Cassidy, Rachel York, Rachel DeBenedet, Greg Jbara and Mylinda Hull; then with Pryce, Gilman, York, Lucie Arnaz, Jbara and Sara Gettelfinger. From the reviews I've read for the touring production, the cast seems to be equally strong. Tom Hewitt and Laura Marie Duncan, in particular, are getting raves.

So maybe people just aren't getting excited about the show from the advertising. Maybe there isn't any sizzle for it because it's no longer running on B'way. I must admit, at first I wasn't all that keen on seeing it. I think I was expecting some cheeseball Steve Martin movie knockoff and not the sophisticated (yes, it really is sophisticated) 1960s style comedy romp that I discovered. Thank goodness Jonathan Pryce and Rachel York were cast as replacements. They were the reasons I decided to give it a chance. I'm so glad I did. It wasn't at all the sophomoric level of humor that I expected. It was smart, funny, clever, musically entertaining, and utterly appealing.

I sure hope the tour manages to recover. I'd like to see it again when it comes through Boston. It deserves much more praise than it got. IMO, both DRS and Dessa Rose were shortchanged in the season of Spamalot, Spelling Bee, and Light in the Piazza. Go figure.

lc

Well, I don't know why it has poor ticket sales or why it would be scaled back but I saw it in Atlanta and it was HILARIOUS!!! I thought the cast was great so I hope that everything pickys up for it.

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yes the Cincinnati stop has been postponed in its place we are going to be the first city for Chita Rivera the Dancers Life, same dates as DRS. Hopefully they get the problems workedout I really wanted to see this

Who took over for Norbert when he left in Dallas? Who played Freddie in ATL?

Some, yes. I don't think so many as to make such a big difference.

DRSislove, you saw Brian's 3rd performance. Sure, one should be great as soon as they start, but it's natural for actors to improve as they get more comfortable with a character. I saw Brian a couple times after, and he was much improved, while Keith was tremendously improved. Pryce wasn't exactly getting raves by the time of his third performance, and look what happened to him.

And I do agree a good cast is important for the show, but I think we all define good cast differently. For instance, I was fairly disappointed in Richard Kind's Andre...slightly biased but still in general, but I took my friend who never saw the show and she thought that he, Keith, Brian, everyone was great. There is such an immense talent pool of stage actors that I can't fathom only those couple of actors part of the OBC can make the show.

Again, it's important to remember the differences in perceptions between people like us who had the pleasure of seeing the Broadway cast multiple times, and someone who has never seen the Broadway cast and the touring cast will be the first cast they ever see perform this show.

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Considering Brian d'arcy james did earlier incarnations of the show (workshops prior to Broadway) I can hardly think he'd be a carbon copy of ANYONE.

Hmm, well that's interesting Becky. Like I said, I have no clue how they were advertising the tour. I suppose since it is so rare for them to have the Tony winner with the tour, they wanted to capitalize on that with advertising, and maybe audiences felt the same. It's easier for me living in NY to say I don't think a Tony-winner with the tour is a big deal.

But still the show is so great with or without Norbert...maybe it's just really frustrating for me. It's easier for me to know that than for audiences across the country to know that.

Can anyone shed some light as to how audiences have embraced the show on tour since Norbert left?

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I have a friend who is in the pit for the tour. My understanding is its closing indefinately. He is returning home Dec 18. I havent spoken to him, but his roomate told me its cancelled.

Just thought I'd bump this thread. I'm seeing the show in Louisville, KY tonight. To be honest, I'm going for Yazbeck's score. I loved "The Fully Monty" and can't wait to see "Scoundrels," regardless of who is in the roles. I also love Tom Hewitt. I saw him on the "Urinetown" tour as Officer Lockstock and thought he was great.