Jonathan Pryce/changes in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"

[MimiJudith]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 7:59am

Anyone here seen him in the show? Please let us know how he is! Also, I heard that there are some changes to the "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" script. Any details on that? Thanks!

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 12:15pm

I never saw the show pre-Jonathan Pryce, so I can't comment on the changes.

I saw him at last Wednesday's matinee, which would have been his second performance. I found him merely adequate. He isn't quite as vocally sound as John Lithgow and frequently his voice and words got lost in the orchestra or sometimes behind Norbert. He has the character down sufficiently, but sometimes he feels a bit old to be saying what he's saying or wooing the women as he is. The jokes where he is admiring his figure/whatever fall a bit flat.

Overall I think he could use a bit more oomph and that may come with time in the role.

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 12:18pm

I haven't seen it yet with the changes, but apparently Norbert no longer goes into the box seats right before "Oklahoma" - and apparently there was something trimmed out of the "What Was A Woman To Do" sequence, but I can't quite find out what.

And I probably will not ever find out what unless someone tells us, because I've now seen the show plenty of times and would like to keep John's last performance as my memory of the show.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 12:19pm

Thanks for the review Colleen, but considering it was his 2nd performance, I would think he will grow more comfortable and more than adequate in the show as he performs a bit more. Will be seeing him soon, and post my own review.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 12:24pm

Does anyone else think the wig he wears looks bad? I was horrified when I saw pics of the cast on the night he joined the show.

http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Photo_Op.aspx?ci=524094

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 12:42pm

i think his wil is too receded, if they were going to give him more hair just give him a full head of it. However lithgow pointed out its took several attempts in the out of town tryout for them the get him a good looking hairpiece, so perhaps this is a temporary fix

[Eileen2]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 1:06pm

I saw the performance on Friday evening and had previously seen it with John Lithgow.

Overall, the performance as an ensemble was excellent. I do feel as if Jonathan Pryce is a bit too old for the role. Admiring his physique in the mirror just didn't work that well.

He plays the jokes with a bit more of a dead pan approach then Lithgow, which still go over fairly well. He's got the character and personality of the role down fine. The character seemed like a good fit for him. The chemistry between Jonathan and Norbert was excellent.

Vocally, he's a bit on the weak side and was sometimes drowned out by the orchestra. His vocal range is also lower than Lithgow's, which may account for some of the problem.

Norbert does not go into the boxes anymore. I personally find that a shame as he's supposed to be an observing student, so I felt it really worked. I don't recall any major difference with the songs.

Did I enjoy myself... absolutely. Does the new pairing make me want to go for another round, maybe when Norbert is leaving the role, otherwise not likely.

Eileen

[Dre2387]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 1:12pm

i think the change in "What was a woman to do?" is that it is just the song and no sidetracking to Lawrence and Freddy in the train. not sure, since I haven;t seen it. but, I'm planning on seeing it in March.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 1:45pm

Why would they remove the Norbert-in-the-box thing? That's much of what made the whole scene so funny.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 2:22pm

The Old Globe in San Diego has no box seats, so when the show tried out there Norbert just barged through the 4th row orchestra seats and sat in the aisle, which I thought was even funnier because he really had to push and shove his way through a little.

[Emilia]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 2:22pm

A minor point but Jonathan Pryce is actually two years younger than John Lithgow (admitidly he is looking thin and a lot older for it though.)

The wig isn't doing him any favours either but perhaps they will get a better one.

[cserannie]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 3:11pm

well, I always said that John does not look 60. Here is the proof.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 3:14pm

I don't know if it's age as much as vitality. John Lithgow has a very big, bright personality which makes him seem younger than he is.

[cserannie]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 3:17pm

totally agree

[SirLiir]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 3:22pm

John Lithgow is also so smooth and stylish that he fit the part way too well. I am sure Mr. Pyrce will get there shortly.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 1/23/06 at 3:27pm

john also had ALOT of time to get this down, didnt he do most of the workshops after stokes left? so that much development time (dirty rotten number was specifically written for him and norbert) versus 2 weeks... it will come in time for jonathan