TGIF's Dirty Rotten Scoundrels review (3.5.05)

[TGIF]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 9:38pm

The only proper way to start off this review is to quote David Finkle, from TheatreMania.com when he wrote, “There's so much clicking into gear as Dirty Rotten Scoundrels revs its motors that a reviewer's dilemma is knowing where to start flinging the highly positive adjectives.”

During previews the only complaint on this board was that in regard to the opening number. I disagree with previous comments. Perhaps it was cleaned up since. It wasn’t as funny as the rest of the show, but I’d rather the show build then have a fantastic opening number and go down hill from there (a la The Lion King/Titanic).

I was a bit worried at the beginning of the show that the audience was not going to be very responsive. Norbert was not receiving many laughs – something I was surprised about after all the raves. My fears were calmed after Great Big Stuff was brilliantly performed and succeeded in stealing hearts of every audience member.

The score is fun, fresh, and new. It is by far the best new score I have heard this season; although it doesn’t have much competition. Spamalot’s would be my pick for second best; yet it is only by default (having absolutely no competition from Dracula, Brooklyn, and Good Vibrations – NOTE: I have yet to see Little Women and Spelling Bee). It succeeded in moving the plot along, showcasing the wondrous voices of Butz and Scott, and was hilarious. My personal favorites were “Great Big Stuff,” “Nothing is to Wonderful to be True,” “Love is my Legs” and “Dirty Rotten Number.”

The set gets the job done for the show. It isn’t the best I have seen, but not worthy of any complaints. It rotating helped in the flow of the show, and you often didn’t notice the new sets coming in. It had great colors, and lines – very traditional musical theatre – and didn’t distract from the plot and characters.

There are no visible flaws in the book, and is by far the best thing about the show. The plot line is hysterical, and has many witty one-liners to boot. It’s a great throwback, as mentioned in another review, to 1940’s and 50’s show. Creators did a seamless job of combining the timeless love triangle with new fresh (and hysterical) twists to it. I don’t know what else to say about this because I feel like I am just using up my entire list of positive adjectives.

Talent is in abundance in the cast of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, not one weak link. The contrast in the two main characters is further seen in the acting choices of Lithgow and Butz. Lithgow has a very innate, subtle sense of humor. Simple facial expressions were the subject of many laughs; something that was probably refined from being on TV. Vocally, he doesn’t have the best voice, but he performs his songs in such a way (with an air of coolness required for the part) that it doesn’t matter. Butz, on the other hand, is more outwardly funny and has done some of the best bits of physical comedy I have ever seen on stage. His voice soars in his songs, and as I said before he makes you fall in love with the character. Both are wonderful, yet this really is Norbert’s show.
It is my belief that Sherie would shine in absolutely anything that is thrown her way. Her songs show off her vocal talent and she has the best one-liners in the show and delivers them perfectly. Joanne Gleason and Gregory Jbara round of the cast. Truthfully, I often skipped over any comments made about Jbara because I didn’t know who he was. Well I do now! He did a great job as Andre and had funny moments on stage, yet I think his accent prevented him from showing off vocally – you could tell there was something more there.

--SPOILERS--

There were two moments that literally stopped the show. The first was in “All About Ruprecht” when Lawrence sings:
“The Bush's from Tex
were nervous wrecks
because their son was dim...
but look what happened to him!”

The second was at the end of “Dirty Rotten Number.” It was amazing, and for all the right reasons, and the audience knew that.

Updated On: 3/5/05 at 09:38 PM

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 9:40pm

March 12th - I'm going!

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 9:41pm

Wonderful review. I agree completely.

[little_sally]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 9:46pm

Wonderful review indeed! I have to wait a month before I see it but God, I can't wait.

Wait, I have a question...when is the cast recording of this show supposed to be released?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 3/5/05 at 9:49pm

I don't think there is a set date yet, but one will be made. I would say probably late May, before the Tonys.

[TGIF]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 12:25am

There were also a number of small bloopers in the show.

When one of the sets came down (That screen thing) it hit one of the side panels. It did not sound pretty. John and Norbert found it funny but kept their cool.

A female ensemble member tripped coming out for the dance break for "Here I Am" (she was dressed as a maid). She got a fit of the giggles and had a hard time controling herself during the number.

At the end of "Dirty Rotten Number" when John and Norbert were sitting back down Norbert knocked over his drink, spilling it. He then had nothing to drink with afterwards so he started drinking from the bottle that was on the table. Seeing this John offered him his drink. You can see how close they are in the show, and I would bet they are good friends off stage.

God, I love live theatre. Never boring!

[renthead2005z]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 12:49am

MARCH 23rd!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 1:22am

So. In. Love. with this show.

And Norbert.
And you.

Updated On: 3/6/05 at 01:22 AM

[jesseeinstein]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 10:29am

One other problem with the review-they didn't mention the light in the piazza. They didn't meention that as competition for best score this year.

[TGIF]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 10:50am

Well I said that it was the best I've heard this seasons so far. Since that has yet to open I didn't think I needed to mention it. How could I judge something that didn't even start previews?

I believe it starts previews later this month. If I saw DRS in three weeks instead of two days ago I would have added that. Its also the reason I didn't bother to mention Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 10:51am

*sings*

Oh, you pretty chitty bang bang.... pretty chitty.... something. Chitty chitty bang bang we love you!

So not winning for score.

[TGIF]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 10:54am

Ha! Do we know if that was nominated for anything in the West End?

I also didn't mention All Shook Up, which I am seeing later this month. Really. People need to read.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 10:55am

I don't know. But it's FUNNY!

Well, ASU can't be nominated. It's not an original score.

[TGIF]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 11:00am

I know. I was just talking about best score in general,not technically what I thought would win the Tony. Also, since I mentioned Good Vibrations I thought I should cover all bases.

Updated On: 3/6/05 at 11:00 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 11:01am

Oh, Good Vibes.

Now I think I have a headache, just thinking of it.

[jesseeinstein]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 12:02pm

HEY! I LOVED Good Vibrations!!!!!......
*cough*....*cough*..... mmhmm.....*long pause**clears throat*

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 12:08pm

Here, have a cough drop.

[jesseeinstein]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 12:09pm

haha

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 12:12pm

OMG TGIF! I love your new avatar. RUPRECHT!!!

Updated On: 3/6/05 at 12:12 PM

[riv]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 1:20pm

TGIF in his review mentioned spoilers in the show. Is there anyone who feels the "Oklahoma?" number was far too broad? I believe the show was progressing well up to that point and the number was disruptive to the tempo and atmosphere. It was a "showstopper" in the wrong sense of the term.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 1:22pm

I loved the Oklahoma! number because it was funny, but plot wise, it was kind of random and unnecessary.

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 1:24pm

Riv, I actually think it is one of the highlights of the show. It really cracked me up seeing the campy cowboys in red joining them on stage. Great scene for me.

And TGIF is a she. Just FYI.

QM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 1:26pm

<-- loves cowboys. And camp. And captains, come to think of it.

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 1:35pm

Especially campy captains IN RED.

QM (who's now can't get Oklahoma out of her head)

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/6/05 at 2:13pm

Didn't the cowboys wear red, too? It's a camp conspiracy!