Rebecca Ann Johnson as Christine Colgate” captionposition=”bottom-left” lightbox=”on” floater=”on” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”] [aesop_character name=”Amy Patton” caption=”Designer” align=”center”] Bring your sense of humor, ladies and gentlemen, because Musical Theatre West’s (MTW) most recent production is packed with “Great, Big Stuff!”
[aesop_image imgwidth=”500px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Screen-Shot-2016-07-14-at-4.00.24-PM.png” align=”left” lightbox=”on” caption=”Benjamin Schrader as Freddy Benson and David Gaines as Lawrence Jamison” captionposition=”left”] MTW’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels closes the season with talented vocals and laugh-out-loud writing. Note, though: This is not a show to bring the kiddos— with sexual themes and adult humor perpetuating much of the comedic relief. From quick-wit, to slapstick, to repeated fourth-wall busting, humor is heavy handed in this performance, verging on the edge of side-splitting.
Based on the same-titled 1980s film starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine, this musical centers around two con artists competing to swindle “America’s Soap Queen” out of $50,000 to prove who’s the superior scammer and who ends up being the loser that leaves town.
The scene is set in a hotel on the French Riviera, where guests are rich, and seasoned con-man Lawrence Jamison (David Gaines) looks to get richer, until small-scale scammer Freddy Benson (Benjamin Schrader) encroaches on his territory. Cue music.
The chemistry between the cast makes each role believable and lovable in their own ways. From the budding-yet-head-butting relationship of mentor/mentee of Jamison and Benson, to the unsuspected and surprisingly kinky romantic triste between the well-to-do, former con-target Muriel Eubanks (Cynthia Ferrer) and Jamison’s right-hand man Andre Thibault (Kyle Nudo), the cast’s impeccable acting, singing and dancing embodies everything one would hope from a musical.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”150px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Screen-Shot-2016-07-14-at-4.00.37-PM.png” align=”right” lightbox=”on” caption=”Cynthia Ferrer as Muriel Eubanks” captionposition=”right”] Packed with entertaining and skillful musical numbers complete with a full orchestra and well-executed choreography, this performance’s plot is easy and enjoyable to follow, even if one has not seen the movie on which it is based.
Be forewarned, fellow theatre goers— MTW’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is catchy! maybe even too catchy. (Here I am nearly a week later, and I still can’t seem to get Jolene Oakes’ Oklahoma number out of my head!)
Musical Theatre West’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels runs through July 24, with showtimes on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and on Sundays at 2pm. The production is rated “R,” and parental guidance is advised for those under the age of 17. The total runtime is 2 hours, 10 minutes with a 20 minute intermission in between acts. For tickets and information, visit musical.org or call (562) 856-1999.
