‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’

at the Savoy Theatre

April 2014

A guest review by Claire Linney

Since my mother hardly relishes the world of Musical Theatre, I have been coerced into writing a guest review on my latest trip to the theatre to watch ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’, based on the Steve Martin and Michael Cane film of the same name. I should add, before I begin, that contrary to almost everyone else I know who loves Musical Theatre, I hated ‘The Producers’ so I might not be the best person to be critiquing this particular style of the genre. However, I can’t deny I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’,.

 Jeffrey Lane’s book is witty and engaging; the art deco-inspired set design beautifully creates the  novel’s scene of a decadent casino culture in the French Riviera. We are introduced to the two conmen; the suave, effortless charming and ruthlessly exploitative Lawrence Jameson (Robert Lindsay) and the rough edged, coarser, but no less determined protégé, Freddy (Rufus Hound). An initial harmonious partnership in fleecing the Riviera’s wealthiest visitors quickly descends into a wager between the two conmen then predictably chaos and hilarity ensue. Continue reading Dirty Rotten Scoundrels →