Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – West End launch

Robert Lindsay (left) and director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell in rehearsal for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Savoy Theatre. Picture: Helen Maybanks

Musical theatre fans, don your bow ties, shine your shoes and brace yourselves. In only a few weeks, with previews beginning at the Savoy Theatre on 10 March, one of the most highly anticipated theatrical events of the year arrives – the UK premiere of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Librettist Jeffrey Lane and composer/lyricist David Yazbek’s musical ran for 626 performances on Broadway in 2005 and, nine years later, multi Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell has lugged its sophisticated posterior across the pond and into the West End as the inaugural show for his production company.

This week’s press launch certainly raised expectations. Director and choreographer Mitchell proudly introduced each number, repeatedly assuring his small, invited audience that: “This is totally just a rehearsal!” But his assurances were unnecessary. Even in a cold, dusty hall, with poor acoustics, the cast transported us to the French Riviera and quickly had us in stitches. Based on the 1988 hit comedy film starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels focuses on two conmen who compete to swindle a millionaire soap heiress. Events tumble out of control, leaving the men with a little more than they had bargained for.

This latest re-conceived and re-imagined production stars Robert Lindsay who is making his long-awaited return to the stage in the role of Lawrence Jameson. At the special preview performance, Lindsay sang his suave character’s introductory number – ‘Give Them What They Want’. Opposite him as ‘larger-than-life’ Freddy Benson is comedy legend and recent star of the National’s production of One Man, Two Guvnors, Rufus Hound. In his number, Hound (completely at ease in the role originated on Broadway by Tony Award-winning actor Norbert Leo Butz) gave us a glimpse of his exciting, fresh interpretation of Freddy as a more laid-back, sweetly nonchalant dreamer. Finishing with the excellent Katherine Kingsley (playing Christine Colgate) singing ‘Here I Am’, this short teaser was more than sufficient to convince us that Dirty Rotten Scoundrels has the potential to be a show not to be missed.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels has set and costume design by Olivier Award-winning Peter McKintosh. It is a co-production between the Ambassador Theatre Group, Jerry Mitchell Productions and Tulchin/Bartner Productions.

With previews at the Opera House, Manchester (12-22 February) and the Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury (26 February–1 March), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels settles at the Savoy Theatre in London’s West End on 10 March (press night is 2 April).

 Emily Hardy