Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Lives Up to Its’ Name…Unfortunately

Critics Rating: 3 out of 5 spotlights

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, the hit 1988 movie, came alive on the Broward Center for the Performing Arts this month and what a surprise it was.

The story revolves around two cons in the French Riviera. One man, Lawrence Jameson, is an older man who has made his life conning women out of their money by playing a foreign prince who needs to get back to his homeland to fight in his crusades. Helped by the French chief of police, he manages to get money and jewels from every woman that he meets. The other, Freddy Benson, is a younger con who boyishly uses his dying grandmother as a vehicle to get money from women. After working together for a while, they decide that the town isn’t big enough for the both of them so they plan a bet to swindle fifty thousand dollars from a young woman. The first to do it, wins and the loser must leave town.

Well, anyone that has seen the movie knows how it ends and anyone that hasn’t should see the show, but shouldn’t expect to see the best show in the world. Having gone to see the performance on opening night, people expect to see a good show. What people don’t expect is to see as many problems on stage as this production had. The problems started at the opening number with the curtain. As the backdrop rose up, the other curtain (which was not supposed to rise) went up with and then came crashing down. Also, when Lawrence and Jolene Oaks enter Freddy’s room, they close the door. When the door closed, the entire backdrop shook. These were a couple of the technical flaws that occurred in the first act only.

A few of the actors were not that appeasing either. Jamie Jackson in particular, who played the lead role of Lawrence, had a very strong accent which made it very hard to understand his lines while singing. His lines were very well articulated and his acting had no flaw, but unfortunately, I lost his lines during his numerous numbers in the show.

Two of the leads, pardon the pun, stole the show. Doug Thompson, who played the role of Freddy Benson was outstanding throughout the performance. Literally working up a sweat from the moment he got on stage, Doug brought out the best of David Yazbeck’s music and comedic lyrics. Doug and Jamie’s counterpart, Jenny Gulley was a beautiful woman who fit in perfectly as Christine Colgate. Her soft voice and beautiful tone brought “Nothing is to Wonderful to be True” to a whole new level as the major romantic song in the show. Her caring personality and her comedic gestures matched up perfectly with the pranks pulled by the two male leads.

On a lighter note, I have been told that after opening night, the show has been very good and that the audience is really enjoying it. I am not saying that the show overall is horrible, but Dirty Rotten Scoundrels gave the press and paying patrons a huge disappointment on opening night.

This performance will be playing at the Broward Center until Feb. 10^th and then continuing its’ tour to Gainesville, FL from Feb. 12^th to Feb. 13^th. It will then hit the Northeast in Syracuse, NY from Feb. 19^th to Feb. 21^st.

For more information on future shows, please visit www.broadwayacrossamerica.com or www.fusion726.com/5mins.