Dirty Rotten Scoundrells

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is not an easy show to produce, much of the music has discords and does tend to sound a little off key when it is not.

When Buttershaw St Paul’s decided to put this show on they knew they needed a good line up of principals, well they need not have worried because they didn’t have a good line up, they had an excellent line up who should be very proud of themselves.

As we all know the show takes place on The French Riviera where Lawrence Jameson, a confidence trickster played effortlessly by Darren Smith is looking for his next conquest, an unsuspecting rich lady who he can relieve her of her money, jewels or anything else of value she may have.

The local Chief of Police, Andre Thibault is a good friend of Lawrence, which comes in very handy when he is looking for his next victim. Andre was in the very capable hands of Phil Jowett who was able to not only deliver the lines with a French accent, but he was also able to show some great comic timing, especially in the second act.

Lawrence is introduced to a couple of women, to which Andre turns a blind eye, these are Muriel Ubanks played superbly by Catherine Riley and Jolene played equally as well by Alison Smith. Both these women are putty in the hands of the flirtatious Lawrence.

There is, however an extremely funny scene when Jolene, who is wanting to marry Lawrence meets his “brother” who is actually another con man, Freddy Benson in disguise.

Freddy is played by Ayden Rizvi, who was outstanding, he has a fine voice which, when blended with Darren Smith delivers some excellent tunes. Ayden is also an excellent comic, his scene, again with Darren when he pretends to be paralysed is superb and had the audience rolling in the aisles.

The coupling of Smith and Rizvi was a director’s dream.

I mentioned Muriel Ubanks earlier who although initially falls for Lawrence she eventually falls for Andre, together they have some hilarious scenes when they “get together” and become extremely drunk, a comic masterpiece.

The last of the ladies to fall for both Lawrence and Freddy is Christine Colgate, she is described a Soap Millionairess, and who is easy pickings according to both Lawrence and Freddy. They have a bet on who is the first to relieve Muriel of $50,000.00, Lawrence with his deception as a Doctor and Freddy as ex-military who is in a wheelchair. Christine was played with a great deal of thought by Amy Jagger.

Both think they have managed to con Christine; however it ends up that she is actually also con woman who gets the money out of the two gents.

All the principals were supported by an excellent chorus and troupe of dancers who not only acted, danced and sang well they also helped to make the scene changes run very smoothly.

Congratulations to everyone involved, especially Director Sam Milnes, MD Rob Durkin and Choreographer Emma Wilson for their vision in getting this piece to the stage and deliver a brilliant production.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.