Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

TAKING a punt on a new show that few people know anything about can be a risky business as many a Society can testify.
However, Huddersfield Musical Theatre Company's gamble to perform the musical adapted from the 1988 film which starred Michael Caine and Steve Martin as two conmen working on the French Riviera, should really have paid dividends.
The show is fabulously funny and was definitely worth the admission price.

Principally the show is a five-hander, plus a delightful cameo performance from one of the town's most talented up-and-coming performers, Molly Griffiths as Jolene.
Much depends on the quality of the leading quintet however, and producer Michael Hellawell and choreographer AdeleTaylor must be equally delighted and proud of what they have achieved between them for this North of England amateur premiere.
The two conmen, played by Craig Squance as Lawrence Jameson and Dan Henry as Freddy Benson are simply brilliant, sparking off each other throughout.
And both seem perfectly comfortable whether on script, or indeed off it, as several topical lines  produced huge guffaws from the audience to accompany the hilarity from the antics of Squance and Henry's wonderfully-drawn characters.
Holly Comber-Moccia provides the perfect foil as Christine Colgate, the butter wouldn't melt in the mouth 'little innocent' American heiress, who becomes the target for the conniving duo.
This was Holly's debut with the Company, and surely won't be the last.
Alongside Holly was her husband Dominic, as Inspector Andre Thibault, Lawrence's 'secretary' and arranger, who along with the lithesome Sonya Morris as Muriel lent much to the success of this tremendous production with another two fine performances.
There wasn't a great deal of work for chorus, but along with some excellent dancers they do add some colour and support to the show, as did a fine band under the direction of MD Gordon Balmforth.
There are no well-known numbers in the show, but the music is catchy enough and well sung by the principals.
Fine scenery complemented the production, although some of the changes occasionally interrupted the flow, but nevertheless, this was a super night's entertainment and it is certainly a production that the company (and the cast) can be very proud of.

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