BWW Reviews: DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS at Hackmatack Playhouse

Summer stock theater is alive and well at Hackmatack Playhouse in Berwick, Maine. The beautiful old playhouse opened Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Wednesday night, which is the third show of its season.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a musical adaptation of the 1988 movie that was produced on Broadway in 2005. It won much acclaim with a Tony Award winning cast and has since been produced all across the country.

The plot follows the life of two con-artists Lawrence Jameson, played by Steven Michaels, and Freddy Benson, played by Dan Clay. Lawrence is the experienced, well accomplished con, while Freddy is much more of a novice.

The show opens with Lawrence in a casino, doing what he does best, making a profit off of the backs of others. His sidekick Andre, played by Michael Stailey, soon alerts Lawrence of another con-artist in the area. Andre has read in Le Monde that he is named The Jackal. The two resolve to be on the lookout for the person and soon after run into just such a person on their train, Freddy.

Lawrence and Freddy convince the other to work together, at least on a few tricks. It is here the musical starts to come alive. Freddy sings about how he wants what Lawrence has in, "Great Big Stuff" and it starts the musical in a forward motion.

The two decide to make money off of a soap heiress, Christine Colgate played by Tess Jonas. First the duo has to drop a couple of women who have both fallen in love with Lawrence. Tanya West plays the first hopelessly in love lady, Muriel Eubanks. The second woman who has fallen for Lawrence is Jolene Oakes, played by Alison Shaufler.

The musical continues from here taking sharp twists and turns in the plot. All characters weave in and out to make an interesting storyline. It is an entertaining whirlwind of events with some great songs and moments coming from the cast.

Dan Clay is a loveable Freddy. His acting is so honest and real, one can't help but wish the best for him. Clay takes a demanding role and turns it on its head. Each time he enters the stage, he works craftly through what action is being played to him. Clay also sings the end of a challenging act two, beautifully.

Michael Stailey proves to be a wonderful sidekick in his portrayal of Andre. His French accent is consistent and well planned. Stailey also brings out the best from his fellow actors in his scenes. He singlehandedly elevates the production with his line delivery and his acute sense of comedy.

As Lawrence Jameson, Steven Michaels doesn't shine until his second act. His song. "Love Sneaks In" is wonderfully delivered. It is simple, honest, and beautifully sung. From this moment on he is wonderfully endearing.

Playing the love interest of both Lawrence and Freddy, Tess Jonas embodies the role of Christine Colgate with panache. She is fantastically quirky onstage and an amazing ball of energy throughout the show. Jonas effortlessly sings some of the hardest songs to belt in the musical theater canon. Her performance of, "Here I Am" is worth the ticket price alone. On top of all that, it is her congeniality and smarts that clinch the role.

Another standout is the adorable Alison Shaufler, who plays Jolene Oaks. Jolene offers a side story, which could easily be lost in any production. However, Shaufler works starkly and grips the audience with her stage presence. Her song. "Oklahoma" is a fantastically fun production number and she is joy to watch.

The weakest of the featured characters is Tanya West who plays Muriel Eubanks. Her acting is distractingly bad and her voice is worse. She has many opportunities to prove herself otherwise, but continually fell flat. Michael Stailey helps her scenes greatly in the second act which offers some relief. But at best, the chemistry between Stailey and West is very reminiscent of Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. She falls in love quickly, and he reluctantly complies.

The real heart and soul of this production lives in the ensemble. This is where summer stock lives and breathes and this show proves it still exists. The ensemble dutifully and whimsically moves set pieces. They playfully set moods for scenes and flawlessly provide background vocals. Most importantly, they make the very most out of stage crosses, choreography, and background acting.

Amara Decker is a knockout talent throughout the show. Not only is she a beautiful dancer but her soprano voice shines in the part singing, and every moment she has onstage is smartly calculated. Similarly, Taylor Morrow stands out as an excellent voice and dancer in the ensemble. Caitlin Gallagher commands the stage with every move, glance, and dance she performs. Amazingly, Chris Gempp is onstage for almost every scene in a new costume and manages to captivate the audience in each moment. Meghan Morash and Nellie Teeling are bombshells onstage. They sing, swirl, and swagger with ease throughout. Leighton Magoon and Alec Paulson are equally brilliant in offering comedic relief in all of their scenes. Even Will Lombard's partnering skills are exciting to watch.

Other notables include the orchestra which is directed matter-of-factly by John Berst. The lighting for the show is surprisingly nuanced for its barn location and reflects so many of the different moods of the show. The choreography by Mary Beth Marino is shockingly elementary. The only redeeming quality to the movement were the ensemblists performing it. The set design by Jerard-James Craven is beautifully crafted. Everything he fit onto the stage and into the wings was truly awe-inspiring.

Overall the show is a lovely evening out for the whole family. The barn is such an experience for old and young. There isn't any other place in New England you can go to see Bison in the rear field, sit in a structure built in the 17th century, and watch wonderful entertainment. Treat yourself to the way Summer should be and see Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

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