National Tour: Sumptuous 'Scoundrels'

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a splendid new musical comedy, based on the 1988 Michael Caine, Steve Martin film. The show is about cons, con artists, con artists conning, and con artists conning con artists. It is also about two great new male musical theater roles at the center of Scoundrels and the breathtaking production design surrounding them.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels opened Tuesday night at the Carnival Center where the audience, though mostly tepid and reserved, ultimately received the show favorably and enthusiastically. As good as it was, and it was very good indeed, I suspect Scoundrels plays better and brews more laughter and applause from audiences who are not attending opening night at the Carnival Center. It probably also would benefit from playing a theater less cavernous than the Carnival Center's Ziff. Yes, there were times opening night when that fascinating theater phenomenon happened, the audience failed the show. Not too often, but it did happen.

Scoundrels has a good score (standouts being "Great Big Stuff," and "All About Ruprecht) with music and lyrics by David Yazbek. Often witty and enjoyable, Yazbek provides work finely suited to the material at hand. This is not one of our theater's superior musical scores; however it does achieve its mission and is very pleasant and at times quite admirable. The book by Jeffrey Lane is perfectly constructed and one only wishes Mr. Lane simply made the show funnier. However, under the direction of Jack O'Brien, it all flows into a show that is certainly satisfying and may well have you thinking about it, hours after the final curtain.

Scoundrels is a bit slow going at the outset. The big opening number, "The Only Game In Town," is a pretty good song, but it is "under choreographed" by Jerry Mitchell and doesn't reach the heights it should. It is not until the show reaches the song, "Great Big Stuff," that the show picks up steam and begins to get the audience in its palm.

Tom Hewitt is perfection as the suave, sophisticated, mature member of our con artist odd couple. He channels Rex Harrison's Henry Higgins, Cary Grant, Olivier, John Lithgow, Jonathyn Pryce and even Cyril Ritchard. He is great and his is an award winning performance.

Timothy Gulan is a joy as the ill mannered, goofy, immature and deliciously raunchy Freddy, the younger con at the center of the show.

Hewitt and Gulan labor awfully hard to make the score and especially the book elevate above their limitations. Happily, they succeed.

Taking place in the French Riviera, the design team are heroes of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. David Rockwell's sets are simply stunning and are truly a show unto themselves. He inspired lovely work from costume designer Gregg Barnes and from Kenneth Posner, who created the lighting. At times reminiscent of Broadway's original La Cages Aux Folles, a cheer and a bravo are richly deserved by this design team.

Scoundrels is a very fine time at the theater. But, you had better hurry. The final performance at the Carnival Center is December 10. For now, the con is on. See it, before the con is gone.