Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was a hot Broadway musical that has now been successful all over the world. The show is set to have its London premiere at the Savoy Theatre in Spring 2014. The musical features music and lyrics by David Yazbek and a book by Jeffrey Lane. This musical comedy is based on the 1988 film of the same name which starred Michael Cane and Steve Martin. The original production was directed by Jack O’Brien and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. John Lithgow and Norbert Leo Butz starred in the original Broadway production, with Lithgow eventually being replaced by Jonathan Pryce. The London production will star Robert Lindsay, Katherine Kingsley and Samantha Bond.
David Yazbek
David Yazbek
Jeffrey Lane
the film "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"
Dale Launer, Stanley Shapiro and Paul Henning
Clear Channel Entertainment & MGM On Stage
Jack O'Brien
Jerry Mitchell
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Broadway Production
Imperial Theatre - Opened 31 Jan 2005, closed 3 Sep 2006, 627 performances
Cast: Norbert Leo Butz – Freddy (Jan 31, 2005 – Jul 16, 2006), John Lithgow – Lawrence (Jan 31, 2005 – Jan 15, 2006), Sherie Rene Scott – Christine (Jan 31, 2005 – Feb 05, 2006), Sara Gettelfinger – Jolene (Jan 31, 2005 – Jan 15, 2006), Joanna Gleason – Muriel (Jan 31, 2005 – Apr 30, 2006)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Original London Production
Savoy Theatre - Opened 10 Mar 2014, closed 29 Nov 2014
Cast: Robert Lindsay, Katherine Kingsley, Rufus Hound, Samantha Bond.
What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box
The show opens on the glamorous French Riviera where casino culture rules. Lawrence, a con artist and smooth talking older gentleman begins to work a crowd of elderly women to try and trick them out of their money. He is the centre of attention, and Muriel is particularly keen to speak with him. His bodyguard Andre warns him that a new conman has arrived on the scene, and has been dubbed ‘The Jackal’. Lawrence fears for his position.
Later, on a train, his watches a young fraudster at work. Freddy is trying to trick female passengers to give him money, and Lawrence decides to help him and take him under his wing. He brings Freddy to his mansion house and tells him that he too could live in luxury. Andre tries to warn Lawrence about Freddy but he doesn’t listen. Together they convince a crazy woman that he should not elope to Oklahoma and that his brother, Ruprecht is an awful man.
Lawrence realises that he has met his match with Freddy. He challenges him to a race to secure $50,000 from women, and who whoever loses will be forced to leave town. Christine Colgate arrives on the scene and both men make her their primary target. Freddy pretends to be a cripple and asks for money so he can see a therapist, Dr Shuffhausen. She pledges the $50,000 and Freddy is delighted, although confused when Christine tells him that the Doctor is also staying in the same hotel. They go to meet the Dr and it turns out to be Lawrence.
The second act opens as Lawrence performs painful tests on Freddy’s supposedly numb legs in front of Christine, whilst Andre and Muriel begin to fall in love. Lawrence attempts to woo Christine as the Doctor but suspects that she isn’t as rich as they had both hoped. He asks Freddy to change the bet, saying the winner will be the first to bed Christine.
Freddy has Lawrence kidnapped by sailors and sets on bedding her by pretending her love is the only thing that will heal him. Lawrence escapes and reveals that Freddy is a fraud, and he is then captured by the sailors. Lawrence and Christine head to the train station and it seems like it is too late for Freddy to win. Christine heads to Freddy’s hotel room and the pair fall into bed.
Later she runs to Lawrence’s mansion, claiming that Freddy has tricked her into sleeping with her and running away with the money. Lawrence feels guilty and gives her $50,000 in a suitcase. She refuses the money however and leaves. Freddy arrives saying that Christine actually knocked him out and stole the money. The realise that the money in the suitcase has also been taken, and Christine has left a note revealing that she is ‘The Jackal’. They can’t believe they have been scammed themselves, but the three of them reunite to plot how they can combine forces to scam the audience.
Act I
• Overture
• Give Them What They Want (Broadway) – Lawrence, Andre, Ensemble
• The Only Game in Town (National Tour)
• What Was a Woman to Do – Muriel, Women
• Great Big Stuff – Freddy, Ensemble
• Chimp in a Suit – Andre
• Oklahoma? – Jolene, Lawrence, Ensemble
• All About Ruprecht – Lawrence, Ruprecht, Jolene
• What Was a Woman to Do (Reprise) – Muriel
• Here I Am – Christine, Ensemble
• Nothing is Too Wonderful to Be True – Christine, Freddy
• The Miracle (Act I Finale) – Company
Act II
• Entr’acte
• Ruffhousin’ Mit Shüffhausen – Lawrence, Freddy, Christine
• Like Zis/Like Zat – Andre, Muriel
• The More We Dance – Lawrence, Christine, Ensemble
• Love is My Legs – Freddy, Christine, Ensemble
• Love Sneaks In – Lawrence
• Like Zis/Like Zat (Reprise) – Muriel
• Son of Great Big Stuff – Freddy, Christine
• The Reckoning – Lawrence, Freddy, Andre (with spoken line by Christine)
• Dirty Rotten Number – Lawrence, Freddy
• Finale – Company
2005 Tony Awards: Best Actor in a Musical (Butz). Nominated for: Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Actor in a Musical (John Lithgow), Best Actress in a Musical (Sherie Rene Scott), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Joanna Gleason), Best Choreography (Jerry Mitchell), Best Direction of a Musical (Jack O’Brien), Best Orchestrations (Harold Wheeler), Best Lighting Design of a Musical.
UK: Josef Weinberger
USA: Musical Theatre International