New Musical " Dirty Rotten Scoundrels " Starring John Lithgow

[Guest rohale]

I had a chance to see a new musical play in the form of " Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in San Diego. The new musical from " The Full Monty " team has rough spots but shows promise.

 

A few of my friends who already had seen the production informed me that I would hate " Dirty Rotten Scoundrels ". Derivative and half-baked. A blatant attempt to copy the raunchy formula of " The Producers ". There other stronger words that were uttered. My response was Harrumph.

 

I'm sorry to take issue with my learnered friends, but " Scoundrels " isn't nearly as rotten as they claim. In fact, nearly like everyone in the audience out at the old " Globe Theater ". I laughed aloud,a lot. When pressed to make comparisions to the 1988 film version starring Sir Michael Caine and Steve Martin. I got a muted response.

 

" Scoundrels " may be no " Producers ", but it's no turkey either. If the right improvements are made, David Rockwell's sets are balky, schematic, and often unattractive. The second act feels bloated, a lusty romance between two secondary characters could easily be trimmed, though Joanna Gleason and Gregory Jbara are delightful as the unlikely lovers, a quirky, moneyed American and a corrupt French Police Man. Not everyone is up to Yazbeks musical demands. Gleason struggles with her songs. Between now and next spring, if these changes are accomplished then this production has a chance at box office success.

 

There are some nice moments which need to be nurtured. John Lithgow plays the old-fox grifter. He's not quite comfortable with the role yet, he's got the right goods for the part, slick, sly, plummpy voiced and pompous. Lithgow has always set the standard for the portrayal of artistrocratic hateur. He seems born to strut in a tux with a champagne flute in his hand. The old pro is getting there with each passing performance.

 

Some say Scoundrels will sink like a stone when it leaves the safe harbor of San Diego. This creative team is too talented to be doubted or denied. O'Brien's slew of Best Director Tony Awards is no fluke. He's proven with " The Full Monty " and " Hairspray " that he knows how to manufacture a frothy musical hit. Off course Yazbek, on the strength of his one Broadway success " Love Is My Legs " ( clever stylish knock-offs, from Cole Porter to Kandrar and Ebb )has demonstrated talents that place him in the first rank of the new generation of musical-theater composer lyricists.

 

Now, one might say " But So What? ". There are two great traditions in American Music Theater. One is it's great aspiration to greatness, exemplified by the more serious works of Kern, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Sondheim, Tesori, etc. The other is its knack for good old remindless silliness. " Scoundrels " in it's imperfect way, is squarely within the second category. It aims to make you laugh. Period, funny isn't it. If it's creators tinker with it between now and it's New York debut, it may cause a lot of people to do just that. It's chances will be greater if the current sticks with the show.

 

By next Spring, this production could be the sleeper hit of the season. I think this production has a chance to shine. Especially when you consider the paltry competition for the current Broadway season, more bereft of new musicals than any other in recent memory.

 

If you have the chance to see it, please do so. If not for anyone but for the ever monolithic John Lithgow, himself. You wont be disappointed.

 

Rohale

[+ Billsboy4]

I also saw the show and have to say that I agree with your friends and the reviews that I read. I found the show to be very disappointing. The biggest problem is John Lithgow (a wonderful actor and the main reason I went to see the show) is miscast. The book needs alot of work....mostly the toilet humor that Mel Brooks knows how to pull off and Mr. Lane doesn't. As far as the score goes, while I liked many of the songs in the Full Monty, this score in non-memorable. Another problem is that the part played by the wonderful Joanna Gleason has been unnecessarily expanded from the movie and doesn't help move the show along in any way. It's a great idea for a musical, but alot of work needs to be done to make it on Broadway @$100 a ticket.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

While i haven't seen this show yet...

 

I'm a sucker for Sherie Rene Scott and Joanna Gleason, so i'm sure i'll make the trek to see this once it opens on Broadway. They're both such great performers, especially Gleason, who can turn a simple gesture or phrasing into something drop-dead funny.

 

While i like Lithgow, his last musical onstage turn in 'Sweet Smell of Success' didn't do it for me.

 

Norbert Leo Butz is amazing in anything he does. He's done everything on Broadway from Aida to Cabaret... A real talent.

 

It'll be nice to have something on Broadway that's not a revival. A nice change indeed.

 

 

Warmest Always,

 

 

 

Benjamin Nicholas

[bigguyinpasadena]

RE: New Musical " Dirty Rotten Scoundrels " Starring John Lithgow

 

I was onstage for the LA run of Caberet(there were seats onstage-I was not in the show!)Butz and the boys of the chorus were the only thing worth looking at.I can't remember who played Sally Bowles-it was the gal from superman the series-but she was horrid,as was most of the cast,wrong show for me to be visable as my bored expression(except when leering at the boys)was not a positive adition to the staging.

I like Joanna Gleason-I have seen her a couple of times on stage and once in a revue-I don't know if I would cast her in a big show.

PS-BN you could easily be a succesful "stage door johnny"as for as Butz goes.He is a sexy guy.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

RE: New Musical " Dirty Rotten Scoundrels " Starring John Lithgow

 

'Stage Door Johnny?' I'm uninformed on that one...

 

Gleason has been cast in MANY big shows in her career, one of which was the OBC of 'Into the Woods,' one of Sondhiem's greatest shows musically IMO. She also had a nice dramatic turn in 'Boogie Nights' the film as Mark Walhberg's abusive mother.

 

I'm simply glad to see something NEW hit Broadway. There are so little chances taken on new musicals that it's becoming mundane to see the same old revivals again and again. Honestly, they're not even letting the old shows totally burn-out before slogging them back onto Broadway anymore. The recent revival of 'Into the Woods' was a perfect example of bringing back a show too soon and slopping it up with a somewhat 'name' cast. It failed.

 

I'm really hoping that the soon-to-be revival of 'La Cage' at The Palace (replacing the long-running Aida) isn't going to bomb. I hear that Harvey is rewriting some of the book to make it a bit more timely. Interesting. I guess we'll see.

 

In any event, it's always top-drawer to support any live theatrical or art happening. It's also pretty cool that we keep a pretty lively discussion about such things here on the MC.

 

Gotta love it

 

 

Warmest Always,

 

 

 

Benjamin Nicholas

[bigguyinpasadena]

RE: New Musical " Dirty Rotten Scoundrels " Starring John Lithgow

 

"'Stage Door Johnny?' I'm uninformed on that one..."so young,,,so very, very ,young.

"Stage door Johnnies"was the term given to admiring fans(male)who used to hang around outside the performers entrance to catch the attention of the actresses(and actors I suppose)as they left the theatre

P.S-I really liked the production that was at the Ahmanson last year of Into The Woods-that later moved to B'way.One of the best things I have seen here.

I also really enjoyed the production of Candide that was later moved to B'way(and FAILED-they really fucked it up in the transition,when something works why "fix"it?)They had the most adorble lil'fella,Ken Chester, in the lead-he opened his mouth and this HUGE voice came out!