Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

The story opens with the smooth and self-loving lothario Lawrence Jameson (played excellently by Frog Johnson) conning the rich and wonderful women of the French Riviera out of their jewels and cash quite happily, until the young and somewhat enthusiastic try-hard Freddy Benson (Trent Richards) arrives to try his luck. Into the mix is added Phillip Fitzjohn as Jameson's sidekick Andre Thibault and Danika Saal as Christine Colgate, the eventual main target for the two prime protagonists. Fitzjohn is charming, with real comic timing and Saal is bubbly, fresh and boy, can she belt out a tune. Faultless!

All four deliver slick performances in some excellent scenes, none more so than Trent Richards’ take on the infamous Ruprecht scene, where the duo try to scare away an unwanted suitor (played by the wonderful Tia Wilke) by introducing her to a cellar-dwelling, socially inappropriate and repulsive character.

Both Johnson and Richards are excellent and both sparkle in their respective roles, from Johnson’s self-confidence and stage presence to Richards’ playful joy, facial expressions and streetwise charm. The two play off each other with a wonderful stage chemistry which leads to some hilarious scenes where I was full on belly-laughing.

The show is studded with witty, sharp songs by David Yazbek, performed dutifully under the Musical Directon of Ben Tubb, that advance the story, with “The More We Dance” a catchy treat, while the closing “Dirty Rotten Number” is the one you’ll be whistling as you leave the theatre.

Sherryl-Lee Secomb’s production has an admirably light touch, and she choreographs the space with panache. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is the perfect theatre package - clever songs, great acting and subtle choreography – it finds the lost era of musical comedy and brings it back to life.

Mel Bobbermien