Review | DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS (UK Tour) May 2015

Following a West End season, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Musical is now touring the UK, premiering in Birmingham at the New Alexandra Theatre this week. Based on the 1988 movie starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, the show began life in California in 2004, moving to Broadway in 2005. Almost a decade on, a brand new production directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell is giving the audience what they want. With everything from great songs, comedy, high energy dance routines and a gorgeous set a ticket to this show sure aint no con! 

On the French Riviera, Lawrence and Freddy, two conmen (one notably better than the other) unite on their biggest job ever whilst trying to woo and con 'millionaire Soap Queen' Christine Colgate with twists, turns and many a disguise along the way.

The pre-show curtain sets the scene, like a giant postcard of seaside village Beaument-sur-Mer. From the moment it lifts you are transported into the perfect theatrical world full of glorious glitz and glamour of the French Riviera. What's great is that this feels like one of the classics - the MGM musicals, but with the added bonus that this particular production is barely 2 years old. Even compared to the excellent West End production, it remains remarkably fresh.

Michael Praed is every inch the charmer as Lawrence Jameson. Irresistibly smooth, he glides his way through the part that you would believe was written for him. His counterpart, the less deceiving Freddy is played by Noel Sullivan. An oafish opposite in terms of sophistication, Sullivan is particularly hilarious as Ruprecht, a strange brother invented to deter Phoebe Coupe's comedic, scene-stealing Jolene and later as a man paralysed from the waist down - earning some of the biggest laughs of the night.

Mark Benton plays Andre, the French inspector. The role has previously been played as a handsome, clean-cut, designer-stubbled superior but here, Benton's somewhat buffoonish take on the character works incredibly well and earns much of the audience sympathy. Benton  brings to light a new-found humour in the role. 

Carley Stenson proves her presence with some powerhouse vocals as Christine. She's mesmerising as the tempting American and ensures all eyes are on her throughout a glowing performance. Geraldine Fitzgerald is utterly charming as Louis Vuitton clutching Muriel - a lonely Englishwoman who ensures the tender moments of this high-octane musical are among some of the most memorable - in particular the evolving relationship with Andre.

Peter Mackintosh's set design is stunning and scenery changes are slick - there are moments of pure genius. There is an overwhelming sense of luxuriousness that transports a midweek in a Birmingham theatre to a Saturday night in Monte Carlo. This is the show that gives them what they want, nothing cheap or cheesy, just pure glitz, glamour and entertainment from start to finish. Even at this, the tour's premiere, you'd be conned into thinking they'd been at it for years it's so slick. Simply unmissable!

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels runs at Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 16 May. Buy (or con people into buying) tickets here. 

Cast List: Michael Praed, Noel Sullivan, Carley Stenson, Mark Benton, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Emma Caffrey, Andy Conaghan, Phoebe Coupe, Soophia Faroughi, Jonny Godbold, Orla Gormley, Patrick Harper, Justin Lee-Jones, Jordan Livesey, Lisa Mathieson, Andy Rees, Freya Rowley, Regan Shepherd, Kevin Stephen-Jones, Katie Warsop, Jenny Wickham.

Interview | ALEX BEAUMONT from DREAMBOATS AND MINISKIRTS

Dreamboats & Miniskirts is the sequel to the popular Dreamboats & Petticoats comes to Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tue 23 - Sat 27 June. Alex Beaumont who plays Bobby spoke about the show and the part he plays in it. 

This is your second run with Bill Kenwright’s production – what is it about this musical and your role that made you decide to continue into 2015?

The music, the 60s music, it’s incredible to get to sing it eight times a week, I really love 60s music. The character of Bobby, well, I do identify with him, I have a little soft spot for him, which makes me want to play him. We’re similar because we’re typical boys, we don’t really think about things, like girls feelings – an ignorant boy (laughs).

The cast must know each other so well now – is it like one big family?

Yeah, it really is. It’s also amazing to have the live band on stage with you as well because you feel like you have that support. Everyone gets on great, everywhere we go we all go for meals together or stay in digs together, so yeah, it really is like one big family.

You have a new Norman – how is Alastair settling in?

Brilliant, absolutely amazing, he’s such a pleasure to work with. We got on really well on and off stage, so it’s really nice. He has taken over from Ross (William Wild) and he probably was a bit nervous, but I experience the same thing when we started Miniskirts last year because there was only me and Ross who were new to the franchise, everyone else had been in Petticoats at some point. I did kind of feel it would be hard to slot in, but actually, it was really easy because they’re such a nice bunch of people.

For those that haven’t seen the show, tell us a bit about it and your character.

The show focuses on Bobby and Laura, they’ve just had massive success with Dreamboats and Petticoats, and in Miniskirts, you see how their relationship, professionally and romantically, is going to work and whether it will work. You also have recurring characters Norman and Sue, who are getting on nicely, they’re married. And then there’s Donna and Ray. Ray is now working in a salon in Bond Street and Donna’s working in her boutique and they’re going through every day relationship struggles too. They’re a little bit older, everyone’s matured apart from Bobby!

It’s a show set in the 1960s – do you find the audiences are of that generation or is it appealing to a younger audience?

A bit of both actually. Generally, the audiences we get are people who were the age of the characters in the show in the 60s, and the people we get to meet after the show, most of them will tell us it took them back to their youth and it was really nice to reminisce. But then also, that generation are then taking their children and their children’s children to come and see it as well. We’ve had young children in the audience, who, some of them, know all the words, which is brilliant. So it just goes to show that even if you weren’t around in that era, you can still appreciate it.

Has your music and fashion taste changed because of the show?

I’ve always loved 60s music, although it was more jazz and soul, Ben E. King, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, all those great singers. And then in the show you’ve got Roy Orbison, Smokey Robinson and other amazing singers that you don’t really get these days. And their songs have stood the test of time and that’s why I like this kind of music. As for the fashion, I do like the Chelsea boots that I get to wear every night, and to have a nice sharp suit to wear is always really nice to wear.

You said you have grown as the show has gone on – how have you changed from your very first performance last August to now?

I’ve definitely relaxed into the role and what has really helped is finding those similarities between you as a person, and character, it makes it a lot easier to relate to. And it’s taught me not to be so hard on myself. Because it’s such a massive role in the dhow, no one’s superhuman, you learn how to conserve your energy but still make sure you give enough for every show. And those are skills that will hopefully carry on in the rest of my career.

At Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tue 23 - Sat 27 June. CLICK HERE to book tickets.