Barry Martin, Taylor Bartolucci DeGuilio, Rob Broadhurst
Reviewed by Suzanne and Greg Angeo
Members, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle
Photo by Eric Chazankin
Dirty Rotten Good Time
By definition, art and magic both involve use of the imagination to create something real that can be seen and felt. Director Craig Miller and the cast of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels are artists with the kind of imagination that makes musical comedy magic happen onstage at 6th Street Playhouse. It’s a jolly, rollicking show that will lift your spirits and stay with you long after you walk out of the theater. That’s about as real, and as magical, as you can get these days.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is based on the 1988 film of the same name, which was itself a remake of Bedtime Story, a film from 1964 about a pair of enterprising gigolos on the French Riviera. It was adapted for the stage by Jeffrey Lane and David Yazbeck, and opened on Broadway in early 2005, receiving an impressive ten Tony nominations. Since then, it has been performed all over the world from Tokyo to Reykjavik, and finally arrived at London’s West End – and 6th Street Playhouse – just this year.
The story is about master trickster Lawrence Jameson (Barry Martin), who has been using his charms for years to gain the trust (and money) of lonely, wealthy ladies who wander onto his turf – a ritzy casino-hotel on the French Riviera. Martin displays a genius for silly sophistication, especially in his masquerade as Dr Shuffhausen, where he really gets to chew some scenery, and with a German accent to boot. At the same time he gives authentic depth to the character Jameson in what may be his best performance. In his role as Jameson’s right-hand man Andre, the always-excellent Larry Williams plays his character like the love child of Edward Everett Horton and Peter Sellers. One of Jameson’s many admirers is the long-suffering Muriel, played by the gifted Kim Williams, who later finds true love in an unexpected place.
Jameson pretty much rules the roost until young hustler Freddy Benson (Rob Broadhurst) shows up one day and rocks everybody’s world. Broadhurst as the uncouth but clever Freddy brings fabulous vocals, charisma and comic timing to his role. His performance of “Great Big Stuff” is one of the best in the show. Freddy has the aspirations, but not the experience, to operate at Jameson’s level. Out of dire necessity Jameson finally agrees to take Freddy under his wing. He soon comes to regret this decision which is hilariously evident in Martin’s performance with Broadhurst in “Ruff Housin’ Mit Shuffhausen”.
Amy Webber as Jameson’s would-be bride Jolene Oakes, the rowdy big-oil heiress from Oklahoma, is a real showstopper doing cartwheels and drawing cheers from the audience during her number “Oklahoma” (no, not the song from that other musical). Taylor Bartolucci DeGuilio makes a grand entrance upon her arrival at the casino hotel as “The American Soap Queen” Christine Colgate. She immediately proves to be irresistible to both Jameson and Freddy as she sings “Here I Am”. Christine has everyone convinced that she’s a grown-up Shirley Temple (complete with the curls), but there’s something wild lurking underneath that soft, lovable exterior.
It’s obvious that the exuberant cast is having as good a time as the audience. Director Craig Miller fills the stage with brilliant comic touches and bits of business; an accordion player strolls onstage from time to time, a flower girl scampers by with her basket. There are wordless vignettes with sweetly subtle visual humor, in vivid contrast to the raunchy insanity of musical numbers like “All About Ruprecht”. It’s true that in one of the show’s early performances, the orchestra was a bit off-key during the overture and opening numbers which in turn seemed to throw the singers off at first, but everyone soon recovered. Kudos for great choreography by Alise Gerard, visiting back home again from New York. Sets feature glitter-sprayed cutouts which lend a cartoonish air to the stage. An ensemble cast and director performing at the top of their game, combined with catchy musical numbers, make this one heckuva sexy, fun show.
When: Now through April 13, 2014
8:00 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday
2:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Tickets: $23 to $35
Location: GK Hardt Theater at 6th Street Playhouse
52 West 6th Street, Santa Rosa CA
Phone: 707-523-4185
Website: www.6thstreetplayhouse.com
