Theatre Review: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Edinburgh Playhouse ✭✭✭✭

Review by Ellen Cree

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels will leave you smiling and feeling as though you've had a crazy stay in Beaumont-sur-Mer. 

With an impressive principal cast and very strong ensemble, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels will exceed any expectations. The show transports you to the glamorous French Rivera to watch the hilarious antics of Lawrence Jameson (Michael Praed) and Freddy Benson (Noel Sullivan) unfold.

The story follows posh Englishman conman, Lawrence (Praed) who returns to the resort for the season to trick more wealthy holiday makers out of their valuables, however his accomplice Andre Thibault (Gary Wilmot) finds out that another con artist ‘The Jackal’ is muscling in on their area, who they believe is American trickster Freddy (Noel Sullivan). The two soon become rivals through a bet they make to con apparently sweet American girl Christine Colgate (Carley Stenson), who is the heiress of a soap company but all is soon not as it seems. 

Praed and Sullivan have perfect on stage chemistry making a hilarious and lovable duo, and the beautiful Stenson provides the show with a certain sweetness before all is revealed. Along with this, Wilmot, Geraldine Fitzgerald (Muriel Banks) and Phoebe Coupe (Jolene Oakes) brilliantly provide extra humour with great comedic timing. The ensemble also provide a very slick performance with impressive dancing sure to leave the audience envious. 

Although there aren’t necessarily any memorable or catchy musical numbers that stick in your head after the performance, the cast make it memorable with their musical talent, especially Carley Stenson and Noel Sullivan who have outstanding voices. 

Along with stunning performances comes equally stunning costumes whether it is a dazzling ballgown or an outfit fit for a hoedown, the quality and variety of the costumes is brilliant. The set, mostly providing visuals for the hotel, casino and Lawrence’s luxury villa, is simplistic but fitting for the tone of the show.

Overall, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels a perfectly ludicrous and whimsical musical which also contains a fair amount of subtle adult humour. If the talented cast and guaranteed laughter performing genuinely charming characters doesn't make you want to attend, then I don’t know what will. If you're looking for a fun filled evening tied up with a bundle of laughs, make sure you see it and expect the unexpected!

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is at the Edinburgh Playhouse until 19th September. For tickets and information visit www.atgtickets.com/Edinburgh