 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Imperial Theatre)Liars, Cheats, and Thieves!
Address: 249 W 45th St - (Between Madison and Vanderbilt avenues)
10036 - Times Square/Theatre District/Midtown
NY
Nearest Bus or Train:S, 4, 5, 6, 7 at 42nd Street-Grand Central
Open Hours:Tu 7p; W-Sa 8p; W,Sa 2p; Su 3p
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, based on the 1988 film starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, has more in common with outright burlesque then it does with typical Broadway comedy. Starring Jonathan Pryce in the role originated by John Lithgow (Lawrence Jameson), and Norbert Leo Butz (Freddy Benson) as shameless conmen, this current offering at the Imperial Theatre expends enormous energy attempting to physically pull the laughs out of the audience. If it's laughs you're after, this show delivers. This is not sophisticated drama, but broad comedy that rarely misses the mark, and even if its aim is off center, just wait a minute because there's a bullseye just a few beats later. Directed by Jack O'Brien (The Full Monty), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a story about two crooked guys looking to rip off lovelorn women and sounds a lot like Mel Brooks: The Producers, except the setting is not show biz, but rather the Italian Rivera. Rachel York (Christine Colgate), the show's de rigueur blond bombshell, is physically set up for every kind of filthy gag and naughty innuendo under the sun. And Dirty Rotten Scoundrels has naughty innuendos and filthy gags by the bucketful- not for nothing is the adjective "Dirty" in the title! Dirty Rotten Scoundrels makes for a good visit to the theatre, but nobody is going to confuse this show for a Eugene O'Neill or Tennessee Williams vehicle. It may resemble The Producers, but it entertains in its own unique way and it is certainly worth the price of the ticket. Credits; direction Jack O'Brien, choreography Jerry Mitchell, music direction Ted Sperling, sets David Rockwell, and costumes Gregg Barnes.
Performances: Tu 7p; W-Sa 8p; W,Sa 2p; Su 3p Ticket: $41.25-$101.25
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