'Dirty' fun

"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"
October 12, 2004
Old Globe Theatre, San Diego

This run at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre is the pre-Broadway tryout for "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," as it heads to New York for an opening this January (many shows do an out-of-town staging to work out the kinks in the show prior to New York; minimizes the immense financial risk of opening a show on Broadway). The show stars John Lithgow, Norbert Leo Butz and Sheri Renee Scott in the principal roles, with Joanna Gleason and Greg Jbara taking featured parts. Music and lyrics are by David Yazbek and Jeffrey Lane.

Overall, a very fun show. It needs a bit of fine tuning (especially in the second act, where the entire finale - which essentially lasts 3 whole songs - drags quite a bit), but it is very funny and very entertaining. It’s not a big flashy musical like “Hairspray” or “Wicked,” but it entertains well enough on its own – kind of like “The Full Monty,” which is from the same composing team as “Dirty Rotten.” The cast is excellent all around, which really makes the material fly. Not all of the pieces add up in the end, but it's a nice cozy musical nonetheless. It will be interesting to see what happens to the show in New York, and what the New York critics will think of it. They don't tend to forgive multiple faults glossed over with laughs. Still, though, I had fun.