"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" - by Jeffrey Lane and David Yazbek - Moonbox Productions (Cambridge, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Phil Tayler as "Freddie Benson" with members of the CAST of the musical, "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS" by Jeffrey Lane and David Yazbek from Moonbox Productions in Boston, MA. now playing through October 20, 2024. Photo Credit: Molly Shoemaker)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“But now and then, you might recall the moments when you had it all. You had the charm, you had the talent and, my God, you had some fun."
- ("Lawrence") / Jeffrey Lane and David Yazbek
Moonbox Productions
Presents the Hilarious Musical
"DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS!"
Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek
Book by Jeffrey Lane
Based on the motion picture “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” by Dale Launer, Stanley Shapiro & Paul Henning
Director/Co-Producer - Allison Olivia Choat
Music Director - Catherine Stornetta
Choreographer - Brad Reinking
Producer - Sharman Altshuler
Cast Includes: Matthew Zahnzinger as “Lawrence Jameson,” Phil Tayler as “Freddy Benson,” Shonna McEachern* as “Christine Colgate,” Julius P. Williams, III as “Andre Thibault,” Christina English as “Muriel Eubanks,” Tader Shipley as “Jolene,” Jake Siffert as “Ensemble/Dance Captain,” Ryan Norton as “Ensemble/Lawrence U/S,” Kevin Hanley as “Ensemble/Freddy U/S,” AJ Macrina as “Ensemble/Andre U/S,” Miki Grubic as “Ensemble,” Sylvia Barjolo as “Ensemble/Muriel U/S,” Molly Dorion as “Ensemble/Jolene U/S,” Sophie Shaw as “Ensemble/Christine U/S,” Myranda Silva as “Ensemble.”
Additional Creative Team:
Stage Manager - Gabby Stryker; Assistant Stage Manager - Olivia Browne; Production Manager - Jessie Marasco; Scenic Designer - Peyton Tavares; Sound Designer - Gage Baker; Costume Designer - E Rosser; Properties Designer - Andrew Reynolds.
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association
Performances:
September 27, 2024 through October 20, 2024
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
Performances at Arrow Street Arts, 2 Arrow Street, Cambridge, MA. 02138
TICKETS:
Contact the Box Office at https://moonboxproductions.org/tickets/
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
(Editor's Note: The following review is of a "soft opening" performance from September 28, 2024)
Moonbox Productions takes us all on a journey from Cambridge, Massachusetts to the French Riviera in the deliciously decadent musical "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS."
With a book by Jeffrey Lane "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS" is based on the original 1988 film starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin.
Much of the musical’s success is thanks to its lilting score from Tony Award-winner David Yasbek (“A Band’s Visit”).
Lane and Yazbek also collaborated on the critically successful musical, “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.”
The original 2004 Broadway production featured John Lithgow, Norbert Leo Butz, and Sherie Rene Scott.
"DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS" was nominated in 10 categories of Tony Awards in 2005 with Norbert Leo Butz winning for “Best Leading Actor in a Musical,” beating out Lithgow who was also nominated in the same category.
For the staging by Moonbox Productions, the show’s score is performed by a solid orchestra situated above the stage and expertly guided by music director Catherine Stornetta.
The well-crafted "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS" kicks off with “Give Them What They Want,” a number that, under the combined efforts of stage director Allison Olivia Choat and choreographer Brad Reinking, the Moonbox cast executes well
(Photo: Matthew Zahnzinger as “Lawrence Jameson” and Julius P. Williams, III as “Andre Thibault” with members of the CAST of the musical, "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS" by Jeffrey Lane and David Yazbek from Moonbox Productions in Boston, MA. now playing through October 20, 2024. Photo Credit: Molly Shoemaker)
Lawrence Jameson (Matthew Zahnzinger) is a cheat, a crook and swindler…and a proudly accomplished one, at that.
Lawrence lives an unabashed, unapologetically and flagrantly opulent lifestyle from the millions he has acquired through his “career” bilking a multitude of assorted lonely rich women.
After the first fifteen minutes of the show’s bouncy opener, we soon meet the crook who will ultimately become Lawrence’s fiercest competitor.
After a chance meeting on a train, Lawrence takes under his wing the younger, less experienced, crass and classless con man Freddy (Phil Tayler) who learns quickly (well, not too quickly).
As Freddy, Tayler thoroughly entertains in the Act One frenetic pining opus, “Great Big Stuff” supported by Lawrence’s enticing ensemble staff of servants.
For Moonbox Productions, Reinking’s choreography excels greatly in the above opening numbers and then again in the later tune, “Oklahoma.”
Zahnzinger and Tayler are well-cast, simply terrific in their respective roles, although each one had a brief mishap with dialogue during the show's "soft opening."
However, in how the actors dealt with those mishaps, each of them provided some genuinely funny moments (as did the person in charge of operating the show's "closed captioning" device).
Tader Shipley is vibrant as wealthy Oklahoman “extrovert” Jolene who is another one of Lawrence’s early marks, latching onto Lawrence and putting him into an unexpected binding agreement (i.e. an engagement).
Shipley, with the talented ensemble, performs the song “Oklahoma,” which CANNOT be confused with the Rogers and Hammerstein classic, especially when Jolene describes her preferred method of Oklahoman “pest control” in the lyrics.
To get out of the impending nuptials with Jolene, Lawrence is put in the position of requiring Freddy’s help, which leads to the show's most amusing musical number, “All About Ruprecht.”
(Photo: Matthew Zahnzinger as “Lawrence Jameson,” Phil Tayler as "Freddie Benson" and Sophie Shaw as a fellow passenger in a scene from the musical, "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS" by Jeffrey Lane and David Yazbek from Moonbox Productions in Boston, MA. now playing through October 20, 2024. Photo Credit: Molly Shoemaker)
Christina English is delightful as Muriel, an early mark of Lawrence’s cons who winds up spending much of her time on stage with Lawrence’s trusted cohort and local police constabulary, the Inspector Andre Thibault (Julius P. Williams, III).
Williams shines brightly as Andre with definite charisma, especially when interacting in scenes and performing the duet "Like Zis, Like Zat" with English.
After a few successful cons together, Freddy soon becomes less of an apprentice and more Lawrence’s rival in the small but affluent community within the French Riviera which Lawrence calls “home.”
The two "SCOUNDRELS" make the ultimate wager:
First one to con $50,000 from a seemingly simple, naïve albeit affluent “soap heiress” named Christine (Shonna McEachern) will win, and the other must vacate the Riviera, disgraced in defeat.
McEachern is splendid as Christine, completely imbuing the character with all the required nuances to make Christine both endearing and trustworthy.
The musical’s book, written by Lane, was based on the 1988 MGM film that came about from writers Dale Launer, Stanley Shapiro and Paul Henning.
In constructing the "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS" musical, both Lane and Yazbek have a keen grasp on the original movie characters (not just the principals but the supporting cast, as well).
As such, it makes a finely tuned transition from screen comedy to stage musical which comes across as almost seamless.
In addition, with the source material obviously in mind, the cast in the Moonbox Productions staging stays true to what has come before.
(Photo: Members of the dance Ensemble perform in a moment from the musical, "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS" by Jeffrey Lane and David Yazbek from Moonbox Productions in Boston, MA. now playing through October 20, 2024. Photo Credit: Molly Shoemaker)
The scarcity of an actual set is noticeable.
The vacant stage space is instead bordered by neon lighting, which provides a minimalist but uniquely animated backdrop for the Riviera setting and expeditious scene changes.
Costuming was mainly in keeping with the Riviera setting but was also kept minimalist allowing for some quick costume changes.
Nearly everyone we encounter in "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS" – as morally bankrupt as they might be - is enjoyable to watch.
That is true from the ongoing interplay between Lawrence and Freddy right down to many assorted, delightful moments provided by the Moonbox Ensemble (which also serves as an occasional Greek chorus).
While the September 28th Moonbox Productions performance was announced as a “soft opening,” (and clearly some of the production numbers seemed under-rehearsed), the show still managed to delight the audience and resulted in a standing ovation from the enthusiastic crowd.
Other "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS" musical numbers that are both clever and amusing include, "The More We Dance," "What Was a Woman to Do” and "Ruffhousin' Mit Shüffhausen."
In Act Two, one of the most delightful numbers in the sntire score is the far less silly and more somber, introspective "Love Sneaks In," performed exceptionally well by Zahnzinger.
(Photo: Phil Tayler as "Freddie Benson" with members of the CAST of the musical, "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS" by Jeffrey Lane and David Yazbek from Moonbox Productions in Boston, MA. now playing through October 20, 2024. Photo Credit: Molly Shoemaker)
There are a lot of essential plot twists and turns, especially in the latter half of the show, for which it is important for the Moonbox audiences to keep alert throughout.
Ultimately, though, the strength of "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS" comes from the fact that it is imbued with a unique charm.
Instead of being appalled at some of the criminal activity going on, we find ourselves smiling at the hilarious and most deliciously reprehensible schemes of Lawrence and Freddy.
...just be watchful of the unseen “Jackal” who plans a daring heist of their own.
Moonbox Productions' "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS" continues in Cambridge, MA. until October 20, 2024 and will not only tickle your funny bone...it might steal it, as well.
Approximately two hours, 30 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
With music and lyrics by David Yazbek and a book by Jeffrey Lane, "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS" follows the misadventures of two con-artists Freddy Benson and Lawrence Jameson.
Freddy is just one more hardscrabble huckster trying to make a (dis)honest living – that is, until he meets Lawrence, a high-society swindler whose polish and connections have landed him a glamorous gig on the French Riviera.
When Lawrence invites Freddy to team up, it seems like the two have finally found the perfect con – until they realize that their egos are the only thing more massive than their earnings.
Friction turns to an outright feud when the perfect target arrives in town – Christine, an heiress who is just as beautiful as she is gullible.
Who will be the first to steal Christine's heart and, more importantly, her wallet?
Grab a sunhat and a cold drink for "DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS" - a musical that will keep you grinning and guessing from start to finish.
ABOUT MOONBOX PRODUCTIONS
Since its founding, MOONBOX PRODUCTIONS has been honored by numerous laudatory reviews and raves from audiences and critics alike – garnering MOONBOX PRODUCTIONS numerous IRNE and Elliot Norton Awards ranging from Best Musical, Best Actor & Actress, to Best Scenic and Costume Design recognitions. MOONBOX PRODUCTIONS was founded in 2011 by Producer/Artistic Director Sharman Altshuler. Based in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, MOONBOX PRODUCTIONS is dedicated to supporting local arts and local artists, and to connecting communities to the non-profit organizations that serve them. To fulfill their artistic mission, MOONBOX PRODUCTIONS taps the deep well of talent within their own communities to bring top quality theatrical experiences to stages throughout the Greater Boston area. To fulfill their social mission, they partner with a local non-profit organization for each show, giving them visibility on their website and in their promotional materials, as well as giving them access to their audiences in order to raise awareness of their cause, create connections within the community, and increase the reach and impact of their work.
30 Brattle Street
Third Floor
Cambridge, MA. 02138
