Category Archives: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
2011 BroadwayWorld Cleveland Awards
I’ve been nominated on BroadwayWorld.com for Best Actor in a Musical!
But I need your help to win it place respectably! I was nominated for my portrayal of ‘Freddy Benson’ in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre. Click here if you need a refresher.
Please go to the VOTING PAGE and follow the instructions. You’ll need your email address and excellent taste.
I am also represented in three other categories:
Best Musical – ASSASSINS – Lakeland Civic Theatre
Best Ensemble – Grand Hotel – Mercury Summer Stock
Best Special Theatrical Event – Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure – Mercury Summer Stock
I appreciate your support!
Great Big Stuff
I’m moving into the 21st century! I’m posting my own videos on YouTube!
Bear with me. I’m working with some funky DVDs and a lot of freeware, so they’re going to come out rarely and will never look like I want them to.
Regardless, enjoy my first attempt: me singing “Great Big Stuff” in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at CVLT
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Reviewed (3)!
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
The plus side of being a dyed-in-the-wool pessimist is that life often presents you with happy surprises. And one of those nuggets of joy reside in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels now at CVLT, where two actors in the leads make this con artist musical come to hilarious life.
The performances of Rob Albrecht and Trey Gilpin as the competitive con men Lawrence and Freddy, on the make in the south of France, bring out all the fun of this show. With clever lyrics (and often forgettable music) by David Yazbek and a fairly predictable book by Jeffrey Lane, Scoundrels is a piece yearning for just the right people in the two major roles.
Director Martin Friedman hits the comedy target almost perfectly with his duo. Albrecht plays the dapper grifter Lawrence with smooth condescension and a handy grab bag of Euro accents. Plus, he uses his rich baritone voice to excellent effect in his songs, particularly the second act “Love Sneaks In.”
But the featured role is Freddy, the common, two-bit hustler who first is tutored by Lawrence and then competes with him to see who can fleece the supposed American heiress Christine Colgate. Gilpin slides into this character with enormous physical ease, then proceeds to craft a few laugh-out-loud set pieces, including a stint as Lawrence’s offensive “brother” Ruprecht.
Although relying a bit too often on the gag of pulling or emitting various unpleasantries from different bodily orifices, the rumpled Gilpin can throw away a laugh line with the best of them. And that results in a performance that consistently delights from start to finish.
Playing the mark Christine, Heather Hersh has a gawky and gangly innocence that works well for her character, although she wrestles with her songs—losing three out of four falls in the process.
Sharon Lloyd as the rich Muriel Eubanks and Eric Oswald as the malleable local gendarme Andre have fun with their tryst in the second act, especially in their ditty “Like Zis-Like Zat.” And Libby Merriman kicks up some laughter in her musical tribute to Oklahoma: “Not a tree or a Jew/To block the lovely view.”
While the production feels a bit arthritic in the larger scenes where the ensemble is called upon to perform, this Scoundrels soars on the wings of its two leads. And that makes for an often giddy ride.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Reviewed (2)!
CVLT Turns ‘Rotten Scoundrels’ Around
Herb Hammer – Chagrin Valley Times
When the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre announced it was about to stage “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” veteran theatergoers must have wondered why. I did. The musical, adapted from the 1988 movie starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, failed miserably when David Yazbek and Geoffrey Lane, the songwriter and scriptwriter, opened the show on Broadway.
Critics felt that Broadway didn’t need a second-rate musical comedy about two con artists, especially when it came on the heels of the spectacular Mel Brooks’ musical “The Producers.”
In spite of its many flaws, director Martin Friedman has turned the show completely around. His production of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” is a joy to watch.
It appears that putting this show on Broadway was aiming too high. The Chagrin Valley Little Theatre is exactly where the show belongs. And casting, well, the talented Mr. Friedman has found the perfect pair of con men to carry the show.
We are on the French Riviera where Lawrence Jameson, a suave, debonair gentleman, spends most of his time swindling unsuspecting rich women out of as much money as he can lay his hands on.
Along comes Freddy Benson, a smalltime slob who wants to get in on the act. Why the wildly successful Mr. Jameson agrees to teach Freddy the ropes is another story. Freddy does help him out when a lonely Oklahoma heiress tries to get Lawrence to come back home with her.
The big play is to bilk $50,000 out of a young American soap heiress. Here, our two heroes decide to compete for the cash.
Laughs are plentiful, especially when Trey Gilpin, who plays Freddy, is on stage. Mr. Gilpin is a natural funny man who can make the lowest lowdown gag — and there are loads of them — keep the theater ringing with laughter.
Not to be outdone is the suave Rob Albrecht, as Lawrence Jameson. The director has chosen the perfect comedy con man. He’s especially good when he masquerades as a German psychologist who tries to spoil Freddy’s act as a wheelchair-bound soldier.
Libby Merriman gets her share of laughs as the lady from Oklahoma.
Much of the show belongs to Heather Hersh, as the supposed soap heiress. She’s just right playing Christine Colgate, a bit of a clumsy ding-a-ling who has a few tricks up her sleeve. The combination of performers, along with superb direction by Mr. Friedman, brings the house down.
The songs are the big disappointment. Mr. Yazbek has not been able to capture much that would please a musical comedy audience. In fact, his score most often gets in the way of Mr. Lane’s uproarious shenanigans.
A secondary plot that includes a corrupt police chief and a lonely divorcee doesn’t catch fire and could have been left out.
For the most part, the bawdy jokes vaulting over good taste may be a little hard to digest, but they are awfully funny.
“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” aims small but just small enough for Chagrin Valley Little Theatre to make it a must-see show.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Reviewed!
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre Fun, but not Profound
While the current production of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, with music and lyrics by David Yazbek and book by Jeffrey Lane, is formulaic, a little stiff and far from profound, it does offer humor and a few pleasant surprises.
It is based on the 1988 film of the same name.
Welcome to the fictional town of Beaumont-Sur-Mer in southern France, where the handsome Lawrence Jameson (Rob Albrecht) and the town’s complicit chief of police Andrew Thibault (Eric Oswald), have been successfully separating wealthy women from their riches for years.
When small-time con man Freddy Benson (Trey Gilpin) learns about their operation, he wants in. But competing over squeaky clean Christine Colgate (Heather Hersh), new in town and known as the “American soap queen,” will show just which one of these men can win her cash coffers and affections.
Albrecht channels John Lithgow as he smoothly portrays Lawrence, the kingpin of this operation. His mastery of accents is impressive. Gilpin is hands-down the highlight of this show as an everyman type who wants to trade up his life for a fancier version. His turn playing the character of brother Ruprecht to help con man Lawrence out of a spot marrying persistent, high-energy Oklahoman Jolene Oakes (Libby Merriman) showcases his strength for funny, if a bit crass, physical comedy. Hersh’s singing voice was consistently flat on opening night, but her girl next door character was otherwise endearing.
Sharon Lloyd as the conflicted-yet-fun Muriel Eubanks reminds one of Megan Mulally, especially when she gets to loosen up in the second act. Merci to ensemble member Wes Roj as the train conductor for the only dead-on French accent in a production set entirely in France.
Technical director Edmond Wolff’s seaside resort full of potted ferns and stripy pillows works thanks to a narrow upstage platform allowing space for movement downstage and opportunities for characters to overhear and interact indirectly, creating layers of action.
Director Martin Friedman has then created a layered production with several bright spots, among them the talented comedic actor Gilpin and the capable Albrect.
Musical Director David Keith Stiver’s band was consistently supportive of the action on stage, and ambitious choreography from Jennifer Justice is at its best in a quietly hilarious little pas de deux between Hersh and Gilpin called “Love is My Legs.” Lloyd and Oswald’s “Like Zis – Like Zat” is also sweet. Salty language and adult situations might keep the kids away, but adults should enjoy the night out, forgiving an uneven show in favor of its strong central cast and many funny moments.
“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. through April 16, plus one Sunday performance April 3 at 2 p.m., at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, 40 River St., Chagrin Falls. For tickets, call (440) 247-8955 or visit www.cvlt.org.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Opens at CVLT
Chagrin Valley Little Theatre presents Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek
Book by Jeffrey Lane
Director – Martin Friedman
Music Director – Keith Stiver
Performances:
Friday, March 18 – 8:00pm
Saturday, March 19 – 8:00pm
Friday, March 25 – 8:00pm
Saturday, March 26 – 8:00pm
Friday, April 1 – 8:00pm
Saturday, April 2 – 8:00pm
Sunday, April 3 – 2:00pm (the ONLY matinee!)
Friday, April 8 – 8:00pm
Saturday, April 9 – 8:00pm
Friday, April 15 – 8:00pm
Saturday, April 16 – 8:00pm
At Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
40 River Street
Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
For tickets, call 440-247-8955
Or visit the website
Adults – $18.00
Students / Seniors – $14.00
Based on the popular 1988 comedy film starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine, Dirty
Rotten Scoundrels is a musical about two con men living on the French Riviera – the
high-brow Lawrence Jameson (Rob Albrecht), who makes his lavish living by posing as
the prince of a desperate foreign land, and low-brow hood Freddy Benson (Trey Gilpin),
who swindles women by waking their compassion with lies about his ill grandmother.
After a chance meeting on a train, they attempt to work together only to find that this
town isn’t big enough for the two of them.
FOR IMMATURE AUDIENCES (I’d give it a hard PG-13)
Cast:
Rob Albrecht – Lawrence Jameson
Trey Gilpin – Freddy Benson
Heather Hersh – Christine Colgate
Eric Oswald – Andre Thibault
Sharon Lloyd – Muriel Eubanks
Libby Merriman – Jolene Oakes
Ensemble:
Heather Englander
Neely Gevaart
Kourtney Highland
Brandon Hood
Clayton Minder
Wes Roj
Emily Tillmaand
Brenda Willis
Artistic Staff:
Jenn Justice – Choreographer
Harold Crawford – Costumer
Edmond Wolff – Tech Director
Cindee Catalano – Producer / Stage Manager
My Next Show – Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
I’m very excited to play one of my dream roles: Freddy Benson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels!
I’ll be stepping into shoes previously filled by Marlon Brando, Steve Martin, and Norbert Leo Butz. Intimidated? You betcha. Excited? Very.
It’ll be going up in mid-March at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre. Details to come!
