Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Edinburgh Playhouse Review
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Edinburgh Playhouse
15-19 September 2015
Reviewed by Debbie Douglas
The Edinburgh Playhouse sits just at the top of Leith Walk and is easily accessible by train (from Waverly Stations), buses and trams. There is a car park next almost next door but this can be pricey especially if you are making a day of it in Edinburgh. There is ample off street parking just a short walk away too.
The Playhouse is a beautiful theatre and the seats are tiered so you are pretty much assured of a good seat. There are a few restricted viewing seats but these are always sold as these.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is based on the film starring Sir Michael Caine and Steve Martin. It is produced by the team who brought us Jersey Boys so I had high expectations. The show stars Michael Praed (those of a certain age will remember him from Dynasty), Carley Stenson (Hollyoaks), Noel Sullivan (Hear’say) and Gary Wilmot. A very strong cast indeed which again led me to have high hopes of a great show.
The plot is based in the French Riviera following the antics of two swindlers and their attempt to hoodwink a millionaire heiress but find they have met their match. The story is very slow to start and seems to take ages to get to the main plot. Michael Praed is OK as Lawrence Jameson but I got the feeling he was suffering nerves or something similar. Noel Sullivan is just annoying as Freddy Benson, I don’t know if this was deliberate or not but neither of the lead characters were very likeable which is never a good sign. Carley Stenson is very good as the millionaire heiress Christine Colgate and is almost wasted in this production. Gary Wilmot and Geraldine Fitzgerald were a nice distraction as the side plot and Gary Wilmot had some good one-liners but I can honestly say there were not many laughs. The funniest part was when Michael Praed got his lines wrong!
The set was exquisite and the musical score was OK. I think the trouble with a new musical is that you don’t know any of the songs so you are at a disadvantage straight away. If you have nothing to do this week then I would suggest you go along and see if you like this production any more than I did. It was still a fun night out despite all the shows failings and I am sure with a few tweaks to the script this could be a good show but as it is just now it wasn’t for me.
Rating: 3/5
Tickets cost from £19.40 to £53.40 (plus £4 transaction fee).
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is at the Edinburgh Playhouse until 19 September 2015. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 871 3014.
Edinburgh Playhouse, 18–22 Greenside Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3AA | 0844 871 3014
