On the Riviera

Don’t let the glamorous setting fool you. 

 

Yes, life can be ritzy, glitzy and whatever else you prefer on the French Riviera. The lifestyles of the rich and the flash of their assets are on display. Which makes them tempting targets for a pair of confidence men who specialize in preying on wealthy women from America. These scoundrels are the heroes—no, let’s give them the name they deserve and call them antiheroes—of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.”  

 

Now that our endless summer and merciless heat wave have come to an end, it’s time to visit the Riviera, with a getaway ticket courtesy of Stockton Civic Theatre. The current production takes its inspiration from memorable film versions starring Marlon Brando and David Niven (1964) and the delightful duo of Steve Martin and Michael Caine (1988)—and the musical stage version that proved a Broadway hit when it premiered in 2005.

 

Despite the three negatives of its title, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” is a positive, a plus and a pleaser for fun-loving theatregoers. Just don’t expect it to help you appreciate the fine points of French culture, fashion, Michelin-starred cuisine or worthy wines such as imported Lodi cabernet (all kidding aside, I actually saw the cabernet listed on a wine menu while dining in the Bordeaux region).

The current production is a rare opportunity for you to see how well a film favorite has translated into musical comedy. Such comedies don’t often come complete with chuckle-worthy crime capers at the heart of the action.  Though no crime-solving detective is on hand to put the con men out of business, playgoers can anticipate how they might get their comeuppance. It comes with a twist on the timeless truth of the proverb that holds there’s no honor among thieves. The wisdom of the proverb is amply demonstrated here as the rival scoundrels form a partnership that soon collapses into a no-holds-barred competition to see which of the two can lay claim to being king of the con.   

 

The unscrupulous duo are a suave and sophisticated Englishman, played with requisite finesse by Brad DeMoss, and a feckless and hapless American, given comic life by Kyle Beal. The two make a convincing pair as they scam susceptible females while keeping an eye out for a master thief reputed to be at work in the neighborhood. Keep your own eyes and ears open if you wish to play along.

 

It isn’t often that a popular movie is transformed into a popular musical, but one can see why the transformation scored a second hit. It does so again here, thanks to a commendable cast, a talented chorus of high-energy singers and dancers, music that flows from rear-stage musicians, and the versatile and vivacious choreography of Evelyn Barney, Kurt Nielsen and James Reed that keeps the show on its toes. All of which encourages applause from those of us familiar with the film versions and appreciative of the performance transition to the stage.