North East Theatre Guide: Jerry Mitchell

11/06/2015

Review: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Sunderland Empire

A Classy Comedy Hit At The Empire

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Musical

SunderlandEmpire

Tuesday 9^th – Saturday 13^th June 2015

Michael Praed As Lawrence

Noel Sullivan As Freddy

Carley Stenson As Christine

Mark Benton As Andre

Directed & Choreographed

By The Tony Award Winning

& Olivier Nominated

Jerry Mitchell

Based upon the 80s hit comedy movie starring Steve Martin and Michael Cain, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a fabulous barrel of laughs. Direct from the West End, the show is a wonderful night out.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - The Musical is set on the French Riveria and con men Lawrence and Andre work together fleecing rich people. Their moral compass feels that they are giving people what they want as they suggest that they will feel good by donating money to various sob stories and bogus causes.

The situation rapidly changes when Freddy appears on the scene. He is young, keen, brash and wanting in on the action. Lawrence sets the young upstart a challenge, the loser of which has to go home. Freddy agrees that they should try to fleece hotel guest Christine for 50 000 euros to win the bet.

The casting for this musical treat is superb. The star from TV’s Robin Hood Michael Praed is great as the sophisticated Lawrence. He is also a talented singer who makes easy work of the shows big numbers. Mark Benton, best known from Waterloo Road delivers many laughs as the side kick Andre. Mark connects with the audience and gives them plenty to smile about.

Noel Sullivan is pehaps best known as a member of the pop group Hear'Say but he is now making a name for himself in musicals. After roles in Rock of Ages and We Will Rock You, he seems very comfortable on stage as the young con man Freddy. Noel seems to enjoy the audience reaction to the many physical jokes that he finds himself in.

Carley Stenson, who has appeared in her long running role as Steph in Hollyoakes is delightful as the subject of the bet Christine.

Mention should also be given to Phoebe Coupe who had a big production number as rich oil target Jolene. Her song Oklahoma? was a great highlight from the first half.

The large scale nature of the set design regular slots into place without a pause in the action. The ensemble sing and dance superbly leaving a lavish and beautiful impression. Director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell has done a great job.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels feels big, bright and classy. This bold show oozes confidence and is highly entertaining.

Read the original North East Theatre Guide preview for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels here.

This review was written by Stephen Oliver for the North East Theatre Guide by Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo

On The Web:

Website: www.scoundrelsontour.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ScoundrelsUK

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScoundrelsUK

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCzFt5gDl9Y

Tickets:

Tickets available in person at the Box Office, by calling 0844 871 3022* or booking online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland* plus a transaction fee applies.

Groups of 10+ should call 0844 871 3042

*Booking fee applies

On Tour

SunderlandEmpire Tuesday 9 June – Saturday 13 June

www.atgtickets.com/venues/sunderland-empire

King’s Theatre, Glasgow Tuesday 23 June – Saturday 4 July

www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre

Liverpool Empire Theatre Tuesday 7 July – Saturday 18 July

www.atgtickets.com/venues/liverpool-empire

Princess Theatre, Torquay Tuesday 21 July – Saturday 25 July

www.atgtickets.com/venues/princess-theatre-torquay

Regent Theatre, Stoke Tuesday 28 July – Saturday 1 August

www.atgtickets.com/venues/regent-theatre

New Theatre, Oxford Tuesday 4 August – Saturday 8 August

www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-theatre-oxford

21/05/2015

Preview: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Sunderland Empire

From The French Riviera To Sunderland

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Musical

SunderlandEmpire

Tuesday 9^th– Saturday 13^th June 2015

Starring

Michael Praed As Lawrence

Noel Sullivan As Freddy

Carley Stenson As Christine

Mark Benton As Andre

Directed & Choreographed

By The Tony Award Winning

& Olivier Nominated

Jerry Mitchell

The Ambassador Theatre Group (Jersey Boys, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, West Side Story) and Jerry Mitchell Productions are delighted to announce full casting for the national tour of the critically acclaimed Best New Musical of 2014, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, opening at the New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham on 5 May 2015.

For the Sunderland Empire performances Dirty Rotten Scoundrels will star Michael Praed as Lawrence, Noel Sullivan as Freddy, Carley Stenson as Christine and Mark Benton as Andre. They are joined by Geraldine Fitzgerald as Muriel. The rest of the company includes Emma Caffrey; Andy Conaghan; Phoebe Coupe; Soophia Faroughi; Jonny Godbold; Orla Gormley; Patrick Harper; Justin Lee-Jones; Jordan Livesey; Lisa Mathieson; Andy Rees; Freya Rowley; Regan Shepherd; Kevin Stephen-Jones; Katie Warsop and Jenny Wickham.

Direct from London’s West End, where it ran for a year to rave reviews, packed houses and was also nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Choreography, the hit musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is based on one of the funniest films of all time, the legendary 1988 film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin.

Prepare to be transported to the luxurious lap of the French Riviera where the decadent world of sophisticated conman Lawrence Jameson is set to come crashing down with the arrival of larger-than-life Freddy Benson – a conman of an entirely different order.

Soon realising the town ain’t big enough for the both of them, the two find themselves going head to head in the con of their lives, pulling out all of the stops in a bid for the affections of millionaire soap heiress Christine Colgate. Little do they know what they’ve let themselves in for.

Michael Praed (Lawrence) is best known for his TV roles including ‘Robin Hood’ in “Robin of Sherwood”, ‘Prince Michael’ in “Dynasty” and ‘Phileas Fogg’ in “The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne.” On stage his credits include ‘Captain Von Trapp’ in the national tour of “The Sound of Music”; ‘Tony’ in “Copacabana”; ‘Alex’ in “Aspects of Love” and ‘Sir Robert Chiltern’ in the national tour of “An Ideal Husband”.

Noel Sullivan (Freddy)is best known as a member of the British pop group Hear'Say. His theatre credits include ‘Drew’ in the national tour of “Rock of Ages”; ‘Tick’ in the “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” and ‘Galileo’ in “We Will Rock You.” His TV appearances include a guest appearance in the hugely successful “Gavin and Stacey”.

Carley Stenson (Christine) is best known to TV audiences for her long running role as ‘Steph’ in “Hollyoaks”. Her recent theatre credits include: ‘Lady of the Lake’ in “Spamalot” at the Playhouse Theatre; ‘Princess Fiona’ in “Shrek” at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and ‘Elle Woods’ in “Legally Blonde the Musical” at the Savoy Theatre.

Mark Benton (Andre) is known to millions for playing maths teacher, ‘Daniel Chalk’ in “Waterloo Road”. He has had a prolific TV career with roles in “Kavanagh QC”, “Ballykissangel”, “Silent Witness”, “Doctor Who”, “Murphy’s Law”, “Holby City”, “Hustle” and “Northern Lights”. In 2013 he was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. His stage credits include ‘Henry Horatio Hobson’ in “Hobson’s Choice” at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, ‘Edna Turnblad’ in the UK tour of “Hairspray” and ‘Mr. Perks in the “Railway Children” at Waterloo Station. His film credits include: Mike Leigh’s “Career Girls”, Anthony Minghella’s “Breaking and Entering” and Terry Gilliam’s “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus”.

Geraldine Fitzgerald (Muriel) has many musical theatre credits including ‘Tanya’ in “Mamma Mia!”, both in the West End and on tour internationally; ‘Maggie Jones’ in “42^nd Street” and ‘Tessie Tura’ in “Gypsy”, both at Leicester Curve. Her other credits include “The Lady in the Van” in the West End and “Absolute Hell” at the National Theatre.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrelsis directed and choreographed by the Tony Award winning Jerry Mitchell in his debut production for Jerry Mitchell Productions. Recently nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Choreography for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Jerry’s many other award winning credits include the direction and choreography for Kinky Boots, currently Broadway’s biggest Tony Award winning hit and due to open in London’s West End this Summer, Legally Blonde and Hairspray. Dirty Rotten Scoundrelshas music and lyrics by Drama Desk Award winner David Yazbek (Late Night with David Letterman, The Full Monty)and book by the Golden Globe and Emmy-Award winning Jeffrey Lane(Mad About You).

Jerry Mitchell Productions is a partnership between the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) and Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell. Jerry Mitchell Productions will work to develop, create and produce new productions, focussing on a wide range of projects from new commissions to fresh, innovative versions of classic pieces for ATG Theatres in London, New York and around the World.

“A MASTERCLASS IN HOW TO PUT ON A MUSICAL” Daily Mail

“RICHLY ORIGINAL, DAMNABLY CHARMING, A SCANDALOUS DELIGHT” Sunday Times

“VERY, VERY, VERY FUNNY” BBC