Nothing rotten in Scoundrels

BAILA LAZARUS

Fabulous! Fabulous! Fabulous! Oh, and did I mention ... fabulous? From the first words of "Give Them What They Want" to the side-splitting epilogue, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels delivers high-octane, high-calibre, hilarious performances that will leave you in tears, laughing.

The main roles seem tailor-made for three accomplished actors: Josh Epstein, Andrew Wheeler and Elena Juatco, and they are joined by a tremendous supporting cast.

Based on the hit 1988 movie, starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, DRS follows the antics of two criminals vying for space in the small town of Beaumont sur Mer on the French Riviera.

Lawrence (Wheeler) is a Frasier-sounding-and-acting conman who bilks rich female tourists out of their money. He pretends to be a prance (prince) so women will swoon in his presence, making it easier for them to be a mark, and he admits he has nothing to offer the world but taste and charm. He's been "working" the seaside town for years and is getting rather bored.

Enter Freddy (Epstein) as the younger, boorish American small-time crook who wants Lawrence to teach him how to move into the big leagues.

Lawrence takes on the challenge in a Pygmalion-style plot, seeking to turn Freddy into a version of himself.

From the moment these two meet, the acting chemistry is superb. Lawrence's stiff-upper-lip British sensibility is tested over and over again by Freddy's ill-mannered ways, and Epstein, as the vulgar mercenary conman is over-the-top hilarious.

In one brilliant scene, Lawrence is trying to get out of a marriage to a rich American oil heiress. Freddy agrees to pretend to be his joined-at-the-hip brother Ruprecht, who is kept locked in the basement and, according to Lawrence, is crazy about taxidermy and "K-Y Jelly on a rubber glove," and gets the cattle prod when he tries to hump the samovar. When the heiress is introduced to Ruprecht, Epstein pulls out all the stops in acting like a deranged, over-sexed, man-child, causing her to flee Beaumont as fast as she can.

Next, Freddy and Lawrence set their sites on another American mark – Christine, a "soap queen" (who they mistakenly believe to be a soap opera queen), played by Juatco, who also happens to have been a top-six finalist on the second season of Canadian Idol.

Juatco plays perfectly the flustered, naive, wide-eyed tourist. She wants to help an "ailing" Freddy, who pretends to be wheelchair-bound, with no sensation below the waist, in order to gain her sympathy and her money.

Lawrence shows up as a famous German doctor who is supposed to be able to heal Freddy, and, of course, takes great delight in whipping Freddy's legs to make sure there really is no sensation, as Freddy squirms in silent pain, not wanting Christine to find out the truth.

For those who haven't seen the movie, the remainder of the play will be an enjoyable never-quite-know-what's-next performance, ending in a wonderfully surprising plot twist. For those who have seen the movie, the added musical element of the play, as well as the stellar acting make it well-worth another go-round.

While all the acting in this production deserves two thumbs up, Epstein really stands out in several gut-busting performances that play to his ham-it-up side. While singing "Great Big Stuff," "All About Ruprecht" and "Love is my Legs," he proves why he has been a two-time Jessie acting nominee and that he's an actor not to be missed.

Aside from the acting, the dancing is highly entertaining, and the direction is bang-on, down to the facial expressions on the tam-wearing accordion player who shows up randomly to accompany lovers trying to create a romantic moment.

DRS is directed by Max Reimer, with musical direction by Steve Thomas and Mike Braverman in musical accompaniment. It shows at the Vancouver Playhouse until Dec. 27. Call 604-873-3311 or visit vancouverplayhouse.com.

Baila Lazarus is a freelance writer, painter and photographer. Her work can be seen at orchiddesigns.net.

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