Lindsay, Hound and Kingsley launch UK premiere of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
© Helen Maybanks
WhatsOnStage Award winning director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Legally Blonde, Hairspray, Kinky Boots) launched the UK premiere of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with an exclusive showcase event yesterday.
© Helen Maybanks
Before introducing the cast to guests including ATG founder Sir Howard Panter, Mitchell said that bringing the show to the West End was one of the greatest opportunities of his life, "I'm the luckiest f**ker in the world" he added.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels marks the UK debut not only for the show, but also for Jerry Mitchell Productions, formed in partnership with ATG to produce musicals in the UK, New York and Worldwide.
The cast, which includes Robert Lindsay (Lawrence Jameson), Samantha Bond (Muriel Eubanks), Katherine Kingsley (Christine Colgate) and our Awards concert host Rufus Hound (Freddy Benson), presented four numbers from the show, starting with "Give Them What They Want", performed with aplomb by Lindsay.
Next up was "Great Big Stuff", Hound showing that indeed he does have the voice to go with his acting and dancing abilities. This was followed by a charming number from Bond and John Marquez (Andre Thibault), proving that the show has heart as well as balls. The leggy Kingsley finished off the showcase with a very funny, high energy performance of her opening number "Here I Am".
© Helen Maybanks
Talking after the performance, Kingsley spoke to WhatsOnStage about her transition from Shakespeare to Scoundrels (her last job was Michael Grandage's WhatsOnStage Award-nominated production of A Midsummer Night's Dream with David Walliams and Sheridan Smith.)
"It’s a completely different discipline. But that’s what I want to do, just go from one project to the next and try and be as different in each character as I possibly can.
"It’s been amazing working on my voice again. The part I play is a massive sing, but it’s been great. The music is so amazing to sing; it’s kind of jazzy and has this really funky feel."
On working with Robert and Rufus she said: "They are a handful, I’m going to have to keep those boys in check. But, they are both brilliant. Rufus is so funny but also has this wonderful voice. Robert is the king of song and dance, watching him do the opening number just gives me tingles."
Click below for our interview with Rufus and Robert.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels opens at the Manchester Opera House from 12 February – 22 February, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre from 26 February – 1 March, before arriving at the Savoy Theatre on 10 March.
