Actor Robert Lindsay and comedian Rufus Hound are to star in a stage adaption of 1988 comedy film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
The original film starred Michael Caine and Steve Martin and was directed by Frank Oz.
The play will transport audiences to the luxurious lap of the French Riviera where the decadent world of sophisticated conman Lawrence Jameson (Lindsay) is set to come crashing down with the arrival of larger-than-life Freddy Benson (Hound) – 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 (Katherine Kingsley).
Little do they know what they’ve let themselves in for…
The show will play at the Manchester Opera House from February 12th–22nd February 2014, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre from February 26th– March 1st before arriving at the Savoy Theatre on March 10th.
Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winning Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots) and music and lyrics by Drama Desk Award winner David Yazbek (The Full Monty).
Mitchell said, “With a sensational score and the incredible comic gift of Robert Lindsay, Rufus Hound and Katherine Kingsley, it will be an honour to bring this fabulous story to the West End. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels will steal your heart”.
Robert Lindsay said “I went to see Kinky Boots on Broadway last week and was so blown away by the euphoria in the theatre that I was even more thrilled to be working with Jerry Mitchell.
“I have been waiting for the right musical to cross my path and feel like I have finally found it with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. When I met the writers, they were so excited to be re-working the show for a UK audience, especially as there is a real sense of classic English humour in this production, so fitting for the Savoy Theatre!”.
Rufus Hound said “I am absolutely thrilled to be part of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Having spent much of the last year playing Francis Henshall in the National Theatre’s One Man, Two Guvnors,
“I know what a theatre full of people having the time of their lives sounds like and now I’ll get to hear it all over again. Yazbek’s score is both laugh-out-loud funny and heart-dancingly tuneful, whilst Jeffrey Lane’s book is faithful enough for fans of the movie, but anchored in good, old-fashioned comedy with smart and brilliant gags. I can’t wait to get started!”.