"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" @ Theatre Royal

Great film, you say, but what's it like as a musical? Quite good, I answer. It sticks closely to the storyline of the movie and, though the occasional contemporary reference/vulgarity can be jarring, the lyrics are generally witty and the melodies catchy. As far as this production goes, John Wood is believable enough as a French cop (le heeler bleu?) if not as a master seducer, while Tony Sheldon and Matt Hetherington nail their roles as the scoundrels. But, appropriately, it's the ladies who steal the show. Amanda Lehpamer, Anne Wood and Katrina Retallick all have fantastic voices and charisma to match - don't ask me to choose between their choons! There's also a cute breaking of the fourth wall where...[spoiler warning]...multiple women are confessing to having fallen for the charms of conman Lawrence when an usherette rushes up to the footlights and joins their chorus.

Sample - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwhkynHjSgQ