Jerry Mitchell’s production and Peter McKintosh’s sets and costumes add period glamour.Set on the French Rivera we meet smooth Lawrence Jameson ready to con rich women out of their money. However, as the new boy in town, Freddy Benson, enters the scene, we see the two compete on a wager and hilarity ensues.
Lawrence Jameson played by Michael Praed (probably STILL best known as Robin Hood!) is effortlessly charming and doesn’t sing a note wrong in his numbers such as the scene setting ‘Give Them What They Want’.
His right hand man Andre Thibault played by Mark Benton, is a perfectly contrasting character, offering us the perfect comedy timing to offset his friend’s suave presence. His character grows throughout the show and becomes even more entertaining, ready to do a dance or pull a face to keep the comedy flowing.
Noel Sullivan
Cheeky chap Noel Sullivan continues his successful musical theatre career, giving us his all-American character and bringing us great performances in numbers such as the hilarious ‘All about Ruprecht’. And of course we cannot forget the excellent gender-based plot twist involving the talented character of Christine Colgate bringing the men together and making the wager interesting.
The musical numbers were full of genius lyrics such as the wonderfully ridiculous ‘Love is my Legs’, and up to date references from the Obamas to the Kardashians. With just the right amount of rudeness, every number was thoroughly entertaining and you could tell that each actor loved to perform every word.
Jerry Mitchell’s production and Peter McKintosh’s sets and costumes add stimulating visual glamour to the evening. Based on the classic comedy film starring Sir Michael Caine and Steve Martin, this is an original and entertaining musical, full of great singing, talented actors and plot twists to keep the action flowing.
Wales Millennium Centre until August 22.