Robert Lindsay and Rufus Hound are currently starring in one of this year’s most highly anticipated musicals, the UK premiere of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. The production is currently playing to regional audiences prior to its West End opening in April.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, which also stars Samantha Bond, John Marquez and Katherine Kingsley, is the inaugural production for Jerry Mitchell Productions. The show is based on the legendary 1988 film which famously starred Michael Caine and Steve Martin. The musical premiered on Broadway in 2005 but has since been reconceived and reimagined for British audiences.
Robert and Rufus play conmen Lawrence Jameson and Freddy Benson who compete for the riches and heart of the young impressionable heiress Christine Colgate. The roles were originally played by Michael Caine and Steve Martin who starred in the 1988 film directed by Frank Oz.
Robert Lindsay is an Olivier, Tony and BAFTA award-winning actor. He is best known for starring in BBC1 sitcom My Family which ran for nine series. On stage Robert is best known for starring in Me And My Girl for which he won Olivier and Tony Awards. Just a few of Robert’s extensive theatre credits include: The Lion In Winter (Theatre Royal Haymarket), Onassis (Derby Playhouse/Novello), Aristo (Chichester), The Entertainer and Trelawny Of The Wells (Old Vic), Power (National), Richard III (Savoy) and Oliver (Palladium).
Rufus Hound is best known as a comedian, TV and radio personality and performer. He joins Dirty Rotten Scoundrels fresh from starring in the National Theatre’s One Man, Two Guvnors (Theatre Royal, Haymarket/UK Tour) and Neville’s Island (Chichester). He won Let’s Dance for Sport Relief 2010 and has regularly appeared in Celebrity Juice, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Would I Lie To You, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, You Have Been Watching, Mad Mad World and Argumental.
It’s no secret that theatre tickets aren’t cheap, but when I recently sat down with Robert and Rufus they assured me booking to see Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is money well spent. “Once you’ve got a thousand people, let’s be honest, in the current economic climate we have the biggest respect for all those people who have paid for tickets” Rufus explained. “You know, Rob’s dad was a carpenter, my mum is a civil servant and my dad was an accountant, and when you spend that money on a theatre ticket you spend it because you want to see a good show.”
Robert added, “I was telling my brother about the show and he said he wanted to come and see it in Manchester. Then he said ‘Bloody hell, it’s expensive kid!’ I said ‘In Manchester?’ - because I had no idea - so I said ‘I’ll pay for it but I’ll tell you what, it will be money well spent.’ He’s from Derbyshire and things are tough there, we don’t notice it so much down here, but there it’s hard.”
Robert is loving every moment of being back doing a musical, “When you do a straight play – I’ve done Richard III, I’ve done Hamlet, I’ve done Becket – the novelty wears off [Rufus laughs] at some point which for me is an early cut-off point” Robert admits. “I get very bored very quickly, but there’s something about doing a musical – you hear the overture, see the ensemble getting into place and the band starts playing and it feels like ‘showtime’! It keeps you going!”
Robert rehearsing with the cast of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels marks Rufus’ first musical, but he had the same feeling listening to The Craze during his stint in One Man, Two Guvnors. “In One Man, Two Guvnors we had the house band, The Craze, and I would sit in my dressing room thinking ‘Oh God, it’s boiling hot and I’ve got to run around for the next two hours… what has my life become [Robert laughs]’? But then the band would start playing and there is some internal dragon that snorts some fire!”
Robert’s biggest stage success was starring alongside Emma Thompson in Me And My Girl, winning both Olivier and Tony Awards. However, Robert told me how he nearly didn’t accept the role. “Years ago when I did Me and My Girl I remember my dad persuaded me to do it because I was also offered (would you believe it?) a tour of Russia performing some Russian play. I was debating whether to do that or Me and My Girl and I turned to my dad during the miners’ strike in 1984 and he said ‘People want cheering up, do the musical.’ I wasn’t sure because I thought it was a bit cheap and cheerful but it turned out to be the best advice he ever gave me.
“People want escapism, it doesn’t matter who you are. Things are tough and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels isn’t cheap – we know that – but people will get their money’s worth. People will leave on a high and want to see it again.”
Rufus rehearsing with the cast of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Rufus agrees, “That’s exactly it! We can’t take the responsibility lightly. I’ve worked with people who have turned up and said I’m not feeling it tonight’ and I’ve just wanted to punch them in the nose [Robert laughs]! It’s like – I don’t care whether you’re feeling it tonight because those people have all paid and turned up!”
“Now listen” Robert said, “I was at the opening of Hamlet at The Roundhouse with Nicol Williamson and Marianne Faithfull. Nicol walks forward, says ‘To be, or not to be’ and then ‘I’m sorry ladies and gentlemen, it’s not working for me tonight.’ And he walked off stage – he was off! Suddenly all the courtiers and guards started slowly sliding off stage and we suddenly realised he had meant it and had gone! Your story Rufus made me think of that – it was a classic moment!”
Interviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
andrew@westendframe.com
Interviewed by Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
andrew@westendframe.com
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels opens at the Savoy Theatre on Wednesday 2nd April 2014 (previews from 10th March). Click here to book tickets. The musical also runs at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre from 26th February until 1st March.
Photo Credit: Helen Maybanks
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