DANNY GOCS

THE final show by Jeanne Pratt’s Production Company for this year is the comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels starring Marina Prior, Matt Hetherington and Bille Brown which premieres at the State Theatre, Victorian Arts Centre, on September 30.

Bille Brown has taken over the role of suave sophisticated conman Lawrence Jameson from Simon Burke, who is heading to London to star as George in the West End production of La Cage aux Folles.

Based on the 1988 film, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is the story of two con artists living on the French Riviera.

Jameson talks rich women out of their money while small-time crook Freddy Benson (Hetherington) swindles them with tall tales of heroic deeds and sick grandmothers.

When these two meet they realise that the French Riviera isn’t big enough for the both of them and decide that the first one to swindle $50,000 from heiress Christine Colgate (Amy Lehpamer) can stay and the loser must leave town.

Marina Prior stars as Muriel Eubanks, a wealthy American divorcée who falls for Lawrence’s con and the charms of the local Chief of Police (Grant Piro).

Directed by Roger Hodgman with John Foreman as musical director, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is an entertaining musical with songs including includes Give Them What They Want, Oklahoma?, What was a Woman to Do?, Ruffhousin’ Mit Shuffhausen and Like Zis/Like Zat.

There are six performances of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels from September 30 to October 4. Bookings: www.ticketmaster.com.au