‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ to offer fun and glamor with a ‘gorgeous’ cast

Those attending the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina’s latest production, which opens this week at the Hilton Head theater, may notice something striking about the cast.

They’re all good looking.

“This is probably one of the most beautiful casts I’ve had here,” said director Casey Colgan laughing.

While Colgan said he deliberately went in search of that “long-legged show girl and show boy” look for “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” he was also pleasantly surprised by the 20-member ensemble he wound up with.

“This is the first show we’ve had that had so many international people as well as people with Broadway credits,” he said.

Based on the film by the same name, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” takes place against the ultra glamorous backdrop of the French Riviera. Two colorful con men compete to swindle an American heiress out of her fortune.

One of Broadway’s leading performers, Sean McDermott, plays the dashing Brit Lawrence Jameson while arts center veteran Blake Spellacy plays his American rival, Freddy Benson.

Things get complicated when they fall for the same woman, played by Kristine Reese, who recently completed a year-long run as Catherine on the national tour of the Tony Award-Winning revival of “Pippin.”

And while the musical is meant to be glamorous, they haven’t skimped on the comedy, Colgan said.

“There are several moments ...where we’ve tried to honor the comedy in the movie,” he said, referring to the 1988 film starring Steve Martin, Michael Caine and Glenne Headly.

“It’s just hysterical,” he said.

And all part of the fun and glitz of what, in some ways, makes for the perfect springtime must-see.

“The set will be really beautiful. Everyone is gorgeous and tall,” Colgan said. “I'm just having so much damn fun with it.”

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 5:17 PM with the headline "‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ to offer fun and glamor with a ‘gorgeous’ cast."