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It's no con: 'Dirty Rotten' is hysterically funny Erik Connolly, left, and Eoghan McDowell star as Lawrence Jameson and Freddy Benson, respectively, in Camelot Theatre's production of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," running through Oct. 2. Photo by Steve Sutfin Wednesday Sep 7, 2016 at 6:03 PM Sep 9, 2016 at 10:16 AM Jeffrey GillespieFor the Tidings As any child of '80s movie culture would know, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" was one of those slightly under-the-radar films that shone. With performances by two of the greatest talents of the era (Steve Martin and Michael Caine) the movie raked in strong critical reviews and did pretty well at the box office, too, thanks to the robust creative talents of its two leading men. Until Camelot brought it to my attention, I had been unaware of the spin-off musical that the film had birthed, and despite having had a long and intimate association with the original movie, I looked forward to seeing what director Olivia Harrison and choreographer Kayla Garrett would do with the stage production.  I'm happy to report that Camelot has once again delivered an absolutely riveting show, one that was hysterically funny and brimming with comedic energy — a warm-hearted and spirited romp through the fictional town of Beaumont-sur-Mer on the French Riviera. This area of the world is often nicknamed the "Crook D'Azur" in reference to the plethora of unsavory characters who hide their money in the assorted tax havens along that pristine coastline; DRS offers a sly nod to this fact in the person of Lawrence (Erik Connolly) a seasoned con man masquerading as a deposed aristocrat to bilk rich American women out of their fortunes in service of his "cause." Connolly, a Camelot veteran, is a convincing Lawrence. His performance is funny, yet understated, exactly as it should be — Lawrence is a man who must live discreetly, or risk the consequences.  His calibrated existence comes under threat upon the arrival of Freddy (Eoghan McDowell) a crass hustler from the United States. Resplendent in bad resort wear and straw trilby, Freddy bursts onto the scene and ruffles the feathers of the well-fed old birds who nest in Lawrence's domain.  Where the hell has Camelot been hiding Mr. McDowell? According to the program, he has been working quietly as an ensemble player in three previous productions; an oversight, because McDowell is an fabulous actor. His Freddy is a guided missile that blasts the whole production to giddy heights not thus far reached at the company. My date — who had no reference point to the original film — was in stitches every time McDowell was onstage, so much so that she blamed him for her cheeks hurting by the final scene. I was measuring McDowell against Steve Martin, and came away from the show feeling that this young actor had given the "wild and crazy guy" a run for his money. Camelot would be foolish to relegate McDowell to the chorus in future shows.  Freddy and Lawrence one-up each other hilariously, with two particularly funny scenes. The first is in Act One, where Lawrence casts Freddy as his emotionally unhinged younger brother in order to run off a troublesome heiress. The second involves Lawrence masquerading as a psychologist in order to literally beat Freddy — faking it in a wheelchair — at his own game.  Things escalate when an American "soap queen" named Christine (played brilliantly by newcomer Sabrina Hebert) arrives in town with apparent buckets of cash and a naivety that would make any marauding mountebank drool. Both Freddy and Lawrence bet their reputations on who can get the money, the girl, or both.  Ms. Hebert has a freshness and style that are hard to ignore. Christine is a character whose credibility depends on her convictions, and Hebert walks that line beautifully. She is an elegant presence on stage and another great find for Camelot.  It was a particular joy to note that in this show, there was not a single weak link. All of the cast from leads to ensemble showed up beautifully. Aside from the main characters, Erny Rosales strikes gold with his portrayal of Andre, Lawrence's love-struck sidekick, who finds his match in Muriel, played by Amanda McGee. Rosales and McGee are hilarious as they gambol around the stage in love-struck rumba. Rosales — not a small man — is surprisingly nimble, with great comic timing. Also worth a mention is Shannon Carter as Jolene, another vacuous heiress who is the victim of the hustle. Carter has a great pair of lungs and shines in her limited role.  Take the time to jet over to Camelot Theatre for a fun and frolicsome production that's as breezy and warm as any pebbled beach in "Nice la Belle." Sept. 9: This story has been updated to correct Ms. Hebert's first name. Ashland resident Jeffrey Gillespie is a Daily Tidings columnist, arts reviewer and freelance writer. Email him at [email protected].