DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
at Laguna Hills High School

Reviewed on May 8, 2014

Allie Graydon
Tesoro
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Laguna Hills "Gives Them What They Want"

Allie Graydon is a Senior at Tesoro High School in Las Flores

Laguna Hills' production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is spunky and comedic with unique characters and accents, vibrant lighting, and lively songs that highlight each comical con. Set in the French Riviera, this lighthearted musical follows the rivalry between worldly conman, Lawrence Jameson, and aspiring Freddy Benson in their attempt to con $5,000 out of an unsuspecting Christine Colgate. With laughs, twists, and screwy situations galore, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is wickedly charming.

With a composed air and affected tone, Anthony Kairouz is the essence of sophistication as Lawrence Jameson. He walks with his back straight and his head high, placing a hand elegantly in his pocket to convey his confidence. His deep, smooth tone is beguiling and classy as he charms various ladies during "Give Them What They Want," kissing their hands and slipping jewelry off of them slyly. His composure is broken occasionally as he claps his hands and smiles to the audience to signal his own personal spotlight or admires himself in the mirror with an eager grin.

Brianna Lawson is delightfully hopeful and innocent as Christine Colgate with wide, eager eyes and sweeping, melodramatic twirling during "Here I Am." She conveys her gentle personality as she strokes Freddy's shoulder comfortingly and gazes into Lawrence's eyes with worry for him. Her character shifts suddenly, however, as her own secret is revealed, her hip popped sassily and her belt strong and confident.

With a youthful voice and exaggerated facial expressions, Reed Jones brings a vivacious, comedic personality to the stage as Freddy Benson. He provides the perfect foil to Lawrence's composure, slumping awkwardly in his suit and picking his teeth ungentlemanly. He rapidly shifts to extreme awkwardness when pretending to be Lawrence's odd brother, Ruprecht, spreading his legs wide, his eyes manic, as he grabs Lawrence's fiancé and swings her around roughly.

Contrasting blue and red lights by Reed Jones help set various moods and add vibrant splashes of color. Light blue tones to represent moonlight are romantic and gentle while sudden sinister red lights foreshadow when a character is planning a scheme.

Laguna Hills' production is spirited and hilarious with a wild array of outlandish characters and physical comedy. With each new scheme, the stakes grow higher and the laughs grow louder as characters deceive and are deceived in return. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a con-filled comedy that is sure to delight.

Yamini Nambimadom
University High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Dirty Rotten Fun from Laguna Hills

Yamini Nambimadom is a sophomore at University High School in Irvine.

When a con man of high esteem takes another con man of slightly lower esteem under his wing, there is no shortage of adventures to be had. But in the business, there is only room for one at the top.

"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" follows Lawrence Jameson and Freddy Benson, whose numerous attempts to out-scheme the other end in heartbreak and failure for the both. Laguna Hills' production of the 2004 comedy musical is outrageous and entertaining; upbeat performances and masterful technical elements are blended to create a memorable experience riddled with mystery and machinations.

Anthony Kairouz, as brilliant con man Lawrence Jameson, strides across the stage with consistent physicality and upright posture that emphasize his classy confidence. With one hand in his suit jacket pocket and one hand gesturing to the open, Kairouz exudes poise and composure.

Wide-eyed and responsive, Reed Jones' charisma and humor are brought out in Freddy Benson. In "Great Big Stuff", Jones' rich, commanding voice and well-timed physical reactions are put on display as he explores Jameson's villa, running up and down the stairs interacting excitedly with the house staff. Opposite Kairouz's unfaltering foxiness, Jones' naiveté and energy are amplified. Jones' vocals are powerful with a pop-rock flair; in "Love is My Legs", these vocals are accentuated with hip thrusts and stomps, solidifying his character's nature.

Displaying immense growth as Christine Colgate, Brianna Lawson's gradual transition from sweet and innocent, upon first meeting the boys, to confident and cunning, when she has finally outsmarted them, is impressive and believable.

Screeching and flailing her arms as she scurries around, Lierin Abdo is a spectacle as Jolene Oakes. Abdo successfully maintains a pleasant balance between her shrill character voice and necessary vocal clarity. In "Oklahoma?" her wild energy and commitment to her character highlight her peculiarity, especially in contrast to Kairouz's plastered-on look of confusion.

Accentuating the platforms on either side of the stage, spotlights switch between the two, telling a back-and-forth story by placing focus on the main actions onstage. The projections, designed by Reed Jones, seamlessly connect all aspects of the atmosphere. Instead of distracting or deteriorating from the simple set, they aid it in cementing distinct environments.

Laguna Hills High School's modern, funky production alleviates the fraud and trickery associated with con men, replacing it instead with hard-hitting humor and validity.

JeanneAnn Faris
Santa Margarita Catholic
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" at Laguna Hills High School is deceitfully entertaining

JeanneAnn Faris is a junior at Santa Margarita Catholic in Rancho Santa Margarita.

When two unlikely con men come together to perform the ultimate trick, it takes an unexpected turn for the worst when one can't control his love for her and the other can't control his wallet. After folly, deception, romance and temptation, the three come together to learn that being dirty rotten scoundrels together is better than working alone.

Freddy Benson (Reed Jones) is the naive, gullible, innocent, and quirky con man you can't help but love. Whether he's charmingly picking food out of his mouth, dreaming of "Great Big Stuff", pretending to be a disturbingly adorable brother, or belting about how his love has given him the ability to use his legs again, Jones gives his entirety to each moment of the story.

His mentor, Lawrence Jameson (Anthony Kairouz) is the perfect polar opposite to Jones' uncontrollable animation. His upright, poised stature paired with his pretentious mannerisms and devilish smile distinguish Kairouz as a force to be reckoned with. The two come together to form a stellar comedic duo, never failing to feed off of each-other's unique talents and devious characteristics.

Complimenting this chemistry is Christine Colgate (Brianna Lawson) as she enters their world and subtly turns it upside down. Lawson's genuinely sweet temperament impeccably contrasts her true, deceitful identity, not to mention her powerhouse vocals which stun you in your seat.

Jolene Oakes (Lierin Abdo) bursts with energy as she spiritedly stumbles around the stage and expresses her love for her home state Oklahoma. Abdo's bubbly and infectious personality matched with her mighty vocals and relentless energy make her performance an unforgettable one.

From aristocrats to sailors to cowboys, the ensemble proves to be a diversely talented and altogether dynamic group to behold.

Lighting design (Hannah Bozman, Reed Jones) creatively incorporates a red lighting effect that provides emphasis and a cunning zeal to the overall feel of the show. With compelling landscapes and scenery, Projections (Reed Jones, Zoe Hegedus) bring intensity and depth to the environment of the French Riviera. Set design (Reed Jones) inventively utilizes the limited space by filling the stage with vast and detailed staircases, mansion living rooms, and hotel lobbies.

As a whole, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" both keeps you on your toes and has you falling out of your seat in an uproariously devious display of love, lust, and dirty rotten talent.