Dirty. Well, there was a little vulgarity.

Rotten. Actually, the opposite.

Scoundrels. That's what everyone came to see.

Theatre Northwest's production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, based on the movie, was a laugh out loud musical. Yes, a musical - AND funny. On purpose. 

The production can be broken down into several categories: script (including music), acting, singing, dancing and technical theatre - costumes, lighting, sound, etc. While all these categories deserve a bravo, the script, acting, singing and dancing stood out. 

Theatre Northwest could scarcely have chosen a better play. The script, while true to the movie, is now embedded with singing and dancing - making it a full-fledged musical. The story follows a dapper and suave con artist, Lawrence (Aaron Lamb) as he tries to dissuade Freddy (Matthew Vail), an opportunistic upstart from moving in on his territory. Instead, Freddy turns Eliza Doolittle to Lawrence's Professor Henry Higgins, a lá My Fair Lady.

In the midst of this mentoring, in walks a girl - and a wager to con her is made. The story unfolds with line after comedic line. Plays that poke fun at theatre and actors are wonderful. No one likes someone, or something, that takes itself too seriously - and this goes doubly for musicals.  Included was a joke about actors in community theatre, and even the song lyrics get in on the joke. 

However, as we all know even a good script isn't worth anything without talent. In fact, lack of talent has killed many a good script. Theatre Northwest's cast has talent - with three capital T's. The actors play their parts superbly and with great comedic timing. Vail, Lamb, and Eric Polani Jensen, who played the part of Andre, were all brilliant with gesture, voice, posture, timing and all of those other acting skills that - while supremely important - sometimes get over looked.

Oh, and they sang and danced beautifully as well.

The female leads were as equally talented as the men. Casi Wilkerson, who played Muriel, is a Theatre Northwest Resident Actor and easily matched the male actors' energy and talent. Jenny McMurry, who played Jolene from Oklahoma, was good as the loud, brash, bossy girl determined to get Lawrence. Ms. McMurry made her physically demanding song and dance look effortless. Rachel Boyer, who played Christine, did an admirable job as the foil for Lawrence and Freddy. She played doe-eyed innocent with aplomb, and showed good range in her abilities. 

The ensemble - actors/singers/dancers - was all very talented and obviously well rehearsed. Several had speaking lines, and aside from technical weirdness and the sometimes distracting fact that it seemed their voices were coming from different places than the main actors (none of the ensemble actors wore mics), the ensemble was easy to hear and held their own with the principles. Christopher Nardine directed and choreographed the play beautifully.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is well worth the price of admission. You probably want to leave the younger children at home due to some vulgarity and profanity.

As female audience member remarked, "This should be rated PG-15; they used the "f" word."

[Theatre on the Square, Theatre Northwest's Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, through March 7, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, $29-$39, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5890]