I very much enjoyed "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" last night at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. The show is a part of the Marcus Center's Broadway Across America series and runs through Sunday, Aug. 19. The show was entertaining indeed, with singing to please the ear and dancing to please the eye.

The tour comes to us from New York City, where it ran in 2005 and 2006. Wauwatosa native, Joe Cassidy, recently joined the tour and stars as Andre Thibault, assistant to Lawrence Jameson, seasoned scoundrel. Cassidy was a member of the original Broadway company where he appeared as both Andre and Freddy.

The story centers on two con men living in the French Riviera with a bet to see who can be the first to swindle $50,000 from a wealthy young lady vacationing there. The man to get the money wins, and the loser must leave town. The con men are quick-witted, providing a plethora of humorous dialogue, and the plot is as crafty and convoluted as they come -- with a surprise around every corner. Furthermore, there is plenty of talk about sex, which never fails to keep one's attention.

The show was originally slated to come to Milwaukee in January, but the tour was halted for three weeks at that time to rework some of the staging. The tinkering apparently paid off -- the turning stage created a wonderful illusion, and the delayed show delighted with fun-filled numbers such as "Oklahoma?" and "Rüffhousin' mit Schüffhausen."

The characters Christine and Freddy more than do justice to the beautiful duet, "Nothing is Too Wonderful to Be True." Apparently, I was not the only one who appreciated the talented cast's efforts, as the packed house rose to its feet as the curtain fell.