Jonathan Pryce in Scoundrels

(Th) /Dirty Rotten Scoundrels/ (at the Imperial Theater; Book by Jeffrey Lane, Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek, Directed by Jack O'Brien)

In Frank Rich's stirring ode to the work of Jonathan Pryce in Miss Saigon a decade ago, he wrote of "a dangerous performance as well as a brilliant one." Pryce, now approaching 60, has of late been spotted hustling around the Imperial Theater, as half the title role in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and forgetting to bring neither the danger nor the brilliance, has carved out a new role for himself: savior.

Reviewing Scoundrels last year, I wrote that while it had some virtues, "freshness and spontaneity are not among them." From David Rockwell's dreadful, non-Equity tour style set to David Yazbek's clunky, pop-reference-slave lyrics, everything felt designed to camulflauge the possibility of fun. But Pryce takes it all in stride, bringing a seriousness and intent of action that paradoxically jolts the comedy and boisters the mood, something that even his talented predecessor, John Lithgow, couldn't acheive. Scoundrels still has its flaws, but everything looks better with him at the helm, and there's something more honest--- even moving--- about this version. Say what you will about the Broadway musical in decline, and you'd probably be right; but's amazing what a long-faced Brit can do.