THE Bristol Hippodrome was rocking with laughter last night, as the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels pulled into town for a week of nostalgic fun.

Based on the Michael Caine/Steve Martin film of the same name, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, which is set on the French Riviera, tells the story of sophisticated conman Lawrence Jameson and young American grifter Freddy Benson, who have come to work ‘The Season’ by scamming wealthy women. Despite being worlds apart, the two conmen end up working together with hilarious results.

It wasn’t hard to reconcile Michael Praed – who once played a prince in Dynasty – with this suave, sophisticated con artist, and Noel Sullivan has travelled so far from his Hear’say roots they are barely recognisable. My favourite performance, however, came from Gary Willmott, who recently took over Mark Benton’s role as Andre Thibault; you simply cannot help laughing at these witty gags delivered by such an experienced entertainer.

Superlative performances also came from Geraldine Fitzgerald as Muriel Eubanks and Carley Stenson as Christine Colgate, but Phoebe Oakes’ thigh slapping portrayal of Oklahoma’s very own Jolene Oakes was, for me, the stand-out performance of the night which was full of complicated choreography from Jerry Mitchell.

At first glance at the plot, you could be forgiven for thinking that it is all just an excuse for overt sexism, but all along the girls are playing the guys at their own game and the whole experience just turns into outright fun. From the girls in frilly knickers toting dusters to the sailors on the quayside the costumes and set design are spot on.

David Yazbek’s score is certainly a challenge, but no problem for Praed and Sullivan, whose harmonies are meticulous in a show that is full of catchy memorable numbers including Great Big Stuff, Ruffhousin’ Mit Shüffhausen, Like Zis/Like Zat, Love Is My Legs and Love Sneaks In - each and every musical number is full of lyrical surprises.

It is absolutely true to say that I have never laughed so much at a musical production; from start to finish, the humour oozed from every speech, song, dance and nuance and it soon became apparent why Dirty Rotten Scroundrels was so popular on its West End run.

This adaptation is so much more than a trip down memory lane and my own visit to Beauville sur Mer is one that I won’t forget in a hurry. One thing is for sure, though; Am Dram groups will be having fun with this one for many years to come.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels plays at Bristol Hippodrome until Saturday 10 October. For further information, including performance times and ticket prices, visit www.atgtickets.com