Dirty Rotten Scoundrels couldn’t be cheesier if it tried, but if you can get past that then it’s a fun, old-fashioned evening of excellent musical entertainment. Despite not having seen the film on which this is based, the twist can be spotted a mile off, but the cast have a great time barrelling through the plot nonetheless.

In short, Robert Lindsay’s debonair Lawrence is a charming crook, swindling women-of-a-certain age by pretending to be the exiled prince of a fictional country. So far, so predictable – and the rather dim women are not presented in the most favourable light.

When news reaches Lawrence that “the Jackal”, a young con-man (Freddie Benson played by Rufus Hound), is coming to town, he tracks him down and takes him under his wing – a protege is better than competition, after all. The two quickly become competitive, naturally, and make a bet over who can con Katherine Kingsley’s naïve and beautiful Christine first. So far, so obnoxious, and yet it’s very easy to get swept up in the sequins and glitz and let it all wash over you – give them the old razzle-dazzle, indeed.

The first half is a romp through Lawrence and Freddie doing their thing, waltzing women away from their jewels and leaving them broken-hearted. A rather dodgy scene featuring Freddie as Lawrence’s disabled younger brother gets rid of a particularly tenacious conquest.

Samantha Bond is fabulous as another duped divorcee, Muriel Eubanks – she’s looking for love and finds Lawrence instead. Bond manages to make a rather drippy character have some spirit, and she sings gorgeously. Kingsley’s Christine is also fun to watch, although, until the twist, her simpering raises some feminist hackles.

In fact, were it not for the sign-posted twist, the whole production would feel decidedly anti-women, with Lawrence and Freddie the anti-heroes we’re supposed to warm to because, well, yes they are nasty but gosh they’re charming… The women have no agency, they are presented as sparkly props to show off Lawrence and Freddie’s skills of deception – and did the ensemble women really need to be dressed in French maids’ outfits with their knickers showing? Fortunately, the resolution is satisfying, and makes some of the irritations in the second half forgiveable.

Lindsay is well-cast as Lawrence – he is suave and sure of himself, dancing rings around his conquests. Rufus Hound is fun as Freddie, although a little over the top at times. Both sing well, and are an enjoyable twosome to watch. The choreography is well into full-on we’re-in-a-musical territory, but it’s great fun. There’s very little subtlety to this show, but when you’ve got sequins in your eyes, who cares?

It’s good fun, with lots of glamour and glitz courtesy of Peter McKintosh’s set and costume designs. The choreography is enjoyable, especially in ‘Oklahoma?’, and the songs are a nice mix, from big, brassy ‘Great Big Stuff’ to sappy ballad ‘Nothing is too Wonderful to be True’. All-in-all, a funny and enjoyable show that makes for a fun and unchallenging evening.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is at the Savoy Theatre, currently booking until March 2015. For more information and tickets, visit the Savoy Theatre’s website.