Congratulations to A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE on Its 10 Tony Nomination!

[NYadgal]

I love that description!

[jawjuhh]

Would you recommend this to someone who doesn't like Drood/Monty Python? (I know, blasphemous)

[Reginald Tresilian]

I guess I'd say check out the available videos and such. It may well not be your cup of tea, though I think at the very least anyone could admire the performances and the craftsmanship of the whole thing.

[Reginald Tresilian]

At any rate, those were just vague comparisons; it's very much its own thing.

[NYadgal]

Very much.

[givesmevoice]

I was so excited to see the show again tonight anyway, but was especially excited to go with Reginald and hear his esteemed opinion on it. Edward Gorey meets Monty Python is PERFECT.

If you haven't seen this show yet, you are really missing out. (And I agree that it's a shame Lisa O'Hare wasn't nominated for her work as Sibella.)

[PalJoey]

Would you recommend this to someone who doesn't like Drood/Monty Python? (I know, blasphemous)

I would recommend it someone who admires intelligence and craft in songwriting and fine-tuned direction and performances. It has been remarked often that the main character is a determined murderer and therefore could easily be unsympathetic. His victims are hardly sympathetic, and one of the leading ladies is fairly unsympathetic as well.

But the trick of the writing and performances and the delight of the show is that, instead, you care about all of them.

So, yes, go, even if you don't like Monty Python and Drood. And report back to us!

[broadwayguy2]

The absolute craftsmanship and detail in the writing, direction, design and performances is rather remarkable and, to me, unrivaled this season.
See it a few times and you will notice so many layers, so many small touches.. and it is not only witty and funny but genuinely SMART. Go in, sit back and enjoy it and laugh.. and / or REALLY pay attention and marvel at what they put on stage.
One of my favorite touches is the color coding of the two principal women... even down to several very critical props that affect that plot.. they are subtle, but apparent.
Let's not forget the final exchange between Pinkham and Mays at curtain call that harkens back to a two line exchange halfway through act one.
As far as the cast goes, you have to marvel at the showdown between Mays and Glushak i. The dinner scene.. Comic gold. Mays is a delight, but I agree that Pinkham is astounding. He has to hover somewhere incredibly challenging.. Sinister, yet innocent, you MUST root for him even as he commits dastardly deeds... and he makes you! He has to be genuinely funny, he is onstage the entire time and has to carry the proceedings, yet he can not surpass the zanny performance of Mays.
So wonderfully happy to see Worsham get a nod. She is sublime in this, her voice is glorious.. my gosh, her soprano... AND SHE FRONTS A ROCK BAND.
Shall we talk about the deliciously sung, perfectly directed and expertly performed trio "I've Decided To Marry You"?
I so hope this show cleans up the awards season. So richly deserved.

[PalJoey]

^^^This!

Nice post, broadwayguy2!

[broadwayguy2]

Thanks, PJ. It is not often that I come out of a show without a roster of notes of things that I felt should be tweaked or without a list of people I'd love to see in those roles. Gentleman's Guide really is the exception. There were maybe two or three minor things that made me go "huh?" And the show is so perfectly cast that I couldn't think of a single person I would want to take over in the show!
It truly and honestly is my favorite show in quite a long while.

[macnyc]

I saw this in early previews back in the fall and I've decided to pay it a repeat visit!

[NYadgal]

broadwayguy2, I loved your post!

[theatregeek6]

Congrats. Couldn't get decent seats for tonight where they were almost giving them away last week. What a great box office boost!

[macnyc]

The place was packed today for the matinee, and it was a good audience, very receptive.

[hushpuppy]

Am I the only person who had trouble understanding the actors? Their heavy British accents made some of the dialog and lyrics unintelligible to me (I was sitting in about the 9th row). Bryce Pinkham was fine, but during everyone else's numbers I was wishing for supertitles. I never had a problem with the recent production of BLITHE SPIRIT, or any production of SWEENEY TODD or MY FAIR LADY for that matter, but about 10 minutes into Act II, I just gave up trying to decipher what they were saying/singing.

Oh, and I was very disappointed in the ending. The movie is deliciously ambiguous about Monty's ultimate fate, but the musical ties things up a bit too neatly for me.

[givesmevoice]

I didn't have trouble understanding anyone either time I saw it (once from the balcony and once from the extreme side of the first row), and the amount of spit I saw flying makes me believe both Mays and Pinkham were enunciating more than enough. Though I will say that it was easier catching all of the intricacies of the lyrics (and there are quite a few) on the cast recording.

[Reginald Tresilian]

I had no trouble with any of the dialog, but when the lyrics started coming fast and furious I think I missed quite a bit, though I had no trouble following the general drift.

[haterobics]

FWIW, I dislike Monty Python and loved Gentleman's Guide.

[South Fl Marc]

"I so hope this show cleans up the awards season. So richly deserved."

I do too. I have been shocked that this show hasn't sold out since it got excellent reviews when it opened. I hope it wins a lot and finally finds the audience it so richly deserves.

[MCfan2]

I want to see this so much -- "Kind Hearts and Coronets" is a great favorite of mine to begin with, and then the show just sounds so good in its own right. Hope the Tony noms give it a boost that keeps it going at least until I can make it up there!

[Steve721]

I assume that Gentleman's Guide will easily win best musical, which is fine with me. IMHO, it's certainly a more worthy winner than Kinky Boots or Memphis.

[PapaGe]

Looks like the nominations were exactly the impetus they needed to announce the publication of their piano/vocal selections (finally)! Scheduled to come out May 30.

http://www.amazon.com/Gentlemans-Guide-Love-Murder-Selections/dp/1480382965/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398977282&sr=8-1&keywords=gentleman%27s+guide+to+love+and+murder+vocal+selections

[C. C Baxter]

I realized today that the act one finale "The Last One You'd Expect" is the perfect metaphor for this show's journey thus far. I would never speak for others but I certainly didn't see this show coming when the season started and now I just booked my tickets to go back a second time. Just like Monty, it's slowly but surely worked its way to the top of a very crowded heap while others around it fell. I also think it has some of the most impressive marketing since The Book of Mormon. The Facebook page is hilarious.

[PalJoey]

Stephen Lutvak's appearance on Theater Talk last week:


http://youtu.be/NcDVmvxn2xY

[Wicked Fanatic]

Thanks Pal Joey for posting this excellent inside look at the music for hopefully what will be the winner of the 2014 Tony for Best New Musical.

Knew Steven Lutvak was an excellent piano player/composer, but what a wonderful voice he has. Could listen to him sing the score all night--Applause! Applause!

[tazber]

I just adore this show so much. The score, the costumes, and most of all the performers.

Mays and Pinkham were both remarkable.

I loved Worsham, but I would chosen to recognize O'Hare between the two.

But they were both wonderful.