Review: Outrageously Fun GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE Hits 5th Ave

When you're catching the touring production of a show you saw with it's original cast on Broadway, you hope that the folks on tour will be up to par at least somewhat. Such was my fear catching the touring company of the Tony Award winning Best Musical "A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder" currently playing at the 5th Avenue Theatre especially for one quite daunting role where the actor must play nine different people. Well, luckily the touring company was completely up to the task especially in that one role making for a hilarious and rousing evening that only did honor to my memory of the original.

Don't let the title fool you as this is very much a comedy as we meet Monty Navarro (Kevin Massey) whose mother has just passed away. In steps Miss Shingle (Mary VanArsdel) a long time friend of his late mother who reveals to him that his mother was actually a long lost heir to the D'Ysquith family (all played by John Rapson), the wealthiest and most influential family in town. Monty tries to find a way into the good graces of the family and soon realizes that there are only eight D'Ysquiths in between him and becoming the Earl of Highhurst castle. And so Monty sets off on a murderous climb through the ranks all the while trying to keep happy his girlfriend Sibella (Kristen Beth Williams) and his newly found distant cousin Phoebe (Adrienne Eller) for whom he has fallen.

The show by Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak, based on a novel by Roy Horniman which was also the basis for the Alec Guinness film "Kind Hearts and Coronets", is a roller coaster ride of hilarity as Monty devises increasingly outrageous ways of bumping off his relatives. It takes a bit of setup for that roller coaster to get going but once it does, just hang on! And the staging of this insanity by director Darko Tresnjak is some of the most stunningly fun I've seen in awhile.

As I said the cast is just as top notch as any Broadway cast especially the leads. Massey is adorable and quite likable but with a devilish twinkle letting you know he's willing to do just about anything to get what he wants and his love triangle number with the gorgeous and hilarious Williams and Eller brought down the house. And I have to mention the comedy gold of Kristen Mengelkoch as Lord D'Ysquith's delectably shrill and somewhat crazed wife as she and the Lord sparred repeatedly over dinner.

But the success of this show rests squarely on the shoulders of the actor playing all the lords and ladies of the D'Ysquith line and John Rapson seems more than up to the task. Never once did one D'Ysquith feel like another each containing their own very distinct character. And beyond the individuality of his multiple roles, Rapson is one damned funny guy, as each D'Ysquith became your new favorite as they were introduced. Rapson is someone with a gorgeous voice and killer comedic timing and his performance alone is well worth the price of admission.

This is one of those shows that will not fix the world but you're bound to have a great time. It's candy-coated candy with whipped cream on top. And so with my three letter rating system I give "A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder" a gut busting YAY. It's one you don't want to miss.

"A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder" performs at the 5th Avenue Theatre through July 31st. For tickets or information contact the 5th Avenue Theatre box office at 206-625-1900 or visit them online at www.5thavenue.org.