Review: A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER is the Perfect Mix of Murder, Mayhem, and Good Old Fashioned Vaudeville Fun!

5 out of 5 stars

It's rare to go to the theatre and end up rooting for the bad guy - but that's exactly what audiences can expect to do at A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, which opened last night at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

Monty Navarro is home mourning the death of his mother when he's visited by a stranger who turns out to be an acquaintance of his late mother. She tells him his mother was a member of the D'Ysquith family who are very wealthy and have a title - and he is eight in line for succession of that title. His mother had been disinherited for marrying for love instead of to benefit the family and had never told him.

Monty, who feels his mother was treated terribly, seeks revenge by eliminating those ahead of him for succession one by one until he becomes Earl. What sounds quite grim makes for an absolutely delightful night at the theatre. Don't let the plot fool you - this is a comedy through and through. Meanwhile, Monty must also juggle the affections of two different women - a set-up which makes for a song so hilarious (I've Decided to Marry You) that it received the loudest applause I've ever heard mid show.

Performed in a stage on the stage in the operetta style, the show has just the right amount of subdued British humor and over the top musical theatre melodrama to make for the perfect mix of murder, mayhem, and good old fashioned vaudeville style fun!

John Rapson must receive highest praise for his dazzling performances as nine different members of the D'Ysquith family. His performance is a tour de force.

Kevin Massey plays Mr. Navarro - and from the moment he takes to the stage and begins confessing to multiple murders he has the audience eating out of the palm of his hand. He's incredibly likable and is the perfect leading man.

Kristen Beth Williams is the feisty social climbing Sibella who refuses to marry Monty for his lack of status but pines for him when he is a success.

Adirenne Eller brings the bookish but loveable Pheobe D'Ysquith to life. She is a cousin of Monty and the two are married following the death of another relative.

Director Darko Tresnjak has crafted the perfect musical comedy - an achievement which earned him a Tony Award for A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder - and the show was also the recipient of the highly coveted Best Musical Tony Award as well.

The score with music/lyrics by Steven Lutvak and book/lyrics by Robert L. Freedman is absolutely enchanting with tune after tune that gets stuck in your head. The lyrics are delightfully witty as well.

Alexander Dodge must be mentioned for his scenic design, which is uncharacteristically light for a "Best Musical" and yet perfectly suited to this production. He makes the most of his "stage within a stage" which also allows for very vaudevillian mini breaks for us to catch up with our protagonist, Mr. Navarro.

You'll definitely want to catch A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder while you have the chance. The show is on stage now through June 26th. Tickets are available at Mirvish.com.

To post a comment, you must register and login.