1907, 2012, 2016

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder live at the Princess of Wales Theatre June 15, 2016

Unbeknownst to me, this is based on the same novel as one of my favourite comedies of all time, Kind Hearts and Coronets. I have not seen that movie in sometime, though the plot (and the gimmick) was still quite familiar.

This is a funny show. But it’s a safe show, especially for a show about a man who murders multiple relatives. I haven’t seen the film in a long, long time, but one of the things I loved about it at the time was its black comedy, utterly shocking for 1949. Though my memory of the film is hardly clear now, I don’t remember the laughs being so safe and easy. I don’t remember a dominant love triangle – there was one, but not this prominent I don’t think.

And it’s this lack of daring that keeps me from absolutely loving it. It was funny, I enjoyed myself, the choreography was good and the direction was inventive. But this is a comedy about multiple murders. It needs to take risks. And this show did not take enough risks for me.

7/10

  • Music Steven Lutvak
  • Lyrics Robert L. Freedman, Steven Lutvak
  • Book Robert L. Freedman
  • Basis: Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal by Roy Horniman
  • Productions: 2012 Hartford, 2013 San Diego, 2013 Broadway, 2015 US Tour, 2017 US Tour, 2018 Melbourne, Musical numbers

Musical Numbers

Act I

  • “A Warning to the Audience” – Ensemble
  • “You’re a D’Ysquith” – Miss Shingle and Monty
  • “I Don’t Know What I’d Do” – Sibella
  • “Foolish to Think” – Monty
  • “A Warning to Monty” – Ensemble
  • “I Don’t Understand the Poor” – Lord Adalbert and Ensemble
  • “Foolish to Think (Reprise)” – Monty
  • “Poison in My Pocket” – Monty, Asquith Jr., and Miss Barley
  • “Poor Monty” – Sibella and Company
  • “Better With a Man” – Henry and Monty
  • “Inside Out” – Phoebe and Monty
  • “Lady Hyacinth Abroad” – Lady Hyacinth and Ensemble
  • “The Last One You’d Expect” – Company

Act II

  • “Why Are All the D’Ysquith’s Dying” – Lord Adalbert and Mourners
  • “Sibella” – Monty
  • “I’ve Decided to Marry You” – Phoebe, Sibella, and Monty
  • “Final Warning” – Ensemble
  • “Poison in My Pocket (Reprise)” – Monty
  • “Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun” – Lord Adalbert
  • “Stop! Wait! What?!” – Monty
  • “That Horrible Woman” – Sibella, Phoebe, Detective, Magistrate, and Guard
  • “Finale” – Company
Role The Hartford Stage/Old Globe Cast Original Broadway Cast US National Tour Cast 2nd National Tour Cast
The D’Ysquith Family Jefferson Mays John Rapson James Taylor Odom
Monty Navarro Ken Barnett Bryce Pinkham Kevin Massey Blake Price
Sibella Hallward Lisa O’Hare Kristen Beth Williams Colleen McLaughlin
Phoebe D’Ysquith Chilina Kennedy Lauren Worsham Adrienne Eller Erin McIntyre
Miss Marietta Shingle Rachel Izen (also Ensemble) Jane Carr Mary VanArsdel Kristen Antoinette Kane (also Ensemble)
Lady Eugenia D’Ysquith and others Heather Ayers Joanna Glushak Kristen Mengelkoch Colleen Gallagher
Magistrate and others Kevin Ligon Eddie Korbich Christopher Behmke Timothy Aaron Cooper
Tom Copley and others Kendal Sparks Jeff Kready Matt Leisy Ashton Michael Corey
Tour Guide and others Catherine Walker Jennifer Smith Megan Loomis Colleen Gallagher
Inspector Pinckney and others Price Waldman Ben Roseberry Conor McGiffin
Miss Evangeline Barley and others Heather Ayers Catherine Walker Lesley McKinnell Briana Gantsweg

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