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 |