A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder: Frantic Fun

Last month, I realized it had been a while since I had taken advantage of living in New York. So I headed over to the Walter Kerr Theatre to catch a matinee of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, the 2014 Tony Award-winning musical. I didn't know much about the plot going into it, but it looked like a fun, Wodehouse-esque musical comedy that would offer me a good time. Boy did it ever.

Set in England in the early 1900s, the show tells the story of Montague "Monty" Navarro (Bryce Pinkham), a young man who grew up penniless with his mother after they were abandoned by his father. They managed to scrape by but now his mother is dead and he is mourning the loss of the only family he has ever known. Enter Marietta Shingle, a mysterious friend of his mother's who informs him that his name is actually Montague D'Ysquith Navarro, and his mother was a member of the prestigious D'Ysquith family. She was cast out when she eloped with a Castilian musician, which is why she never told Monty about her family. However, he is informed that he is ninth in line to become the Earl of Highhurst, information that becomes increasingly important as the play progresses.

At first Monty is simply keen to take advantage of this family connection to get a good job and earn a decent living. He is in love with a blonde beauty named Sibella (Scarlett Strallen), who loves him but also acknowledges it is impractical to marry for love. Desperate to make enough money to win his lady love, Monty writes to his relations, only to meet with staggering rebuffs and rudeness. When he goes to meet one of them in person, circumstances transpire in such a way that Monty "accidentally" murders the man. Well now, he's eighth in line to become the Earl. Hmm, what if more of his family members were to conveniently follow suit and die?

What follows is a raucous musical comedy that deals with - what else? - love and murder. Most entertainingly, the eight D'Ysquiths who are standing in Monty's way are all played by the same actor, Jefferson Mays, who does a brilliant job prancing across the stage as various male and female D'Ysquiths, who are all ridiculous in their own special way and meet untimely ends courtesy of Monty's increasingly ingenious plotting. 

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder is Broadway at its best. The songs are hilarious and cunningly choreographed ("I've Decided to Marry You" in the second half is particularly raucous) and the set design is wildly inventive as Monty travels across the country to put his murderous machinations into action. Pinkham and Mays deliver astonishing lead performances and look like they're having an absolute blast, which is always so important when you're watching live theatre. So if you're in NYC, head on over to the Walter Kerr Theatre and indulge in this fizzy musical gem. You won't be disappointed.