North Coast Repertory Theatre is currently mounting “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder”, with book by Robert L. Freedman, music by Steven Lutvak and lyrics by Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak. It’s killer fun, not to be missed.
Based on the 1907 novel “Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal” by Roy Horniman that was later a movie, “Kind Heart and Coronets” starring Alec Guinness in 1949, it warns you that the show you are about to see is a tale of revenge and retribution and that blood may spill and spines may chill.
You may think this is an updated version of “Sweeney Todd”, but you would be dead wrong. (“A Warning to the Audience”)
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| Shinah Hey, Michael Cavinder, Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper, Jean Kauffman, and Andrew Hey |
In fact, as deadly and bloody as is ‘Sweeney Todd’, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” is just the opposite. “Guide” is as delicious as is a savory chocolate. But don’t be misled; this musical is not about our taste buds, it’s ‘murder by the numbers’ sans the blood and gore.
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| Katy Tang and Lauren Weinberg |
The story is told in the beginning, in the first person from a prison cell, Monty( Andrew Polec) is writing his ‘true memoirs’ (“A Gentleman’s Guide…To Murder”). You guessed it, it was finally learned that he done it. He asks the prison barber whether or not the jury will find him guilty. The prison barber assures him that the ladies will definitely agree that he is innocent. It is the night before he is to be sentenced.
Then with a blast of thunder and lightning, the tale begins to unfold as Monty steps back to relive his tale.
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| Andrew Polec and Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper |
When Monty Navarro, our doe in the headlights murderer, learns that his beloved and now deceased mother was born a D’Ysquith but was disowned from the family fortune because of her marriage to Monty’s father, a Castilian, he sets a plan in motion to work himself right up there in line to the family castle (Highhurst) and his rightful fortune, er place, among them. (“You’re a D’Ysquith”. “You’re the son of the daughter of the grandson of the nephew of the 2nd Earl of Highhurst!”).
You might ask, “What is a D’Ysquith?”(Pronounced DIE-skwith; nice play on words) Well... The D’Ysquith’s are a wealthy and influential English family who turn their collective noses down on anyone less than. In this particular branch of the D’Ysquith’s there are eight in line waiting to be Earl and that would be the Eighth Earl of Highhurst, played by the cunning Mongiardo-Cooper) with precision accuracy.
Monty plans to break that streak by getting back at his long lost family for all their years of neglect. Elimination is his sport and a well thought out process to that end is the game for Monty as he begins his quest for the Earldom and the D’Ysquith fortune.
Spurning him on with a vengeance is his knowledgeable paramour, Sibella Hallward (stunning Lauren Weinberg). “I Don’t Know What I’d Do Without You”. She is more interested in marrying a man of means than a man she loves. He is also smitten with miss Phoebe D’Ysquith (Katy Tang) who innocently has eyes for Monty. Both Ms. Weinberg and Tang can knock a tune out of the theatre.
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And so, begins the fun and carefully crafted practice of purging first one D’Ysquith and then another in a series of casual and rather innocent looking accidents: one through an ice skating accident, one through a heart attack while lifting weights, one by bee stings, one by poison and the beat goes on. “Why Are All The D’Ysquith’s Dying?”
Credit the talented set designer Marty Burnett for creating all the scene changes in the set within the set, and different locations and especially the three door slamming contest between Monty and Phoebe and Monty and Sibella.
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| Lauren Weinberg, Andrew Polec and Katy Tang |
Freedman and Lutvak’s lyrics are so clever and witty that one can’t help secretly cheer Monty on waiting to see how his ingenious plotting puts him right up there in line for number one Earl. Polec’s Monty is naturally smooth, stylish and personally engaging especially for one with a mind intent on murder and a conscience devoid of any malpractice. (“Poison In My Pocket”) He fits the bill perfectly.
Right up there in the outstanding department is Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper as the entire D’Ysquith Family. And how does that happen, you might ask? He is a master of the dazzling quick costume change all designed and in perfect London upper class period pieces by Elsa Benzoni. And… as coached by dialect coach Vanessa Dinning, speaks well for both the men and the women in the family.
Director Noelle Marion leaves no stone unturned with a talented ensemble including Michael Cavinder, Andrew Hay, Shinah Hey and Jean Kauffman. And that’s not to say that only eight actors played all the major roles.
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| Katy Tang, Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper, Andrew Polec, Lauren Weinberg |
Musical director Daniel Lincoln and his musicians, Jennifer Williams, Amy Kalat and Katrina Earl played a critical role in bringing this musical comedy to the audience’s collective feet at the conclusion of the show.
Luke Harvey Jacobs choreographed, Chris Leussman is responsible for the sound, Matthew Novotny, the lighting both coming from off stage make complete this lively tongue in cheek comedy. Peter Hermann designed the wigs and props are designed by Audrey Casteris.
From an audience point of view, one almost forgets that we are dealing in murder, but it’s oh so delectable.
North Coast Rep. deserves a five star review for an undertaking as large as this and doing it so flawlessly.
And in case you were wondering, this show went to Broadway, after it premiered at the Old Globe, in 2013 and ran for three years, then starring our own UCSD graduate Jeffrey Mays as all the D'Ysquith's
Now back in San Diego, it’s a must see.
See you at the theatre.
Enjoy.
When: Runs through Aug. 17th.
7 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Where: North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach
Photo: Aaron Rumley
Tickets: $62-$84
Phone: 858-481-1055
Online: northcoastrep.org
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