Live theatre returned to the Theatre 29 stage this past weekend with the opening of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.” Assignment reporter Chris Fleischman was in attendance and offers this review…
After a 19-month hiatus, Theatre 29 marks its return to live theatre in spectacular fashion with the 2014 Tony Award winner for best musical, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.” The musical tells the story of antihero Monty Navarro, executed with deft and devilish charm by Theatre 29 veteran Graham Cooley. Monty learns that despite his low-born status he is actually eighth in line for the Earldom of Highhurst. Standing in the way of his fortune are the eight members of the D’Ysquith family, played with explosive flare and versatility by Theatre 29 veteran Charles Harvey. The killer comic instincts and weapons-grade level of chemistry between Cooley and Harvey were on full display as Monty attempts to prune the D’Ysquith family tree.
Monty also finds himself smackdab in the middle of a classic love triangle. Vying for Monty’s affection are recently married mistress Sibella Hallward, played by Sabrina Olsen who returns to the stage after serving active duty in the United States Air Force, and the prim and proper Phoebe D’Ysquith, played by Theater 29 veteran and choreographer Lisa Goldberg. The cast is rounded out by an ensemble of veteran performers and skilled newcomers tasked with portraying 80 characters.
The visual elements of the production create a veritable feast for the eyes, from the double-proscenium construction and the sanguine color palette of the set design to the period-specific costumes, designed by award-winner Kathryn Ferguson, who also plays the quirky, mischievous Miss Marietta Shingle. Also noteworthy was the stagecraft for each D’Ysquith murder scene which left the audience gob-smacked, giggling, and applauding. According to director Gary Daigneault, who held the rights to the show for two years, the production “is the culmination of hundreds of hours of hard work to bring live theatre back” to the community, and the hard work is evident in this marvelously murderous romp, as well as the enhanced COVID protocols to keep theatre patrons safe. “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” runs weekends through October 24, with Friday and Saturday evening performances at 7:00 and Sunday matinees at 2:30.
