By TR Robertson Photos by Aaron Rumley
It sounds a bit ominous, but North Coast Rep’s latest play, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” is a delightful and very funny musical comedy that has audience members continually laughing at the adventures of a man attempting to improve his status by a most unusual means. The musical comedy has music and lyrics by Steven Lutvak, book and lyrics by Robert L. Freedman and is based on a 1907 fictional novel by Roy Horniman, The Autobiography of a Criminal. This award-winning musical opened on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre in 2013, winning four Tony Awards in 2014, Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, and Best Costume Design. Along with this the musical also won seven Drama Desk Awards and two Outer Critics Circle Awards.
The premise of the musical comedy is set in 1909 London and surrounds Monty Navarro, a man who discovers he is eighth in line for an earldom in the D’Ysquith family. Monty develops a plot to knock off each of his relatives and to rise to the position of Lod Montague D’Ysquith Navarro, Ninth Earl of Highhurst. Clever, funny songs, lots of crazy situations and a wonderful performance by one actor who plays all eight of the very strange D’Ysquith family has the audience laughing most of the evening. Directing the musical comedy is Noelle Marion, both an actor and director, who recently directed “The Waitress” at Moonlight Theatre. The Musical Director and playing the keyboard is Daniel Lincoln, who leads three other musicians in playing twenty-seven songs during the course of the musical.
The cast begins with Andrew Polec who plays Monty. Andrew is on stage for the majority of the musical portraying a man who sets out with a scheme to become the Ninth Earl. This is Andrew’s North Coast Rep debut. As the mild young man who hatches this plan to rise to fame and fortune Andrew is perfect in presenting as a man who stumbles and fumbles his way to romance and eventual success in his efforts to succeed. Returning to North Coast Rep and playing Sibella is Lauren Weinberg. Lauren portrays a beautiful love interest of Monty, but who is a flighty woman who also seeks to rise in her position in life, just not by killing anyone. Jean Kauffman plays Miss Shingle and several other characters. This is also Jean’s debut at North Coast Rep. Miss Shingle is the woman who drops hints that Monty is a lost member of the D’Ysquith family, who says he is a member of the family as his mother was a D’Ysquith who had eloped with a Castilian musician and was disowned by the family as a result. Miss Shingle tells Monty he needs to take his place in the family line. Other cast members making their debut at North Coast Rep include Michael Cavinder, portraying Inspector Pinckney and in the ensemble; Andrew Hey as Tom Copley/Magistrate and in the ensemble; and Shinah Hey as Miss Barley/Lady Eugenia and also in the ensemble. Numerous costume changes and various character portrayals are key to this musical and these actors are wonderful in adding to the quickly paced musical. Katy Tang, a veteran of several North Coast Rep productions, plays Phoebe D’Ysquith. Phoebe is Henry D’Ysquith’s sister and becomes a love interest of Monty after Henry is killed. Phoebe and Sibella will become key to the closing of the musical as they both hatch a clever scheme to get Monty out of prison after he is found guilty of killing Lord Adalbert D’Ysquith and is serving time in prison.
All of these performers have great voices and bring a tremendous range of acting skills, giving the audience a chance to understand Monty’s journey of mayhem and conspiracy in his quest. The final veteran North Coast Rep actor who plays the key roles of the entire doomed D’Ysquith family and is challenged with quick costume changes, changing personalities, mannerisms and voices is Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper. Nicholas pulls this challenging role off with humor and ease as he takes on the roles of Lord Asquith D’Ysquith Sr., Asquith D’Ysquith Jr., Reverend Lord Ezekial D’Ysquith, Henry D’Ysquith, Lady Hyacinth D’Ysquith, Major Lord Bartholomew D’Ysquith, Lady Salome D’Ysquith Pumphrey and Lord Adalbert D’Ysquith. The funniest of the D’Ysquith clan that Nicholas portrays are the Reverand D’Ysquith, Lady Hyacinth, Lady Salome and Lord Adalbert. Each death is unusual with the demise of Henry and Major Lord Bartholomew the most unusual.
Director Marion’s Design Team includes Stage Manager Laura Zingle, Set Designer Marty Burnett, Light Designer Matthew Novotny, Costume Designer Elisa Benzoni, Associate Costume Designer Grace Wong, Sound Designer Chris Luessman, Props Designer Audrey Casteris, Hair & Wig Designer Peter Herman, Sound Mixer Liam Sullivan, Assistant Props Designer Sarah Palluconi, Production Assistant Haley Quynh Baugher, Dialect Coach Vaness Dinning, and Choreographer Luke Harvey Jacobs.
This fun, entertaining musical is the final play in North Coast Reps 43rd Season. Season 44 will begin with the world premiere of the comedy “Beside Myself” by Paul Slade Smith on September 10th. “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” will be on stage until August 17th. Tickets ae available at 858-481-1055 or go to www.northcoastrep.org.
