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A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder ~ The Little Theatre of Alexandria

Jordan Wright
January 21, 2020
Special to The Alexandria Times
 

Sometimes the hardest reviews to write are the ones in which a show exceeds all expectations.  Shows that excel in all facets of production from onstage to backstage.  I had a clue it would be a must-see show when I heard that Frank D. Shutts II was directing.  But it wasn’t till I cracked open the playbill on opening night to reveal that Matt Liptak designed the sets, Stefan Sittig was the choreographer, Jean Schlichting and Kit Sibley designed the costumes and the crack team of Ken and Patti Crowley did the lighting.  This is a formidable crew of multi-award-winning pros whose productions consistently dominate the WATCH Awards.  Producer Mary Beth Smith-Toomey sure knows how to pick a winner.

Drew Goins as Monty and Katie Weigl as Sibella Hallward in ‘A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder’ at The Little Theatre of Alexandria. Photo by Matt Liptak.

What I wasn’t sure of was if the acting, singing (and some hoofing) would be up to snuff.  The musical has a lot of moving parts – 193 lighting cues, 40 scene changes, and scads of props.  A few of the actors were familiar to me from the LTA stage, but not many.  Most notably Chuck Dluhy whom we saw in last year’s award-winning production of The Nance and God of Carnage, Derek Marsh who was outstanding here recently in The Producers, and longtime LTA supporter and actor, Margie Remmers.  Leads were played by actors either new to the stage (apart from university stage work) or new to our area and several of them emerged as serious challengers to area actors with top notch vocal chops.

If you crossed author Edward Gorey, filmmaker Wes Anderson and composers Gilbert & Sullivan you might be able to describe this eccentrically charming musical set in the Victorian Era.  Based on Roy Horniman’s 1907 novel “Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal”, it’s a story of a down-on-his-heels clerk living with his mother who has been disinherited and forced to work as a charwoman.  At her funeral, an old family friend arrives with proof that Monty is related to the D’Ysquith family giving him claim to a title and a royal estate.  The only glitch is our lovable hero is eight times removed from becoming the Earl of D’Ysquith.  Hmmm…

Alexandra Chace as Phoebe D’Ysquith in ‘A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder’ at The Little Theatre of Alexandria. Photo by Matt Liptak.

This quirky tale of retribution opens with Monty already imprisoned for murder and writing his memoir.  It then toggles back and forth from the young man’s cell to explain how he got there – eight murders, a rising career in a tony brokerage house led by his D’Ysquith uncle, who has taken pity on him, plus two mad love affairs.  However, do not despair for this once painfully shy, now increasingly bold, chronically endearing, murderer.  He’s got more than few defenders who will happily take the fall to see him take his royal seat at High Hurst Castle.

Eleven actors, some in multiple roles, succeed mightily in bringing this fast-paced Tony Award-winning musical to a crescendo of laughter and sophisticated wit.  Credit everyone, but this reviewer was gobsmacked by lead actor Drew Goins as Monty Navarro, Alexandra Chace as Phoebe D’Ysquith, the hilarious Chuck Dluhy in NINE roles! and Katie Weigl as Sibella Hallward.

An eleven-piece orchestra, led by Conductor Christopher A. Tomasino with Concert Master Steve Natrella, perform 22 numbers ranging from comic operetta to love songs.

Book and Lyrics by Robert L. Freedman, Music and Lyrics by Steven Lutvak.  With Kristin Jepperson as Miss Shingle; Audrey Baker as Miss Barley; Jordan Peyer as Tom Copley; and ensemble members Devin Dietrich and Allison Meyer.

Dazzling and dastardly.  Race to the box office STAT!

Through February 8th at The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.  For tickets and information visit www.TheLittleTheatre.com or call the box office at 703.683.0496.

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