A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder – SHN Golden Gate Theatre

The 2014 Tony® Award winner for Best Musical, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, is playing at the SHN Golden Gate Theatre December 1-27 in its first national tour.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

The central character Monty Navarro (Kevin Massey) didn’t learn of his mother’s past until after her death. Miss Shingle (Mary VanArsdel), a “family friend” brings him an old box that his mother kept containing his original birth certificate and letters. We learn that she was mistreated and disinherited by her family because of their disapproval of her marriage to a Castilian musician. She married for love, which is a major faux pas in the aristocratic world. It’s revealed that Monty is of D’Ysquith lineage and there are eight people between him and the current Earl of Highhurst.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

Monty is also in love with social climber, Sibella Hallward (Kristen Beth Williams) whom laughs at the thought of marrying for love. Inspired by his adoration for her and itching with revenge, he begins to pick off family members in hopes of reaching a suitable level for her tastes. While he’s gaining traction to his ultimate birthright position, she marries another for money while keeping Monty as a lover. Her bubble is broken when he finds love in his distant cousin Phoebe D’Ysquith whom eventually proposes. In one of the most memorable scenes, the lady’s are two doors away from each other and Monty is caught in between explaining mysterious noises to Phoebe and trying to quiet Sibella.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

The scenes are playing out as Monty is writing his escapades down in a notebook from jail, which we hear him read via voice-over. Each character is riddled with despicable traits that the world can do without, getting the audience to cheer for this anti-hero. John Rapson plays all 8-heir roles and had many in tears with laughter due to his amusing expressions and physical comedy. Some characters are more animated than others especially during their disposal. He brought these to life with ease and humorous wardrobe changes. One character in particular keeps surprising us by not being so easy to get rid of.

In the end, Monty meets another distant cousin who is in the same boat as he was in the beginning. The brief interaction is significant because it demonstrates the society circle. The transformation in Monty shows how addictive power can be especially when it comes easy. He went from broke underdog to entitled D’Ysworth, creating his own rich man bubble. You’ll want to stay put after the audience comes out for their bows. The story doesn’t end until the curtain comes down. The rich don’t want to be poor and the poor always want to be rich, or do they?

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

Gentleman’s Guide received ten 2014 Tony® Award nominations, eventually winning four awards: Best Musical, Direction of a Musical, Book of a Musical, and Best Costume Design. In addition, it won the Best Musical prizes from the Drama League, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle, and received a 2015 Grammy® Award nomination for Best Musical Show Album.

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder features a book and lyrics by Robert L. Freedman and music and lyrics by Steven Lutvak.

Ticket Information:
Tickets range from $45-$212 and can be purchased at shnsf.com and SHN Audience Services at 888-746-1799. Prices are subject to change.

Performance Dates:

December 1-27, 2015

Tuesday–Saturday at 8pm

Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday at 2pm
Added Performances: Monday, Dec. 21 at 8pm & Sunday, Dec. 27 at 7:30pm
No Performances: Thursday, Dec. 24 & Friday, Dec. 25

About SHN:
SHN is the preeminent theatrical entertainment company in the Bay Area, bringing live entertainment experiences to San Francisco’s premier venues. SHN presents current hits fresh from Broadway, original Broadway cast productions, pre-Broadway premieres and one-of-a-kind live events that are at the forefront of the national theater scene.