A GENTLEMEN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER – Book and Lyrics by Robert L. Freedman; Music and Lyrics by Steven Lutvak; Directed by Geoffrey Kent; Musical Direction by Alec Steinhorn; Choreography by Grady Soapes. Produced by the Arvada Center (6901 Wadsworth Boulevard, Arvada) through May 11. Tickets available at 720-898-7200 or ArvadaCenter.org.
Geoffrey Kent has been one of my favorite people to watch on stage since URINETOWN at the Denver Water Works a hundred years ago. Through several seasons of the Shakespeare Festival, the Denver Center, and now, recently becoming a handsome and playful Dracula at the Arvada Center. He brings honesty to everything he does, to every part, whether large or small. There is a pixie-like quality to his take on humor and an unforgettable twinkle in his eye. Now he is imbuing that same whimsy into the plays he directs as well. He seems to have given his actors permission to enjoy a “look-what-we-are-doing-here!” kind of mentality that encourages the audience to also enjoy this bit of foolishness.
Much of the foolishness is brought to the stage in this production by Shabazz Green, a New York actor who seems to enjoy coming back to Colorado occasionally. As the bulk of the D’ysquith family who continuously drop dead on cue, he is cunningly clever in all of his roles. My personal favorite was the tumble off the tower of the Reverend Lord Ezekial D’ysquith, but they all have a certain deadly charm about them. You can tell that Shabazz, while slightly out of breath, is also having a hoot.
This is the story of Monty Navarro (an energetic and handsome Marco Alberto Robinson), who learns of the slights given to his mother who married for love and was shunned by her royal family. He resolves to right the wrongs done to her by ascending to the highest ranks in her family by any means necessary. He is already involved romantically with a spoiled actress, Sibella (a stunning Adriene Leigh Robinson), who is determined to achieve security and status by marrying money. Which leaves poor Monty out of the picture, but still in her arms. His travels into the D’ysquith family introduce him to Phoebe (the beautiful and talented Katie Jackson), another rich heiress. But the deeper Monty gets into his plot and in the family, the more complicated his life becomes. Until he ends up in jail.
This production keeps the main players and the six-person ensemble hopping as they move quickly from location to location, funeral to funeral. The set designed by Matthew Crane and greatly enhanced by Topher Blair’s amazing projections (I choked laughing at the blood splatter!) allowed smooth transitions from scene to scene. What a joy it must be to work at a theatre with talent in every role, on and off the stage. The costumes designed by Kevin Copenhaver, a long-time designer for the Denver Center, were spectacular and allowed for occasional 30-second quick changes.
The choreography of one man keeping two women and two doors separated in “I’ve Decided to Marry You” is a gymnastic miracle. You’ll walk around for days saying you’ve got “the poison in my pocket.” And marvel at how the playwright finagled a happy ending for everyone. Almost!!
There are no flaws! No shortcuts! Just laugh out loud sight gags, comic improbable situations, and visual and auditory delights.
A WOW factor of 8.75!!