Ohio Shakespeare Festival’s ‘Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder’ slays

Photos By Scott Custer

This show begins with a parental warning of sorts advising “those of you of weaker constitution” to leave the theater as the following show may prove disturbing (“Prologue: A Warning to the Audience”).

“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” features book and lyrics by Robert L. Friedman with music and lyrics by Steven Lutvak and is based on the 1907 fictional novel by Roy Horniman “Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal”. The show opened on Broadway on November 17, 2013 and ran until January 17, 2016 winning four Tony Awards including Best Musical.

It is the year 1909 and Lord Montague (Monty) D’Ysquith (pronounced Die Squid) Navarro, Ninth Earl of Highhurst (Scott Esposito) is in prison awaiting execution for murder. He is spending his remaining hours on earth writing his memoirs/confession detailing as he puts it “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder”.

It begins with Monty living in a shabby flat following the death of his mother (a washerwoman). Following the simple funeral a Miss Marietta Shingle (Laura Starnik), a mysterious old woman and friend of Monty’s mother, arrives to console Monty and to give him some life changing news. It seems that his mother Isabel was a member of the aristocratic D’Ysquith (again, pronounced Die Squid) but after eloping with a Castilian musician (long deceased) had been disowned. Marietta tells Monty that it was shame that kept his mother from telling him about his birthright. As it stood right now, Monty was ninth in line to inherit the earldom of Highhurst along with the title. (“You’re A D’Ysquith”).

Monty writes a letter to Lord Asquith D’Ysquith (pronounced Ass Squid Die Squid) (Andrew Cruse), the head of the family banking firm (and source of the family fortune) explaining who he is, his relationship to the family and asking for a job with the firm. Meanwhile, Monty is seeing Miss Sibella Hallward (Natalie Green), a social climbing beauty who loves but refuses to marry Monty due to his poverty (“I Don’t Know What To Do”). Sibella is seeing Lionel Holland who is a man of means. She is dubious about Monty’s claim of inheritance and points out that eight people would need to die in order for him to become the earl.

Monty recieves a reply to his letter from Lord Asquith’s son, Asquith D’Ysquith Jr. (Andrew Cruse) (pronounced...well, you know but with a junior at the end). Junior denies Monty’s mother’s existence and warns Monty not to contact them again or use their name in any form. Dejected but not beaten, Monty refuses to accept his forced fate (“Foolish to Think”) and instead takes a tour of Highhurst Castle during visitor’s day. Sneaking away from the tour group he ends up in the armory hall where the spirit portraits of D’Ysquith (still Die Squid, just more of ‘em) berates Monty that he does not belong there (“A Warning To Monty”).

As Monty is enjoying the quiet luxury of a comfy chair and expensive brandy Lord Adalbert D’Ysquith (Andrew Cruse) (still the same pronunciation of Die Squid) catches the interloper and drives him from the castle while showing his disdain for the commoners who visit for six pence a head (“I Don’t Understand the Poor”).

Having been dejected twice by the family, Monty seeks the help of a family member who is also a clergyman. The Reverend Lord Ezekial D’Ysquith (must I repeat myself Die Squid) (Andrew Cruse) is an elderly gentleman on the lowest rung of the family pecking order who is renowned for his drinking problem. Ezekial recalls Monty’s mother as a charming girl who broke her father’s heart. He agrees to take Monty on a tour of the family ancestral church. Ezekial invites Monty to ascend the bell tower and as they climb the seemingly endless steps Ezekial refuses to help Monty in his claims because he does not wish to become involved in any family intrigue. Reaching the top of the tower they look over the wide vista. Ezekial nearly loses his balance due to a gust of wind and his drunken state. Without Monty’s assistance, Ezekial falls to his death moving Monty one step closer to the earldom (“Foolish to Think (Reprise”).

Back at his job as a lowly clerk, Monty is frustrated that he works so that other men can become wealthier. By chance, he observes Asquith Jr. (Andrew Cruse) and his mistress Miss Evangeline Barley (not a Die Squid but a Florodora girl) sneak off to a winter resort. Monty follows them with poison in hand but is unable to get close enough to administer (“Poison In My Pocket”). The two illicit lovers go ice skating on the frozen lake and with new inspiration Monty cuts a hole in the ice. The skaters fall through and drown inching Monty one step closer to the family fortune.

On Monty’s return to London, he receives a letter from Asquith Sr. apologizing for his son’s abrupt letter and inviting Monty to the bank for a job interview. Senior shares his grief concerning the passage of his son from the skating “accident” and offers Monty a job as a stock broker with a comfortable salary which Monty accepts gratefully. Returning to Sibella with the news she informs him that she is getting married to Lionel but has second thoughts with news of Monty’s new position and income. She decides to marry Lionel instead (“Poor Monty”) but will keep Monty as a lover.

In short order Monty dispatches with married but gay distant cousin Henry (Andrew Cruse) (bee stings) (“Better With a Man”) as Monty is romancing Henry’s sister Phoebe (Natalie Steen) (“Inside Out”), Lady Hyacinth (Andrew Cruse) (drowning after three failed attempts of sending her to Africa, Egypt and Polynesia) (“Lady Hyacinth Abroad”), Major Lord Bartholomew (Andrew Cruse) (weight lifting “accident”), Lady Salome D’Ysquith Pumphrey (Andrew Cruse again) (shooting “accident” involving a prop pistol) and lastly Lord Adalbert (Andrew Cruse yet again) (heart attack/poison) just as word reaches that Lord Asquith Senior has legitimately passed away from an actual heart attack with no assist from Monty. It is to the point that the neighbors are starting to talk ("Why Are All the D'Ysquiths Dying?") “But is it not a trifle odd, how they’ve all gone off to God, suddenly they’re congregating underneath the sod”.

In short order Monty finds himself proclaimed Lord Montague D’Ysquith Navarro, Ninth Earl of Highhurst as he and Phoebe are married but his happiness is short lived. It is found that Lord Adalbert D’Ysquith (one last time...Die Squid) was poisoned and Monty is arrested.

This show carries many of the markings of a Gilbert and Sullivan show with its clever rapid fire lyrics, engaging story and fantastical characters. Scott Esposito is marvelous as Monty Navarro as you find yourself rooting for him to “weed out” the Die Squids. Andrew Cruse as the entire D’Ysquith family takes on all the roles and makes each one unique and totally his own. Natalie Green as Sibella is perfect as the misguided temptress who is impatient when it comes to marrying for wealth. Natalie Steen as Phoebe is the perfect romantic foil for Monty. Laura Starnik does a great job as Miss Shingle. Then there is the ensemble of Cameron Olin, Bridgett Martinez, Mikaela Ray as Woman #1, 2, & 3 and Troian Butler, Clay Yoder and Danny Simpson as Man #1, 2, & 3. They are the group singers as well as fill ins for any non D’Ysquith family parts. They offer standout singing voices as well as great ensemble work. Special mention goes to Natalie Steen and Natalie Green for their duet (“That Horrible Woman”).

The show is smartly directed by Joanna May Cullinan with Adam Day Howard as the Music Director. Ryan Zarecki handles the energetic choreography. The multiple stage sets are brilliantly designed by Natalie Steen and are perfectly in place each time. Kelsey Tomlinson drapes everyone in turn of the century garb that is attractive as well as functional (there is a lot of movement involved). Tess Burgler has everyone mic’d so that the words come out loud and clear although challenged at times by the orchestra. Robbie Wilt does the lighting design that keeps everything sharply and brilliantly lit.

This spritely and lavishly produced production goes to show that sometimes crime does pay and that good guys can finish first. This is modern light opera at its best with a brilliantly created fanciful and farcical topsy-turvy world where absurdity is stretch to its limits then taken to a logical and satisfactory conclusion.

Ohio Shakespeare Festival’s “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” will be on stage at Greystone Hall, 103 South High Street, 6th floor, Akron, Ohio through May 18, 2025. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://www.ohioshakespearefestival.com/ or call (330) 574-2537.