If you were a penniless lad, newly orphaned, with no prospects on
the horizon, and you accidentally learned your mum was a member
of the privileged class, what might you do? So what if that same
aforementioned mother lost her inheritance for marrying poorly,
you might still have hopes of getting a piece of the royal pie now you know it exists.
Enter one Monty Navarro (Blake Price) who determines to claim what he feels is
rightfully his. To that end, he pens a polite letter of inquiry to Lord D’Ysquith
requesting the right to work for the family and honestly gain his inheritance.
Unfortunately the Lord wants nothing to do with Monty... ever. That decision sets off a series of unforeseen
consequences that result in the thoroughly delightful musical comedy with an unusual twist on this
theme, "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder," with book and lyrics by
Robert L. Freedman and music and lyrics by Steven Lutvak, at the Palace Theater in
Waterbury on Friday, October 20 and Saturday, October 21.
Monty is a Don Quixote in his quest for the Impossible Dream velcroed to Monty Python
and his mission to secure the Holy Grail and you have the beginnings of his fervor as an heir apparent. The absolute rejection of his claim, with the stern proviso never to contact the
D'Ysquiths ever again, leads the industrious Monty to pursue a how-to book, a guide to
love and murder for the proper gentleman. James Taylor Odom plays all the heirs, male
and female, with aplomb.
Monty determines that to become the next Lord D'Ysquith, his most desired position of
wealth and good standing, there are only nine family members ahead of him. His clever
solution is to eliminate them, one by one, and all his dreams will become reality. And if
he finds love along the way, all the better. He has a lot of fun juggling a mistress
Sibella Hallward (Colleen McLaughlin) and a cousin/fiancee Phoebe D’Ysquith
(Erin McIntyre).
So what if each heir needs a little assistance in meeting his maker, Monty has both
ingenuity and a sense of style. Soon he is drowning one in a pond of ice, helps another
to swallow a potion of poison, pushes one from a belfry tower and encourages hungry
cannibals to devour another. The only question that remains is: will Monty succeed
in snatching the title of Lord, with all its attendant riches, or will the coppers charge
him with multiple murders? Come and discover for yourself.
For tickets ($57.50 and up), call the Palace, 100 East Main Street, Waterbury at
203-346-2000 or online at www.palacetheaterct.org. Performances are Friday
at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Grab on tight to Monty Navarro's coat tails for a merry mix of murder, music and
mayhem that is sure to delight, especially as the winner of the 2014 Tony Award
for Best Musical. Root for Monty who has the best of mercenary intensions,
getting wealthy and sporting a title as Lord.
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