Go See ‘A Gentleman’s Guide’ at The Old Globe
Joan Marcus
Go See ‘A Gentleman’s Guide’ at The Old Globe
Henry DiRocco
Go See ‘A Gentleman’s Guide’ at The Old Globe
Joan Marcus
Add one part Downton Abbey, one part ABC’s Revenge, garnish with a little song and dance, and you’ll get the absolutely delightful elixir that is A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder—a new musical playing at the Old Globe Theatre.
The show is the latest in a long line of productions to make a stop in San Diego before heading to New York. It’s fun and funny, encompassing the best of what a Broadway musical has to offer: catchy tunes, beautiful costumes, and a clever script. (Let’s face it, everything sounds better when said—or sung!—in a British accent.)
With the basic ingredients for a mega hit in place, the play then becomes all about the wildly talented Jefferson Mays, who won a Tony Award for his performance in I Am My Own Wife. In that production, which debuted in San Diego at the La Jolla Playhouse, Mays portrayed no less than 37 different characters. In A Gentleman’s Guide—without spoiling any surprises—he gives an equally “diverse” performance. The show was created specifically with him in mind, and he delivers in a big way.
Other standouts include Ken Barnett as Monty Navarro, the most lovable murderer you’ll ever meet. An honorable mention should also go to the ensemble, who wear a lot of hats. (Literally. This is England, people!) Their diction is impeccable, spewing Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak’s witty, Sondheim-esque lyrics with utter clarity, which is no small feat.
The show is headed to Broadway sometime next year, so this is a great opportunity to see it beforehand. Expect lots of laughs, some unexpected twists, and a little bloodshed—gentleman style, of course.
For tickets, visit oldglobe.org.
