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Regional Reviews: Washington, D.C. A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder Also see Susan's reviews of CrazySexyCool: The TLC Musical and What Became of Us The Olney Theatre Center in suburban Maryland has created an eye-filling and thoroughly satisfying production of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder on its Roberts Mainstage. From the individual moments crafted by director Eleanor Holdridge, through the puzzle-like details of John Coyne's scenic design, to the sublime multi-leveled performance of Tom Story as eight members of the aristocratic D'Ysquith family, this production dazzles. Authors Robert L. Freedman (book and lyrics) and Steven Lutvak (music and lyrics) based their darkly comic script on a 1907 novel that also inspired the 1949 British movie Kind Hearts and Coronets. The premise is that young Monty Navarro (Jacob Tischler) discovers, after his mother's death, that she was disowned by her socially prominent family when she married a Spanish musician. Monty sets out to get what he thinks he deserves from the D'Ysquiths–one over-the-top, often hilarious death at a time. Story is a marvel as he brings to life a gallery of the kind of people Monty Python called upper-class twits. Among other roles, he portrays a dotty cleric, a bad but enthusiastic actress, a beekeeper, a banker, and a determined do-gooder who just wants credit for helping "unfortunates" in other countries. Tischler's performance is less flashy but just as methodical as Monty takes on different personas with each D'Ysquith in each scene. Donna Migliaccio makes a lot out of a relatively small role, while the two women in Monty's life–calculating Sibella (Sumie Yotsukura) and guileless Phoebe (Sadie Koopman)–play off each other beautifully. Coyne's set incorporates many delightful surprises, some concealed behind a curtain, some in the ancestral portraits hanging on the walls, and some that seem to come to life (projections designed by Zavier Augustus and Lee Taylor). Minjoo Kim's lighting design sets the mood throughout and Sarah Cubbage has designed character-defining costumes. A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder runs through August 23, 2026, at Olney Theatre Center, Roberts Mainstage, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney MD. For tickets and information, please call 301-924-3400 or visit www.olneytheatre.org. Book and lyrics by Robert L. Freedman Cast: |
