Armed with a star-studded cast, Tony nominations to spare, and poison in its pockets, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder has racked up a number of killer reviews.
The dark comedy centers on Monty Navarro, a poor commoner who discovers that his deceased mother was a member of the wealthy D’Ysquith family. After Monty’s family rejects him, he bitterly attempts to eliminate all the relatives that stand in his way of gaining money and power.
According to The New York Times, the musical matched “streams of memorable melody with fizzily witty turns of phrase.” Mr. Robert L. Freedman’s and Mr. Steven Lutvak’s songs were equal part severe and slapstick, grisly and gleeful.
Members of the cast have also been critically acclaimed for their performances in this show.

While actor Mr. Bryce Pinkham currently stars as Monty, his supporting actor Mr. Jefferson Mays plays all eight of Monty’s victims. For these roles, Mr. Mays was nominated for a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Musical, winning the latter, according to agentlemansguidebroadway.com. 
According to a review on timeout.com by Mr. David Cote, Theater Editor of Time Out New York, “Jefferson Mays is a bloody comic genius.” The reoccurrence of Mays in his various roles was key to keeping the story on the lighter, comedic side by preventing the audience from dwelling on any macabre thoughts for too long.
After viewing various clips of cast performances online, reading several reviews, and researching the play’s basic plot, I stepped into the Walter Kerr Theatre wondering whether the show was going to make me swoon, scream, or snicker uncontrollably. The first number, “A Warning to the Audience,” alerted me that it would be a mix of all three.
The balance between the grisly murders, the hilarious jokes, and Monty’s romance with characters Sibella and Phoebe equated to a well-rounded story that never ceased to offer a twist.
As the winner of the 2014 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Director of a Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Costume Design of a Musical, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, is “box-office gold,” according to The Wall Street Journal.
The musical has also gained popularity among other Convent of the Sacred Heart students, including singer and actress senior Pippa Leigh.
“My impressions of the show have been outstanding as the show brings the charm of Downton Abbey with the humor of the great English comedy programs like Keeping Up Appearances and Black Adder,” Pippa said. “Although this show is not the Lion King, it can be enjoyed by all members of the family. I would recommend this show for any musical theatre lover.”
-Gabrielle Giacomo, Video Content Editor