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Photo by Don Kellogg

Saturday, October 26, 2013

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder

Brilliantly crafted, cleverly executed, delightful from beginning to end! Finally, an old fashioned original musical has come to Broadway.

The indomitable duo of Jefferson Mays and Bryce Pinkham are pure delight.  Mr. Mays takes on the dating challenge of portraying all 8 members of the aristocratic D'Ysquith family - both male and female - to hilarious delight. (Think Tim Conway on The Carol Burnett Show)   Mr. Pinkham, handsome beyond necessity, charms us with his tall tale and beautifully operatic vocals not to forget his boyish charm and comic talents.

It's a dastardly tale of love and murder  - with each family member's demise a delicious tale of song and dance.  Characters abound.

Music and songs were clever and brilliantly broadway-esque.  Costumes were amazing.  At times I was dizzy and dumbfounded at the sped at which Mr. Mays changed costumes and reappeared on stage as another D'Ysquith.

A small supporting cast hit every mark crisply, cleverly, and with great aplomb.  The set is cleverly designed as a full stage with a curtain within the actual stage - allowing one scene to unfold while the next one was prepared. Part Noises-Off, part The 39 Steps, part Edwin Drood, this new musical hits all the right notes with the perfect cast.  Speed, coordination and queues are of utmost importance.

If I can say this at the first public preview, you have to imagine it will only get better!  Run... Don't Walk over to the Walter Kerr Theatre on W 48th for an evening of sheer delight!