Laugh Along with the Homicidal Hilarity of A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER at Avon Players
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
ROCHESTER HILLS, MI – Avon Players’ 79 th season ends with the knock-‘em-dead, uproarious hit musical A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, running May 22-June 6.
When the low-born Monty Navarro (Adam Wager) finds out that he's eighth in line for an earldom in the lofty D'Ysquith family, he figures his chances of outliving his predecessors are slight and sets off down a far more ghoulish path. Can he knock off his unsuspecting relatives (all played by Tom Pagano) without being caught and become the ninth Earl of Highhurst? And what of love? Because murder isn't the only thing on Monty's mind. In fact, he’s juggling two love interests: his long-time sweetheart Sibella (Hosanna Phillips), who will not marry him due to his poverty, and Phoebe (Celeste Blanch), who he meets and falls for during his murderous
misadventures.
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder opened on November 17, 2013 and ran for more than two years. This uproarious hit musical comedy was the most nominated show of its Broadway season, winning four Tony Awards including Best Musical. The musical is based on the 1907 novel Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal. The show was written by regular collaborators Steven Lutvak (music and lyrics) and Robert Freedman (book and lyrics). Freedman’s credits include the screenplay for the 1997 television adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella starring Brandy and Whitney Houston.
"A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder is a fresh, creative, and dark musical comedy with beautiful music, romance, and a little bit of murder,” - Director Joy Oetjens
She also is invigorated by the challenges to the production team the script offers, chief among them the fact that one actor plays all of the members of the D’Ysquith family, requiring many lightning quick costume changes: “The biggest challenges can also be the most fun. The actor playing the D’Ysquiths has to instantly transform—men, women, younger characters, older characters—and that’s only a part of the excitement. Our six-person ensemble collectively plays around eighty characters, so our designers are definitely working hard and our backstage crew will be hopping to delivery the fast-paced comedy that will have audience members laughing until their sides hurt.”
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder is rated PG for adult themes and comical violence. The show is presented through special arrangements with Music Theatre International. All authorized materials are provided by MTI.
Tickets for all shows are $28. Call 248.608.9077 for tickets or order online at www.avonplayers.org. Discounts on group rates are available by calling the box office.
