MURDER MOST TUNEFUL

In 2013 a new musical called A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder played San Diego’s Old Globe on its way to a prizewinning run on Broadway. The show is now back for a season-ending run at the North Coast Repertory Theatre, Though perhaps a bit less effective than the 2013 version, it still is a quality musical loaded with prime performers.

Jean Kauffman & Andre Polec

The show is based on a little-remembered 1907 British novel by Roy Horniman, Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal, about Monty, a lower-class Englishman who discovers he is actually ninth in line for his family title and money. The 1949 film version had considerable success as Kind Hearts and Coronets, with a classic performance by Alec Guinness, who played all the characters marked for death.

(front) Shinah Hey, (standing) Jean Kauffman, Michael Cavinder,
Andrew Hey, Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper, & Andrew Polec

In Gentleman’s Guide, it’s 1909 and our sociopath hero, Monty Navarro, is simply avenging the slights inflicted on his sweet mother by snobbish relations who denied her–and now his–birthright to be a patrician D’Ysquith (pronounced “Die-skwith”). Retroactively revenging his mother’s humiliation, he accidentally, then deliberately, proceeds to eliminate the eight cousins who stand in the way between him and his presumed earldom.

Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper & Shinah Hey

Robert L. Freedman (book and lyrics) and Steven Lutwak (music and lyrics) are the songsmiths that converted the tale into a musical—their score blending the British music hall tradition with touches of Gilbert and Sullivan. The device of a single actor playing all eight doomed relatives is so effectively done by Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper that he could be mistaken as separate actors. Polec could have added a little more edge to his portrait of Monty—after all, he is responsible for the death of a lot of relatives. Still, Polec has a strong voice and leading-man good looks.

Lauren Weinberg, Andrew Polec, & Katy Tang

All the killings take place during the first act. Too much of the second act is slowed down by a tangled romance between Monty and two attractive young women who both feel they have a claim to the man. This makes the two-and-a-half-hour runtime feel excessive. As the two females wrapped around Monty, Lauren Weinberg and Katy Tang both grade out A+ on looks and potent singing voices. Jean Kauffman and Shinah Hey offer quality comedy. Rounding out the ostentatiously versatile ensemble are Andrew Hey and Michael Cavinder.

(front) Shinah Hey, Katy Tang, Andrew Polec, Lauren Weinberg, Nicholas-Mongiardo Cooper
(back) Andrew Hey, Jean Kauffman, Michael Cavinder

With director Noelle Marion at the helm, the designers outdid themselves, especially in their colorful and sometimes witty period clothing and props. The honor roll includes Marty Burnett (sets), Matthew Novotny (lighting), Elisa Benzoni (costumes), Chris Luessman (sound), Audrey Casteris (props), and Peter Herman (hair and wigs). The music was provided by the quartet of Daniel Lincoln (piano), Jennifer Williams (strings), and Amy Kalal and Katrina Earl (reeds).

Katy Tang & Andrew Polec

While A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder may lack some of the crisp madness that made earlier productions sparkle, North Coast Rep delivers a stylish and tuneful take on this murderous romp. With a top-notch ensemble, elegant design, and enough charm to keep the body count breezy, this production still hits its mark. Even when the plot lingers too long in romance, there’s more than enough wit, vocal firepower, and theatrical flair to ensure audiences die laughing.

Nicholas-Mongiardo Cooper

photos by Aaron Rumley

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder
North Coast Repertory Theatre
987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive in Solana Beach
2 hours, 30 minutes, including one intermission
Wed & Thurs at 7; Fri at 8; Sat at 2 & 8; Sun at 2 & 7
ends on August 17, 2025
for tickets ($62-$84), call 858.481-1055 or visit North Coast Rep