A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder

DREW HOLMES

This month, Opera Hunter presents the Tony Award-winning Musical Comedy A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder written by Robert Freedman and Steven Lutvak.

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Born as the 1907 English novel Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal – by Roy Horniman, it was developed as an American co-production of The Hartford Stage in Connecticut and The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. A parody about an Edwardian serial killer becomes an American romp about upper-class greed and hypocrisy. The 1949 British film Kind Hearts and Coronets was another concept based on this novel.

The musical features one singer/actor playing the entire D’Ysquith family of nine people! This role is played by Drew Holmes in a virtuoso performance, while Monty, the ambitious distant cousin hoping to inherit the D’Ysquith estate, is played by Shaun Young.

They are matched in vocal and acting artistry by Nicolette Black as Sybella, Amber Lewis as Phoebe, and Trish Aumuller as Miss Shingle.

The excellent ensemble cast of three women and three men features Kate Dunn, Freddy Hellier, Thomas James, Brooke Littlewood, Jade Shearman and James Walker.

The show is directed by CONDA award-winner Zac Smith, with musical direction by Mathew Gallimore, choreography and assistant direction by Chiara Patalano, costumes by award-winning designer Coralie Lewis and accompaniment by Kieran Norman.

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder will play a limited season at Warners Bay Theatre on 24, 25 and 26 June, followed by 1, 2, and 3 July.

Major sponsor for the production is Lake Macquarie City Council, and tickets can be purchased from Sticky Tickets at http://tix.yt/loveandmurder.