A review of the 2013 Broadway musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, following penniless clerk Monty Navarro as he discovers he's heir to an earldom and gets caught between the money-driven Sybilla Hallward and young Phoebe Dycewith. The reviewer performs dramatized dialogue excerpts that capture the show's comedic chaos around love, scandal, and identity.
opened on Broadway in 2013. Young Monty Navarro, played by Gavin Curtis, is a penniless clerk who is informed after the death of his mother that he is in line to inherit the Earldom of Highhurst, controlled by a very wealthy banking family. Monty is also trying to woo the money-minded Sybilla Hallward, played by Ari Bagley, until he also finds himself drawn to young Phoebe Dycewith, played by Sarah-Jane Hale. Now presenting: I've Decided to Marry You.
What even was that? I have to focus.
Quickly, into the bedroom. Yes, that was an evil die.
Miss Ice Squid, you've rendered me completely speechless. May I call you Phoebe?
What am I doing here? This could be dangerous. If I'm discovered, imagine the scandal. Then I will attack the shadow of the riddle. I'll see if this move still has to be. But what's going on in there? I can hear voices I recognize. Monty, is that a woman? And if that's a woman, then what is she doing here? Is it that cousin I wish I could see? If it's that cousin, it's my business. It's family business and none of my business. But why is she here? Of course, my supporter, and I'm here as well, but does she not realize the situation puts her reputation severely in question? The mirror said, 'Jasmine could cause sensation,' and I cannot hear which is her. I would not spare you, my partner. I'll escort you by death, I should. So I decided to live my life, be alive again, believing that my life is still mine. I should be the one to free me then, please, but that makes me more different than you. I feel like I'm still here.
Is it this one? Is it she?
No. This is quite the mess, oh, isn't it, Mom? We're out of a turnip of fortune, so like these fiends say. Why don't you send the cow away? He's growing hungry. Oh, this day I think I'll fly.
Oh! What was that?
What was what?
That's nothing. It's just my new manservant. He's finding his way about. I'll be with you in a moment. Wadsworth? No? No? I'm so fell in love, do I admire? None perceive me, perfect and lovely, who couldn't love? Heaven knows, round and round it round it goes. How happy I be to be able to disclose my thoughts.
I accept your proposal, will manage to kiss. Definitely list, spelling book is something that you decided to name me. What? You mean you can't even spell a word? You can't see me, you fools, set me free.
I'm a monkey, a monkey, a monkey.
