Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • Arts and Lifestyle
  •  

Davis Shakespeare Festival’s ‘Gentleman’s Guide To Love And Murder’ A Giddy, Gloomy Good Time

  •  Jeff Hudson 
Friday, July 12, 2019 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Photo by Yarcenia Garcia

Daniel Sugimoto and Kyle Stoner perform in the Davis Shakespeare Festival’s production of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.”

Photo by Yarcenia Garcia

The Davis Shakespeare Festival’s staging of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” is funny and stylish, with gloomy underpinnings.

The show is a dark musical comedy set in London a century ago. It introduces a handsome, well-mannered young man named Monty Navarro, who alas possesses very modest financial means.

Then, one day, a friend asks him if he’s ever heard of the D’Ysquith family. Monty says yes.

Miss Shingle: Then you’re aware of Highhurst Castle.

Monty Navarro: Yes, of course.

Miss Shingle: You’re aware, then of their position, their vast wealth and influence.

Monty Navarro: Yes, yes. What’s it got to do with me?

The friend, Miss Shingle, then discloses that Monty’s mother was a D’Ysquith who was disinherited by her cruel family. But, nonetheless, young Monty is ninth-in-line to become the Earl of Highhurst.

Thus, Monty begins arranging the “accidental” demise of the unfortunate heirs between him and the title. But he realizes that he’s just a little man, taking on a big task, which he’s reminded of in this song:

Monty Navarro, you know you don’t belong here. Monty Navarro, you’re on a slippery slope. Your presence is indubitably wrong here, may we suggest, we think you’d best, abandon hope…

Some compare this show to Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd,” as it is set in grim industrial London and the central character is a serial killer. But “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” has a giddy, campy sensibility.

As Monty bumps off one relative after another, I was instead reminded of “Little Shop of Horrors,” in which a man-eating plant becomes the lynchpin in what is a very funny show.

Kyle Stoner in the Davis Shakespeare Festival’s "A Gentleman’s Guide To Love And Murder."Photo by Yarcenia Garcia

 

The Davis Shakespeare Festival’s large cast ... ahem ... executes this comedy of delayed revenge in a sweet, sophisticated manner. Handsome Daniel Sugimoto plays the cool, charismatic Monty, while comic actor Kyle Stoner — playing all eight unfortunate D'Ysquiths, male and female, standing in Monty’s way — has a great time dying in an over-the-top manner, again and again and again.

Davis Shakespeare’s production of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” continues at the Veterans Memorial Theatre in Davis through Aug. 4.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

 theatre review

Jeff Hudson

Contributing Arts Reporter and Theatre Critic

Jeff Hudson has been contributing arts-related stories to Capital Public Radio since 1995, with an emphasis on theater and classical music. He attends over 100 performances annually, ranging from modern musicals to medieval masses.   Read Full Bio 

 Email Jeff Hudson

More Arts and Lifestyle Stories

Fred Greaves for Solving Sacramento

An experience for all: Sacramento area performing arts venues find new ways to take patrons with disabilities on the stage’s journey

June 2, 2023

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a Tip / Story Idea
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.