About the work
A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder is a musical by Steven Lutvak (music) and Robert L. Freedman & Lutvak (lyrics) with a book by Freedman, premiered on Broadway in 2013. This black-comic operetta-style comedy won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Plot
In turn-of-the-century England, the penniless Monty Navarro learns that he is eighth in line to inherit the noble D'Ysquith family. To reach the title and fortune, he resolves to dispatch the eight relatives standing before him. As he works his murderous way through the family tree—all eight D'Ysquith victims are traditionally played by a single actor—Monty simultaneously juggles two love affairs and finally comes under suspicion of murder himself.
Cultural significance
A Gentleman's Guide charms through its artful style, inspired by Gilbert and Sullivan and operetta, and through the virtuoso showcase role in which one performer plays all eight doomed family members. The elegant, witty score and the pointed book were praised for their humour. The work is regarded as a clever revival of the classic musical comedy.