Someone pinch me, please, because we finally saw A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – one of my all time favourite musicals. For those unfamiliar with the show, it is an effervescent musical comedy that is about exactly what it says on the tin. Love and murder. The killer in question is Montague D’Ysquith Navarro, played with effortless charm by Chris Ryan. He had the audience (and poison) in his pocket from the very first murder – which got a collective gasp from our Wednesday matinee audience, by the way. I mean, murder IS IN the title, so I’m not entirely sure what you lovely folks were expecting.

Alinta Chidzey was gorgeous as the femme fatale Sibella, prancing around the stage in some of the most beautiful costumes I’ve seen all year. And Genevieve Kingsford gives a delightful turn as Phoebe D’Ysquith, delivering some of my favourite songs in the show with vocals as light as air. The ensemble is flawless. I’ve had the soundtrack on my most played list for years and I can’t tell you how much I was looking forward to seeing it performed live, particularly “Why Are All the D’Ysquiths Dying”. Special props go to the guy who leaps to his feet and howls “I ask you” in that song. Made my year.

I know everyone and their mother is talking about how good Mitchell Butel is as the D’Yquith family, but here’s the thing. He is SO good. Honest to god insanely ridiculously hand on heart good. When I first heard rumours of GGLAM finally coming to Australia, I struggled to think of someone who could play these roles. But he’s perfect. And he makes it look so easy, strolling onstage as Asquith D’Ysquith Sr after a quick change with a casual air that had Nadia throwing their hands in the air with incredulity at the sheer inescapable TALENT of it all. I’m bewildered. Speechless. That bastard did it again.
A Gentleman’s Guide is at the Art Centre until the 18th! There’s still tickets available and I implore you to snatch them up before this gem of a show leaves Melbourne.

(Featured image: Jeff Busby)