Written by orange• April 26, 2026• 10:39 pm• Golden West College, Musical, Review, Uncategorized

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder @ Golden West College – Review

photo credit: Greg Parks

Written by Diana M. Robles

Golden West College’s latest take on A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder was a terrific, cheeky production that leads the audience on the journey of one commoner’s murderous journey to aristocracy.

This edgy comedy is easy to appreciate and a perfect way to get any non-playgoer friend or family member into the world of musical theatre.

Story:

Montague “Monty” Navarro, played by Whitney Ackerman, is your average joe: unwealthy and unremarkable. When his mother dies, a strange woman approaches him and informs him of a familial link between him and the esteemed D’Ysiquith family, and that, in fact, Monty is 8th in line to the Earldom.

At first, Monty, a polite man, approaches the new revelation with humility. He wants a better job to provide for the woman of his dreams, not to be Earl. However, when rejection from his new, supposed family strikes, Monty soon becomes determined to redeem his sense of entitlement by whatever means necessary.

Social climbing is a tale as old as time. The ruthless, murderous rise is seen in films like “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1999) and Saltburn (2023). This play, however, seamlessly blends the demented with comedy, theatrics, and catchy show tunes, making it an irresistible retelling of a common trope.

Acting:

The performances in this show were outstanding. Ackerman really played into Monty’s opportunistic charm, while also providing strong vocals. Monty’s battling love interests, Sibella Hallward (played by Cassidy McCleary), Phoebe D’Ysquith (played by Catherine Dosier), and Miss Shingle (played by Megan Cherry), were all played fantastically.

However, the true star of the show was Jay Harbison, who successfully played all 8 D’Ysquith successors. This multi-role performance is central to the identity of this play, so it was expected, but Harbison brought unique and enthusiastic energy to each character that exceeded all expectations.

Costumes/Set:

A discussion of class and status is at the forefront of this play, so the costumes need to reflect it. The costuming definitely did its own storytelling about where Monty was in the world and where he ended up. With so many characters, it was very satisfying to see the costuming remain consistent and stylish throughout the show.

Again, different storylines for the various D’Ysquiths lead to scenes in various locations and settings, which is a seemingly ambitious task for any production to undertake. Golden West College’s theatre aced it, though. Through the use of their very high-quality projector, lighting, and props. A very fun watch.

I think that, as common people ourselves, we are drawn to the idea of an underdog taking over an establishment, even if their tactics are… questionable. The talented Mr. Navarro — or more correctly, Mr. D’Ysquith Navarro — ends up being the most gallant antihero of them all. Consider this a must-watch.