A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, the Lyric Stage Company of Boston, through May 22. 617-585-5678 or lyricstage.com
Spiro Veloudos was virtually born to stage "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder." The former artistic director of the Lyric Stage Company of Boston-- in his playbill note for the troupe's current production of the 2013 Tony Award-winner said the musical had "a renewed influence" on him over and above the "great impact" of "Kind Hearts and Coronets," the 1949 film that inspired it. At the same time, he stressed that "We all desperately need an opportunity to laugh in the midst of this messy world we live in." Veloudos' sublime effort will have fans of the film and the musical as well as newcomers to one or both savoring the laughter as well as the liveliness of this crack revival.
The musical's ''messy world"—as aficionados know—is a class-conflicted 1909 Edwardian England as chronicled in the memoir of Montague "Monty" Navarro. In the pivotal back story, Navarro's mother was disinherited by her uppity D'Ysquith family for marrying an outsider. Learning that eight men and women stand between him and earldom, Monty proceeds to make his way to the title of Lord by way of a variety of murders. While union with his love Sibella also seems to elude him, a different romance develops with Phoebe D'Ysquith, a relative of one of the victims.
Will Monty be caught? What will happen with Sibella and/or Phoebe? Even those familiar with the answers will enjoy the humor, tangled romancing and plot twists. Essential factors are the musical talents of the actor playing Monty and the versatility and comical gifts of the actor playing eight roles. The great news here is that Jared Troilo makes a dashing and charming murderer and Casey a hilarious chameleon as the very different D'Ysquith victims.
Troilo, a sensation in the Lyric Stage Company's recent solid revival of "The Last FiveYears,'' once again displays his robust and richly lyrical voice—this time with the clever intricacies and light-heartedness of the Robert L. Freedman-Steven Lutvak score. Casey, marvelously manic in the company's entertaining edition of "One Man, Two Guvnors," is clearly relishing the chance to swiftly become each of the D'Ysquiths—notably a raccoon coat-sporting show-off and a racist world traveler Lady Hyacinth .Casey is as appealing in his own way as Jefferson Mays was in the Broadway original. Troilo and Casey bring terrific timing to the suggestive duo "Better With a Man."
Elsewhere, Aimee Doherty as Sibella and Jennifer Ellis as Phoebe turn in a sharp contrast as the women in Monty's life. Doherty captures Sibella's coquettishness and elusiveness as she pursues financial comfort. She also finds her on-going caring in the smart solo "Monty." Ellis catches Phoebe's remarkable sincerity and her opera-caliber voice shines especially in duet with Troilo on "Inside Out." Veloudos brings fine pacing to the tricky and winning trio "I've Decided to Marry You."
Karen Murphy makes the most of enigmatic Miss Shingle, and Leigh Barrett is scene-stealing good at the impactful late second act dinner. In a strong production design, special kudos go to Johnathan Carr's inspired projection—especially as Monty and the Parson appear to climb to the top of the church. Gifted music director Matthew Stern and a talented orchestra easily fulfill the score's demands.
Veloudos and a cast to treasure make "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" resonate with timely subtext about hate even as they make us laugh. The Lyric Stage laugh fest is a revival for all seasons.