A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder
by Fwdthinker on 1/15/18Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center - Ft LauderdaleRating: 3 out of 5I have been to the Au-Rene Theater countless times. From our usual box seats--and perhaps this was our error--the play came across as rather flat and somewhat difficult to understand. Quite possibly it was due to the few hiccups that the sound engineer experienced during the performance I attended. Perhaps it was us perched on the boxes, rather than on the floor.Or perhaps--and I tend to lean towards this one--we were simply NOT in New York City. I am aware that they were voted Best Musical by a number of groups (Tony, Darma Desk, Outer Critics, Drama League) but none of those means anything to us since it is widely known that it is all political and heavily dependent on the business end of the deal, rather than the artistic angle. Local newspapers have this piece based on the adaptation of Horniman's novel. It was closer to a very average adaptation of that masterpiece of English black comedy: Kind Hearts and Coronets. And I would prefer the film adaptation to the novel. Still, it was a gallant attempt. The singing was highly professional. The acting was as it should be on stage. Scenic arrangement was excellent, given the limited space. But if you relish the story, rent the film and enjoy.