"A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" at Old Log Theatre

Exciting things are happening in Excelsior. Old Log Theatre (rumored to be the oldest continually operating theater west of the Mississippi) is presenting the regional premiere of the 2014 Tony winning* best musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. I saw it last night, about one month into its four-month run, and it's an absolute delight. It's a charming and hilarious big broad English comedy (written by Americans Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak), full of fast clever lyrics, lovely melodies and harmonies, and ridiculously plotted murders, executed brilliantly by the team at Old Log. The only place you can see this recent Tony winner is in the charming lakeside town of Excelsior, that only gets more charming with snow and holiday decorations. This is not a holiday show, but would make for a fun holiday (or post-holiday) outing for friends, family, or solo.

"A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" on tour at the State Theatre

The 2014 Tony winner for best musical is on tour and currently stopping at the State Theatre for one week only! A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder is relatively small in scale for a Broadway musical; I counted 11 people in the curtain call, and most of the action takes place on an adorably tiny stage on the stage (which is why it's playing at Hennepin Theatre Trust's medium-sized theater*). But despite its size it packs plenty of punch. This story of a poor young man 8th in line for the Earldom is tight, clever, funny, outrageous, and loads of fun! If you like your musical comedy broad and British, this is the show for you.