Theater Preview for October – Comedies Galore - By Jeanie Smith
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
A Merry Musical of Murder & Mayhem
Spreckels Theatre Company brings us the North Bay premiere of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, a delightful and hilarious new musical comedy. The show earned a slew of Tony Award nominations when it first hit Broadway in 2014, winning four, including Best Musical.
It has gone on to win laughter and acclaim all over the world, and now it’s our turn locally to enjoy this frothy entertainment. We can witness with both horror and glee as Monty D’Ysquith murders his way through nine relatives to the top of his lineage in order to inherit the family fortunes and avenge his mother.
Book and lyrics by Robert L. Freedman and music and lyrics by Steven Lutvak, the musical was inspired by Roy Horniman’s novel Israel Rank, also the source for the classic film Kind Hearts and Coronets.
In the film Alec Guinness played all the doomed members of the privileged D'Ysquith family, and in Spreckels’ production, local favorite Tim Setzer will reprise the Guinness role, portraying each of the victims regardless of age or gender. Andrew Smith plays the clever rogue Monty. Veteran and award-winning director Michael Ross takes the helm for what is sure to be one of the season’s musical hits.
Runs October 11 - 27
Spreckels Theatre Company
Spreckels Performing Arts Center
5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park 94928
The Good Doctor
Last Show in the Newman Auditorium
One of America’s greatest comedic playwrights, Neil Simon, based his play The Good Doctor on the short stories of one of Russia’s greatest writers, Anton Chekhov. It’s a gem of a comedy, using the device of a young writer working his way through writer’s block by telling a series of stories— funny, poignant, and oh so human and familiar.
SRJC’s Theatre Arts department mounts this charming piece as a gift to the community, saying farewell to and honoring the use of the Newman Auditorium on campus while the Burbank Auditorium undergoes renovation. It’s the last show in the Newman before Theatre Arts resumes its residency in the newly-remodeled Burbank. Enjoy the comedy and celebrate with the SRJC theatre arts program, a true treasure in our local theatre scene.
Directed by Wendy Wisely, the show features Riley Craig, Haley Hollis, and Katarina Flores, Lorelei Voegels, and Declan Hackett, and includes live music. Recommended for age 13 and up due to some adult content.
Runs October 4 - 13
Santa Rosa Junior College Theatre Arts
Newman Auditorium
Emeritus Hall on the Santa Rosa Campus
1501 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa 95401
https://theatrearts.santarosa.edu/
Jeanie K. Smith
