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Moody: 'A Gentleman's Guide To Love And Murder' Surprises Audiences

DENVER (CBS4) - There's a show coming to the Buell Theatre people are going to want to see. According to Critic at Large Greg Moody, "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" is likely to come as a complete -- and hilarious -- surprise to many.

"A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" is loosely based on the British comedy "Kind Hearts & Coronets."

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder
(credit: CBS)

"That said, this Tony Award winning musical stands perfectly well on its very own," Moody said. "You may not know this material, but you are going to love it."

"They're going to come in, they're not going to know what this story is, they're not going to necessarily know what the time period is; so that takes a little bit of adjustment at the top," said Mary Van Arsdel, who plays Miss Shingle. "But it's like a locomotive -- it starts off slowly and builds and builds and builds -- and then it's just screamingly funny."

Moody says actors John Rapson and Kevin Massey play off each other perfectly, ringing the material for every laugh possible.

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder
(credit: CBS)

"They're heightened characters, so they're extremely funny and every … character is somebody you can relate to, somebody you know, that you've seen before; and they're all played by one truly brilliant actor, and they're all extremely and different and super funny," said Adrienne Eller, who plays Phoebe D'Ysquith.

And they do it with some great music along the way.

"That's one of the beautiful things about the show is that there is quite a bit of exposition in the first two to three scenes, but once we get to the first murder part of the show it really just steamrolls," said Kristen Beth Williams, who plays Sibella Hallward. "And then hold on to your hats and come along for the ride."

A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder
(credit: CBS)

Moody says it's one of those musicals that comes along as a complete surprise.

"Largely unknown when you walk into the theater, you simply can't wait for the chance to see it again -- great fun," Moody said.

"A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" opens Feb. 16 and runs through Feb. 28. For tickets and information visit denvercenter.org.

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