Many stories are built around the hope the hero will succeed. But what about when that hero is a murderer? Is it still easy for the audience to root for him? At "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder," Walton Arts Center playgoers may find a reason -- or eight -- to justify the unsavory actions of the protagonist, Monty Navarro.
"It's important to stress it's not gruesome," says actor John Rapson. "You hear 'murder' in the title, but it's not that. Monty is a lovable character, and he's not going up and shooting or stabbing these people. He's helping idiots who are already doing very dangerous things -- he's giving them the extra push into the next world, as it were."
FAQ
‘A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder’
WHEN — Tuesday through Jan. 15
WHERE — Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville
COST — $20.17-$74
INFO — 443-5600 or waltonartscenter.org
Rapson is the man bringing those "idiots" to life -- all eight of them.
"If you're a character actor like I am, [with] a role like this, you think, 'God, nobody's written anything like this in forever for a character man,'" he says of being one of the leading actors in the show.
"Guide's" story begins with Navarro discovering he is ninth in line to inherit the earldom of Highhurst. The eight people standing in his way belong to the wealthy -- and rather nasty -- D'Ysquith family.
"Very early on, I sort of establish the mantra of the D'Ysquith family when I sing a song, 'I Don't Understand the Poor,' which is just a great piece of writing and tells you everything you need to know," Rapson says with a chuckle.
A challenge in taking on the role of eight members of a single family comes in the form of quick introductions to the characters' nature. Within only a few lines, the audience has to know what makes it OK for Navarro to ultimately lead them to their demise, Rapson says. Distinct, brilliant writing combined with artistic freedom for the actors makes for a fun experience for performer and viewer.
"There's not a lot of fat on this show -- everybody is a lot of use," Rapson offers. There's not a lot of down time, either. The majority of Rapson's character changes backstage take place in less than 20 seconds, keeping not only the dialogue but the physicality of the actors fast-paced. "They're all very different people but at the same time, they exist in a world that has been really well-established.
"The first character I enter as is very verbose and a very kind of clipped English jerk -- you immediately know who this guy is. And then the next is kind of this ridiculous reverend who's had a little bit too much of the Communion wine, and he's got these big, terrible teeth. So it's a stark, stark contrast. Some of them are really farcical, and some of them are really smart, so it's interesting to figure out that dynamic."
While the show does have a winking darkness, Rapson describes it as a laugh-a-minute comedy. Quick, clever wordplay and physical comedy blend with the ridiculousness of watching one man shift rapidly among eight different over-the-top characters -- both men and women.
"I think we live in very serious times, and I think this show is not just a breath of fresh air, but two hours and 20 minutes of fresh air in the sense that you can leave everything at the door, including your morals."
NAN What's Up on 01/06/2017