July 11: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
More specifically, the A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder soundtrack, but let’s not bicker about the details.
Antoinette Perry
For those of us who can’t afford to visit New York to see the latest that Broadway has to offer, the annual Tony Awards are the best glimpse into the current (mainstream) musical theater world. The Tonys are great for a few reasons. The first is that the award is officially the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, named after Antionette (Tony) Perry, a co-founder of the American Theatre Wing who herself was a distinguished actress, director, and producer. Who knew that the most prestigious award in American theater was named after a woman? Not enough people, that’s for sure! The second great thing about the Tonys is the sheer number of performances featured on the show. It’s the only way to really get a feel for the new musicals without flying to New York and seeing them, and most of us don’t have the money for that. (Oh, how I long for the day when I have enough money for that.)
When I watched the Tonys this year, I was captivated by the performance of “I’ve Decided to Marry You” from A Gentleman’s Guide. I fell in love with Phoebe immediately and have annoyed my roommate ever since by randomly popping out of my room and declaring, in song, that I’ve decided to marry her. She ceased being amused very quickly. Then, after some excessively unsubtle hinting, I received the soundtrack for my birthday and have proceeded to make it my mission to learn all the words to entire album (much to the chagrin of anyone cohabitating my car, room, or general vicinity). I can’t decide if I love it more for it’s absurd plot, delightfully zany characters, or catchy tunes. I may throw all of those out the window and declare that I best love its frequent use of internal rhyme. I love a good internal rhyme.
My roommate’s reaction when she hears me start the soundtrack for the fifth time in a row.
In any case, I can’t seem to stop listening to the darn thing. My very patient friends have yet to throw it out the window, so I have to assume that they either also enjoy it, or are plotting an intervention in the near future. We’ll find out soon, I suppose!
Yes, well if I ever become engaged I will sing, “I’ve decided to marry you,” repeatedly to my fiance until he inevitably decides to leave me for reportedly singing to him.