Buffalo Theater: MusicalFare ensemble performance shines

By Nathan Andrew Miller
(Image above, L-R) Ricky Needham and Solange Gosselin; photo by Doug Weyand)

MusicalFare has seen success of late remounting productions, usually placing a show that might have been a bit big for their previous space into their much larger new home at Shea’s 710 Theatre. I was one of the many affected by the early closure of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder in 2022 (due to cast illness) at the Daemen campus, so I was eager to see this production.

Gentleman’s Guide ran nearly 1,000 performances on Broadway and won Best Musical, Best Book, Best Direction and Best Costume Design at the 2014 Tony Awards. After a successful national tour, it became a mainstay at regional theaters across the country. It is, in my opinion, the PERFECT show for MusicalFare, especially in the Shea’s 710 space.

Under the steady directorial and choreographic hand of Doug Weyand, and sporting two additional ensemble members, this remount is a musical comedy wagon. Yes, it’s really good material, but this production outperformed my expectations almost immediately. Chris Cavanagh is settling into his own in this space, constructing a set reminiscent of an English music hall and making strong use of the raised stage, framing the projections behind. There’s a great functional ruffled curtain, and although there’s frequently a slight shudder when it’s about to move, it serves the show very well. The functional set, elevated by Cavanagh’s sharp and clear lighting design, serves to enhance the pace of the show. And pace is the name of the game!

Before I start on the incredible onstage performers, I have to highlight Theresa Quinn’s musicians. I’ve been critical of MusicalFare’s bands in the past, especially when reduced past the point of resembling the score. But here, aided by a chamber musical feel and some excellent sound design, the orchestration fills the theater and highlights the talented individual performers in the pit.

But a production of Gentleman’s Guide is only as successful as its leading man; Monty Navarro is the lifeblood of this piece, and Buffalo audiences are in for a treat with Ricky Needham. Needham is charming, handsome and effortlessly hilarious in his role. He rarely leaves the stage, but he never loses a step. And my goodness, what a voice!

And then there’s Solange Gosselin, in a delightful turn as Sibella. She toys with Monty’s emotions, propelling Monty into “Foolish to Think,” which gives Needham a rare moment of inward reflection.

Emily Yancey, as Needham’s less chaotic (or is she?) love interest, is in her best form. Her voice is made for a role like this, and her honest charm and quirky humor softens Monty’s frantic pace.

The production’s worthy ensemble, playing a multitude of characters, sounds terrific and supports the production’s pace. There’s a wonderful number involving portraits that I won’t spoil. In fact, the only person playing more characters than the ensemble is Marc Sacco as the D’Ysquith Family.

Sacco is a MusicalFare veteran of over 50 shows, as the wonderful program ad taken out by Sacco’s partner celebrates. For an actor who works as much as Sacco, it’s hard to indicate that anything is his crowning achievement — especially for a two-time Artie Award winner — but he’s born for this role. He’s more than excellent, he’s effortless. He imbues each character with their own distinct style, sings like a charm and even throws in a few dance steps to boot.

The production of Gentleman’s Guide, currently playing at MusicalFare, is more than worth seeing. I’d recommend buying tickets from the Shea’s Box Office or coordinating with MusicalFare directly to enjoy this excellent production.