History Theatre / AGentlemansGuideToLoveAndMurder

* ClingyJealousGirl: Both Sibella and Pheobe become quite possessive over Monty when they meet, [[spoiler: and even try to pin Adalbert D'Ysquith on one another in ''"That Horrible Woman"''.]]

** [[spoiler: Averted with Monty's scarf. When murdering Asquith Jr. and Miss Barley, Monty leaves behind a scarf at the scene. He agonizes for a moment over whether he left something behind...only for it never to come up again in the narrative.]]

* UncannyFamilyResemblance: With the exception of Monty and Phoebe, the D'Ysquiths all look strangely similar. Lampshaded by Asquith, Sr.'s reaction to a photograph of Monty's mother: "She resembles many of the women [in the family portraits]. And some of the men, too."

* AssholeVictim: Many of the D'Ysquith family members.

-->When a fellow needs a little helping hand
-->Who'll be there? It's almost guaranteed
-->No one else could ever really understand
-->Only another man knows what you need
-->And when a man has fallen down upon his knees
-->In such a moment who'd be better than
-->Someone who's self-controlled
-->Someone who's strong and bold
-->Someone as good as gold
-->It's better with a man.

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Monty, in the end. Despite murdering seven people he winds up with the wealth, title, and the love of both Phoebe and Sibella. This is even after writing a confession of the crime.]]

** But then ''again,'' [[spoiler:there is that BrickJoke up there...]]

* ShaggyDogStory: Monty agonizes over killing Lord Asquith D'Ysquith, Sr., who had shown him nothing but kindness and treated him like a son. [[spoiler:Lord Asquith dies painlessly of a heart-attack mid song. Monty doesn't waste a beat plotting the next and final murder.]]

* SnicketWarningLabel: The opening number has the Chorus warn the audience that the play is "a tale of revenge and retribution."

* LoadsAndLoadsOfRoles: All eight of the D'Ysquith heirs (both male and female) are portrayed by a single actor (in the original cast, Jefferson Mays earned a Tony nomination for the feat).

* BreakingTheFourthWall: Monty occasionally turns to address the audience directly, particularly during the narratives and in a back-and-forth during "Stop! Wait! What?" Also see the BrickJoke entry below.

* ChekhovsGun: The belladonna flower, as mentioned above. Also [[spoiler:Monty's memoirs]].

* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Monty, in the end. Despite murdering six people he winds up with the wealth, title, and the love of both Phoebe and Sibella. This is even after writing a confession of the crime.]]

* CounterpointDuet: "Poison in My Pocket."

->''I am standing here with poison in my pocket...''

* BettyAndVeronica: Phoebe (Betty)-Monty (Archie)-Sibella (Veronica).

* Banker Lord [[QuintessentialBritishGentleman Asquith D'Ysquith, Sr.]]

** Sibella Hallward is a combination of two characters from [[The Picture of Dorian Gray]]: Basil Hallward and Sybil. Salome might also be a reference to Oscar Wilde's play of the same name.

** When the setting shifts to Egypt, he song "Lady Hyacinth Abroad" quotes the Triumphal March from Music/GiuseppeVerdi's ''Aïda''.

* AnachronismStew: The whole play takes place in the TheEdwardianEra of the early 1900's. However, in ''"Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun"'', Lord Adalbert says ''"God Save the Queen"'', whereas when England has a residing male monarch it should be ''"God Save the '''King'''"''. And just in case there was any doubt about who's sitting on the throne, two songs later (''"That Horrible Woman"'') they sing ''"In the name of Kind Edward"''.
** Considering Adalbert's age, he probably spent most of his life living under Queen Victoria, and Edward had only become King in 1902, seven years prior to the start of the musical. So he probably said "God Save the Queen" out of sheer habit. Considering at the time he had a loaded gun in his face after having reminisced about his youth in the army, he probably spoke on reflex and with part of his mind still immersed in his memory.

* Dottery drunken [[TheVicar Reverend Lord Ezekial D'Ysquith;]]

* Actress Lady Salome D'Ysquith Pumphrey.

* And finally, [[GreatWhiteHunter Lord Adalbert D'Ysquith, Earl of Highhurst]];

** Lady Hyacinth is pretty clearly named after [[Series/KeepingUpAppearances Hyacinth Bucket]] (who has a similar interest in [[TitleDrop keeping up appearances]]). Monty's name might well be a nod to Creator/MontyPython.

* ShoutOut: Lady Hyacinth is pretty clearly named after [[Series/KeepingUpAppearances Hyacinth Bucket]] (who has a similar interest in [[TitleDrop keeping up appearances]]), and Monty's name might well be a nod to Creator/MontyPython.

* RedOniBlueOni: Sibella and Phoebe to a tee. They even wear giant pink and turquoise dresses, respectively.

* TheCatCameBack: Monty convinces Lady Hyacinth D'Ysquith to travel to extremely dangerous locations in the name of charity, and is always surprised when she comes back unharmed. [[spoiler:He decides to [[CuttingTheKnot finish the job himself]], off-stage]].