An exuberant cast gives a “Welcome to the Renaissance” in a perfect parody of Broadway musicals’ openings. Something Rotten! takes off in London, 1595. There, Will Shakespeare’s perhaps sometimes borrowed—but always blue ribbon—plays are definitely smashing everyone else’s theatrical efforts. Suffering brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom need to create a mega-hit to rival the rock-star Bard to get into a playhouse. That will make them search for a winning alternative.
Something Rotten! references Great White Way musicals old and new together with well-known Shakespearean titles, plots, characters, and lines. It even brings in The Bard himself—in disguise—to find out what the brothers are up to. After all, it’s not like his works haven’t gained from others, both dead and living. Actor-Singer Nick (handsome, spirited Brian d’Arcy James) and writer Nigel (talented John Cariani) each have women to think about, too, as they pursue their careers. Nick ferrets out the seer Nostradamus (stalwart Brad Oscar) to find them a hit and, together with a would-be producer named Shylock (Gerry Vichi, cordial), they bring in from afar something new: “A Musical.” After “The Black Death” (a topical tryout of the genre) doesn’t work, Nick gets Thomas (not famous) Nostradamus to predict the greatest play Shakespeare can write. But the seer, who doesn’t always see or even hear perfectly, comes up with “Omelette” involving Danish, and Nick bets his savings on a production. Nigel gets to work on the music, hoping to succeed uniting with his love Portia (sweet and besotted in more than one way, Kate Reinders) over his rejection by her Puritan father (Brooks Ashmanskas, strictly, well, Puritanical). Act Two brings on the musical. “It’s Eggy,” and hysterically funny with a cast in sunny-side-up costumes (silly amid all the usual colorful period dress) and skillets as props. The previously star-crossed lovers get straightened out, and various types of happy Renaissance endings meet in song and dance. There’s even a jab at men taking women’s roles as Nick’s strong wife Bea (impressive Heidi Blickenstaff) cross dresses to succeed in helping him. Oh, and giant cod-pieced Christian Borle as a sparkling Shakespeare learns enough to make him write his greatest success.
The direction of drama and dance never flags, with the orchestra in tune at all times. Music includes country, gospel, pop-rock, and ballad. Lights and sound bring out each plot and musical distinction. No quarrel with any of the ensemble work. In fact, the only thing that stopped me from a four-star rating was talking with a few audience members at the performance I attended. They thought lack of familiarity with Shakespeare or musicals diminish a bit the show’s universal appeal. I hope seeing Something Rotten! spurs such people to become more familiar with both.
