Respect is a big thing to me, and I believe that it needs to be earned, not just given. One of the best examples of this to me are people who pay homage to those whom have paved the for their success. For instance, I love the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, where respect is shown and given to the stars that have made “our sport” what it is, and this is also why I love history so much.
“Something Rotten!” is the production that was written by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell with lyrics and music by Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick. The production we attended starred Rob McClure as Nick Bottom, Adam Pascal as William Shakespeare, Josh Grisetti as Nigel Bottom, Maggie Lakis as Bea, Autumn Hulbert as Portia Bottom, Scott Cote as Brother Jeremiah, Blake Hammond as Nostradamus, Joel Newsome as Lorde Clapham, and Jeff Brooks as Shylock. The production is set in England in the time of Shakespeare, where Nick is an old acting partner of Shakespeare and is now a competing playwright. Nick has fallen on tough times trying to get the next new hit because everyone is in love with the work of Shakespeare, so he goes to a soothsayer named Nostradamus to see in the future to get help for the next big show. Nick is told of a new idea called “Musicals,” and what follows is the making of the first musical production while competing with Shakespeare while dealing with the roadblocks put forth by a hardline Puritan called Brother Jeremiah.
There are about six total sets used and the prop and backdrops made me feel like I was going from location to location almost seamlessly, with the lighting enhances both the sets and the story itself, specifically where Nostradamus lives. When it comes to the acting, McClure does a wonderful job as the lead. The whole cast does well in their respective roles, including Pascal as Shakespeare the rock star, with that better than thou attitude as well as Cote and Hammond, both of whom hit it out of the park. Their comedic timing added to the roles while trying to be somewhat serious, with Cote’s Brother Jeremiah’s “closeted tendencies”.
When it comes to the sound and the singing, there is a good balance between the two. I love the comedy in this production, which adds many modern references to a production set in the time of the Renaissance, while showing a ton of respect to the great musicals we know and love. The unique thing here is in that it tries to be serious without taking itself seriously with comedy added by the jabs to other productions. There are many adult references in this production, but done tastefully. I will definitely recommend this production and as middle to back of the main floor.