Review: SOMETHING ROTTEN! National Tour Starts Here!

Something Rotten!

Book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell, Music and Lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick, Conceived by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick, Directed and Choreographed by Casey Nicholaw; Scenic Design, Scott Pask; Costume Design, Gregg Barnes; Lighting Design, Jeff Croiter; Sound Design, Peter Hylenski; Production Stage Manager, Jeff Norman; Music Director & Conductor, Brian P. Kennedy

CAST: Rob McClure, Adam Pascal, Josh Grisetti, Maggie Lakis, Blake Hammond, Autumn Hurlbert, Scott Cote, Jeff Brooks, Lucy Anders, Kyle Nicholas Anderson, Kate Bailey, Daniel Zeeman, Brandon Bieber, Mandie Black, Nick Rashad Burroughs, Jan Campayno, Pierce Cassedy, Eric Coles, Drew Franklin, Juliane Godfrey, Leah Hofmann, Kristie Kerwin, Ralph Meitzler, Patrick John Moran, Joel Newsome, Con O'Shea-Creal, Tonya Thompson

Performances of the National Tour through January 29 as part of Lexus Broadway In Boston Season at the Boston Opera House, 539 Washington Street, Boston, MA; Box Office 617-451-2345 or www.BroadwayInBoston.com

If you're going to include an exclamation point in the title of your show, you'd better have something to show for it. I am happy to report that the Broadway musical Something Rotten! finds the formula to entertain, make you laugh, and earn your enthusiasm as it launches its National Tour at the Boston Opera House. After 742 performances at the St. James Theatre in New York, with nine 2015 Tony Award nominations (one win) under its belt, Something Rotten! closed on January 1, 2017, barely taking a breather before hitting the road with three of its principal players reprising their roles.

Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, the tour company features Rob McClure as Nick Bottom, Adam Pascal as Shakespeare, and Josh Grisetti as Nigel Bottom. The musical comedy tells the story of the Bottom brothers, partners in playwriting, who have the great misfortune of toiling in the zeitgeist of The Bard of Avon. Everything they do is overshadowed by William Shakespeare ("God, I Hate Shakespeare"), the closest thing the Renaissance has to a rockstar. Out of desperation for a hit, Nick spends the family's meager savings to seek advice from a second-rate soothsayer, Thomas Nostradamus (Blake Hammond), who predicts the crazy craze of the future will be plays involving singing, dancing, and acting. And thus, musical theater is born ("A Musical").

Standing by their men are Nick's wife Bea (Maggie Lakis), a feminist ahead of her time, and Nigel's love interest Portia (Autumn Hurlbert), daughter of the strict Brother Jeremiah (Scott Cote), a prudish Puritan if there ever was one. When their patron Lord Clapham (Joel Newsome) withdraws financial support from the Bottom boys' theatrical troupe, along comes Shylock (Jeff Brooks) with his open wallet to become their new investor for their new show, "Omelette: The Musical." Yes, it is as ridiculous as it sounds, but that's what makes it so much fun. There are opportunities for puns by the dozens, and the writing team of Karey Kirkpatrick (book, music, lyrics), Wayne Kirkpatrick (music, lyrics), and John O'Farrell (book) takes full advantage.

As for the song and dance component, there are several big production numbers, including the opening number "Welcome to the Renaissance," "Will Power," and "Bottom's Gonna Be on Top" (featuring an excellent tap dance challenge between Will and Nick). Among my favorites are the show-stopping "A Musical" and "Make an Omelette," both of which include dozens of loving references to real musical theater songs and themes, and are performed with brio by the full ensemble. Music Director and Conductor Brian P. Kennedy also plays keyboard and leads a contingent of ten musicians in the orchestra.

Joining Tony Award winner Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Aladdin) from the Broadway production are the design team: Scott Pask (scenic design), Gregg Barnes (costume design), Jeff Crofter (lighting design), Peter Hylenski (sound design), and Josh Marquette (hair design). They collaborate to create the world of the play in 1595 England, while adding many modern touches, such as the splashy backdrop of lights for "A Musical." Barnes comes up with a variety of clever costumes with an egg theme for the show within the show. It might be the first time you'll see a tap-dancing egg, but Nicholaw pulls it off. Something Rotten! is a little bit bipolar as it riffs on Shakespeare and musical comedy, but it is a love song to both genres. Play on!

Photo credit: Joan Marcus (Rob McClure and Company of Something Rotten!)

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