Review: SOMETHING ROTTEN at Musical Theater in Gdynia

The show is great on every level, with a huge stage, many actors, impressive shorthand, and music that fills every corner of the great hall. The action is fast, it feels like everything is moving all the time. The stage is giant but well organized and every inch is used to the fullest. It's a piece made for a musical scene and shows.

The play is about musicals, their source, joy, and purpose. We can see a lot of references to cultural situations, history, other musicals, and current events. They are funny as placed in medieval circumstances.

As for the actors: they are brilliant. Each of them is present with its difference. Listening to Bea's voice (Sylwia Wasik-Szlempo) is like rubbing silk velvet, Shakespeare (Jakub Brucheiser) is amazing with his unpredictable joy of Rockstar fame. He is energetic and unabashedly charming. Love it! Nigel (Pawel Czajka) awakens his energy in the second act, and the main character, Nick played by Krzysztof Wojciechowski, carries out the actions with ease. Nostradamus (Rafal Ostrowski) is one of my big favorites, his simplicity is cute and easy to follow. It's direct, absolutely hilarious, and convincing!

The ensemble is like one element and it is a diamond. Their movements and energy are consistent and very pleasing to the eye. I love the dance (created by Sylwia Adamowicz), synchronization, and wonderful tap dancing (choreographed by Maciej Glaza) which is so rare on Polish stages. If we talk about the original, the American tradition of musicals, it is obvious that tap dancing is present almost everywhere. Unfortunately for us in Europe, we don't have this habit of using it in musicals. It's a shame, I know, but we'll get there one day (I really believe in it). For now, let's cherish what we already have and what makes this show even more unique.

Music (by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick) is another thing - light, dynamic and cheerful, it will stay with you for a long time after the show.

The play is as it should be. Without unnecessary pouffy or stuffy. Everything has its place and the director (Tomasz Dutkiewicz) has created a very convincing atmosphere. Supported by amazing scenography by Wojciech Stefaniak and great costumes by Anna Adamek and Martyna Kander the show is like time travel. At some point, you really forget where you are, the Middle Ages seem surprisingly awesome.

There are some moments of reflection and lessons, that getting someone else dream would not make you happy.

Something Rotten is fun, it was designed to give the audience a few hours of careless time. Only music, dance, great voices, and laughter. Pure entertainment for everybody. Artists look like singing, dancing, and making a laugh are the easiest thing, they are natural. The show is light, likable, soft, and smooth. Definitely worth seeing!

The show has English subtitles.

Photo: Rzemieslnik Swiatla