REVIEW: ‘Something Rotten!’ is something wonderful

NEW YORK — Something Rotten!, the new musical that will close at Broadway’s St. James Theatre Sunday, Jan. 1, is a first-rate comedy spectacular featuring catchy songs, hilarious performances and so many inside jokes about the theater world that it’s worth taking notes. This one will be missed in Midtown Manhattan.

The plot takes place in the time of William Shakespeare (Adam Pascal from the original Rent production) and the Bard’s two contemporaries, Nick Bottom (Rob McClure) and Nigel Bottom (Josh Grisetti). The Bottoms — probably no coincidence that a Bottom appears in A Midsummer Night’s Dream — have been living in the shadows of Shakespeare for too long, and they need a hit in order to keep their patron (Edward Hibbert) happy.

Nick, the more ambitious of the two brothers, heads to the dark alleyways of London’s underbelly to find a soothsayer. He finds Nostradamus (Brad Oscar from Broadway’s The Producers), a family member of the much more famous (and probably more prophetic) seer who can predict the future. Nostradamus tells Nick that he should write a new form of entertainment that one day will attract audiences on Broadway: a musical.

Something Rotten!, from this point on, becomes a musical about making musicals, and that’s where much of the humor and good times can be found. To call the show a love letter to Broadway is an understatement. There is probably no other show (save for The Producers or The Drowsy Chaperone) that so admires and lampoons musical theater in New York City. Expect to hear references to many of Shakespeare’s well-known lines and characters, plus jokes about Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King and more.

The cast at the St. James are having a blast with the material. Grisetti plays the more creative and subdued of the brothers. He’s a poet at heart and falls for the local puritan’s daughter (Catherine Brunell). They make an unlikely and darling couple.

On the other hand, McClure’s Nick employs the help of anyone who will listen, whether that’s Lord Clapham (Hibbert), Shylock (Gerry Vichi) or his wife, Bea (Leslie Kritzer). Grisetti and McClure are polar opposites, but that works well for the brotherly pairing. Their main obstacles in staging the musical are not the material, the cast or the audience. The challenge is overcoming their own desires and learning to work together. Both performers sing the songs by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick with gusto and Broadway-sized energy.

The actual Shakespeare character doesn’t appear on stage as much as the Bottom brothers. He’s more of a Rock of Ages rockstar, and his character’s ongoing joke is the adulation he receives from adoring fans. The Bard in Something Rotten! is also something of a plagiarist, dressing up in disguise to hear and steal Nigel’s beautiful poetry. Pascal is good in the role, and he has the right balance between bravado and ego. The part feels a little too supporting in the greater narrative, but one can’t expect Shakespeare to satirize himself after all.

Other standouts include Oscar as Nostradamus and Kritzer as Bea. Both are Broadway alumni who can handle a song with ease. Oscar is actually given the best tune in the entire show. “A Musical” turns out to be a showstopper in the middle of Act I, and what a showstopper it is. The clever lyrics by the Kirkpatricks perfectly capture the wonder and ridiculousness of musicals, all while putting on a razzle-dazzle good time. Kudos to choreographer-director Casey Nicholaw for making the number as big and memorable as it is.

Something Rotten! had a good run on Broadway, and although performing a meta-musical is not new to Midtown Manhattan, few productions are so loving and endearing to this art form that so many people enjoy.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

Something Rotten! is currently playing at the St. James Theatre through Sunday, Jan. 1. The musical’s creative team includes Karey Kirkpatrick (book, music and lyrics), Wayne Kirkpatrick (music and lyrics), John O’Farrell (book), Casey Nicholaw (direction and choreography), Scott Pask (scene design) and Gregg Barnes (costumes).

The current cast includes Rob McClure, Adam Pascal, Josh Grisetti, Leslie Kritzer, Brad Oscar, Catherine Brunell, David Beach, Gerry Vichi and Edward Hibbert. Rating: Click here for more information and tickets. Click here for Hollywood Soapbox’s interview with Brad Oscar.