Synopsis
Set in Renaissance England, Something Rotten! follows brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, struggling playwrights desperate to outshine their contemporary, the wildly popular William Shakespeare. When a soothsayer predicts that the future of theatre will involve singing, dancing and acting all at once, the brothers set out to create the world’s first musical. What follows is a joyful mash-up of mistaken prophecies, over-the-top showmanship and witty tributes to musical theatre itself. Bursting with clever wordplay, exuberant song-and-dance numbers, and a healthy dose of Elizabethan absurdity, Something Rotten! is a gleeful celebration of creativity, ambition and the enduring magic of the stage.
Reviews
“Channeling Tim Curry, Borle is an uproarious scene-stealer who delivers big time in the flashiest part. But it’s the enormously appealing James’ prickly humor and natural charisma that anchor this highly entertaining show.”
The Hollywood Reporter
“And what a cast. If you didn’t already know what a smashing actor and singer Brian D’Arcy James is (he briefly stole the show earlier this year in Hamilton), here is a chance to see him carry a show with wit, fire and some impressive tap moves. Of course with an ensemble this good, the carrying is shared: Cariani squirms adorably; Blickenstaff’s radiant as Nick’s sensible wife; Brooks Ashmanskas flounces about as a closeted puritan; and Borle steals his scenes as the cocky, narcissistic, plagiarizing Shakespeare. You can bet the Swan of Avon is rolling in his grave—with laughter.”
TimeOut