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Regional Reviews: Other Regions Something Rotten!
The show is set during the English Renaissance of the 1590s and follows Nick and Nigel Bottom, who run a theatrical company. However, since Shakespeare is all the rage and they can't compete with the success of his plays, the Bottom brothers' company has hit rock bottom. So, Nick does what he must and takes the only remaining money his family has to hire a soothsayer named Nostradamus to tell him what the next big thing in theatre will be as well as what will be Shakespeare's biggest hit, hoping to beat Shakespeare to writing it and finally finding success. Things don't go exactly as planned. Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick's score features some of the funniest lyrics written for a musical in the past 15 years, and the book by John O'Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick isn't just hilarious and fast paced but it also manages to include humorous shout outs to some of Shakespeare's plays and lines as well as many famous musicals of the past century. The book also affords a somewhat serious look at the roles of women in England at that time. That's a nice addition to its otherwise wacky plot, which might not go where you think it will go. Matt Koenig is wonderful as the serious Nick, the practical brother who feels he has to save his family and his reputation. Koenig does a great job showing the desperation Nick feels along with the care and love he has for his wife and brother, even when he's at wit's end trying to make everything work out. As his brother Nigel, Jason Rexx is quirky and does a good job playing up the sensitive side of the character. Pascal Pastrana appears to be having a blast playing Shakespeare. Pastrana gyrates his hips as if he's a rockstar, with his adoring fans fawning over him, but we also manage to get from his layered yet humorous depiction of Shakespeare the shortcomings of stardom. All three have wonderful vocals that shine on their many songs. Brian Gonzales is hilarious as Nostradamus, the soothsayer who doesn't quite get his future predictions correct. Gonzales' sharp coming timing, humorous outbursts, and charming physical presence get continual big laughs; his performance of "A Musical," which is a loving homage and parody of musicals, is a lovable showstopper. Meggie Siegrist infuses Nick's wife Bea, who believes that women should be able to do the same things as men, with a lovable feistiness and non-stop spunk, while Ali Ewoldt is appropriately enthusiastic and full of charm as the naïve Portia, the poetry-loving Puritan who falls for Nigel. Siegrist and Ewoldt have warm and powerful singing voices. In smaller roles, these actors provide charming comical support: Chris Mixon as Portia's bible-thumping father, Brother Jeremiah; Colden Lamb as Shylock, the Jewish money lender who loves the theatre; and André Love as the Minstrel who opens both acts. The large ensemble seamlessly play a non-stop parade of roles. Director Alan Muraoka sets a swift pace that ensures the comic moments and songs pop but doesn't shortchange the warm, serious, and romantic scenes which shine. Choreographer Alli Betsill provides an abundance of comical and varied steps; I'm not sure if it was due to Muraoka or Betsill's contribution, but having fun shout outs to musicals that opened on Broadway after Something Rotten!, including Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton, is a welcome addition and an added bonus for anyone who has seen this show before in other productions. Jo Winiarski's scenic elements use Tudor and Elizabethan elements to quickly set the time period, and Tracy Christensen's detailed and colorful costumes are excellent. Jeremy Mann's music direction delivers rich, warm notes and tight harmonies. After the past couple of decades of non-stop movie-to-stage adaptations and jukebox musicals, it's nice when a completely original musical like Something Rotten! is not only entirely entertaining but also manages to touch upon a few serious topics. Utah Shakespeare Festival's production features a wonderful cast and rich direction of this very funny and utterly charming musical. Something Rotten! runs through October 3, 2026, at Utah Shakespeare Festival, Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the campus of Southern Utah University, 195 W Center St, Cedar City UT. For tickets and information, please visit www.bard.org or call 800-752-9849. Book by John O'Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick Cast (In order of appearance): |
