KAYSVILLE — Hopebox Theatre’s production of Something Rotten! is a riotous Renaissance revival. With book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell and Music and Lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick, Something Rotten! first debuted on Broadway in 2015. This play is a quick-witted farce filled with numerous nods to Shakespeare and many other shows. Directed by Ryan Bruckman, Hopebox Theatre’s production will have you laughing time and time again.
Synopsis
Something Rotten! is a musical comedy set in 1595 about a pair of no-name playwright brothers, Nick and Nigel Bottoms, who are eager to write a hit play and become famous. Unfortunately, their contemporary, William Shakespeare has already claimed the fame and fortune they seek. In desperation, Nick Bottoms pays a soothsayer, Thomas Nostradamus, to look into the future and discover what type of plays will be popular. Nostradamus predicts the future of plays to be in musicals, and his hazy vision combines many hit plays and musicals, resulting in Nick Bottoms creating a conglomerate mess of a play about singing eggs. You don’t need to be a Shakespeare scholar to enjoy this show as the storyline is easy to follow and the production numbers are hilarious and high-energy fun.
Acting
The leading roles were exceptionally well cast, with the entire ensemble working together to create a fantastic performance. Please note that the show is double cast; this review is for the Silver Cast.
Ian Fife played Nick Bottom, driven by ambition and willing to give up everything as Nick foolishly looks for ways to write a play better than Shakespeare. Fife’s performance of “Man, I Hate Shakespeare” was a great hit as Fife’s facial expressions really portrayed his anger and annoyance of Shakespeare.
Luke Swensen plays younger brother Nigel Bottom who likes Shakespeare and loves to write sonnets of his own. L. Swenson floated with angelic ease singing the line “and he captures my soul” while flattering the works of Shakespeare. L. Sweson’s duet with Emily Nuttall playing Portia, the daughter of the Puritan preacher, in “I Love the Way” was sweet, spirited, and even risqué as they talked about how they felt when reading poetry.
Megan Joyner Robertson lit up the stage portraying Bea, Nick Bottom’s wife. Robertson’s singing of “Right Hand Man” carried strong vocals and playful banter showing a desire to get a job and help the family out. Popping up in various disguises throughout the show, Robertson portrayed a headstrong female character with a great comedic flair.
William Shakespeare, played by Jake Swensen, was no stuffy old classic. Shakespeare is portrayed as a Rock and Roll legend wearing leather pants and a jacket with black eyeliner and earrings. J. Swensen was a rocking success particularly in “Will Power” with crowds of adoring fans screaming his name and fainting at his presence. The play calls out Shakespeare as a thief as he steals the best lines from Nigel Bottom’s sonnets and uses them to write Hamlet.
Nostradamus was played by Kade Saddler with great tap dancing and gyrating hips. Saddler’s outbursts of visions are hilarious especially when shouting out bits of mixed-up musicals such as when describing the vision of Cats.
Chad Wilburn played the role of the Puritan preacher Brother Jeremiah with impressive delivery of condemning lines and comedic timing especially when Jeremiah’s lines insinuate much more than the strait-laced religious beliefs. Wilburn is exceptional in this performance especially as a blind actor. Wilburn was fabulous in delivering lines with fervor and passion yet with a touch of irony as he sang “We See the Light.”
Ensemble and Production
The opening number of “Welcome to the Renaissance” brought a lot of energy and hype to the show with the entire ensemble singing and dancing with great choreography by Stephanie Bruckman and Livvy Noonchester. With many dance numbers like “A Musical”, “The Black Death” and “Something Rotten!”, the ensemble was entertaining and enjoyable to watch, especially with the highlighted kick line that audiences just love.
Set Design/Built by Curtis Dalton created a Tudor style set with three large rotating set pieces to portray the outside of a building or the inside which really worked well for the small stage setting for Hopebox Theatre. The old English architecture alludes to the outside of Shakespeare’s famous Globe Theatre.
Final Thoughts
Hopebox Theatre does warn audiences the content of this show is PG-13 for adult themes, language, and humor. Most adult-rated jokes could go over the heads of younger audience members who probably wouldn’t pick up on most of the musical theatre references to famous shows.
Overall, Something Rotten! at Hopebox Theatre is a laugh out loud evening of renaissance and rhyme. Hopebox Theatre stands out as a community theatre with a powerful heart and message as the money earned from each show goes to a community member who is fighting cancer. Coming to support this theatre is always a good idea and a great way to support a family in need.
