MAGNA — Something Rotten! has gained significant popularity in Utah over the last several years for good reason. For an arts loving state, the farcical musical is a love letter to theatre and a treat for theatre lovers. Directed by Kylee Larsen, the Empress Theatre’s production offers an entertaining night out filled with lots of laughs and silly fun.
Written by John O-Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick, and music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick, Something Rotten! is a zany musical comedy set during the Renaissance with a modern twist. The year is 1595 in London and brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperately trying to make it as successful playwrights. The problem? They are up against the fiercest of competition, the legendary William Shakespeare. After being outshined by Shakespeare numerous times, Nick enlists the help of a Soothsayer who claims the next big thing in theatre will be musicals. The Soothsayer mistakenly predicts Shakespeare’s next hit to be entitled “Omelette,” leading the brothers to create the hilarious first ever musical that loosely follows the plot of Shakespeare’s famous play, Hamlet, but ultimately is just about eggs.
The genius behind Something Rotten! is the clever and witty writing that features many sexual innuendos and double entendres, packing humor and charm into a two-hour show. On top of the plethora of references to musical theatre and Shakespeare, the musical is also smartly filled with a number of pop culture and historical references, making it a fun time for anyone who enjoys easter eggs. The musical often pokes fun at the standard conventions of the time, Shakespeare generally, and the superfluous nature of musicals that make them lovable.
The Empress Theatre is a long-standing building with a vast history and an old charm. The unique staging features the audience on two opposite sides. This poses some challenges, but Larsen handles this well in the direction, equally playing to each side. There is also an interesting use of levels to keep the action interesting. The only issue I had with the staging was a couple times when the characters were hidden from view at the bottom of the stairs on the opposite side of where I was sitting. Overall, Larsen’s skilled direction helped to ensure that the many jokes landed. The musical number “The Black Death” especially made the audience crack up.
Set design, also by Larsen, is very simple but effective with just paintings of stone and buildings that create an outdoor environment where all the action takes place. The design was also functional, allowing for a large stage for the actors to move around in. The choreography by Hannah Sanders-Smith was well done and fairly tight throughout, highlighting the musical numbers and creating strong ensemble scenes, particularly in “A Musical” and “Something Rotten! / Make an Omelette.” I felt that Kayla Martin’s lighting design was generally too bright, especially in “Something Rotten! / Make an Omelette,” where the heavy lighting on the audience was uncomfortable.
Sonny Payne shined as Nick Bottom with a grounded voice and very expressive acting. I was impressed by the way he was able to maintain such strong facial expressions and movement while performing his musical numbers. He was also skilled at the more difficult fast patter portions of the music, with my favorite number being “God, I Hate Shakespeare.” As the brother, Jonas Stone complemented Payne well as Nigel Bottom, playing a more anxious and sweet naive poet and huge fan of Shakespeare.
Playing Bea Bottom, Nick’s wife, Taylore Cahoon was another standout and arguably brought the most humor to the production. Cahoon’s character had over-the-top energy and physicality that worked well for the role, and I appreciated how the character’s feminism and nontraditional nature emphasized themes of women’s equality. Cahoon has a very enjoyable singing voice and I enjoyed the way she enhanced musical numbers through subtle vocal choices, adding her own touch. My only complaint is that her mic was too loud at times for her strong voice, causing a harsh effect (sound design/ microphones were by Tanner Larsen).
Bradley Barker was a little underwhelming as this version of William Shakespeare, a pop culture icon and rock star figure, loved and adored by the public to an extreme level. The ensemble’s apparent obsession with Shakespeare helped make this aspect more believable. While lacking the conviction to fully make the character come to life, Barker did provide a needed level of sex appeal and narcissism to the role, and I appreciated his effeminate yet masculine portrayal. He struggled some with singing the faster parts of the songs, but his prolonged, full notes were nice.
Overall, Something Rotten! comes together as a success that most musical lovers will enjoy. While musical theatre and poetry enthusiasts will gain the most from this show, anyone can understand and enjoy much of the comedy. The retelling of Hamlet as “Omelette,” a musical about eggs, is extremely amusing in its own right. The overarching theme of “to thine own self be true” is strongly articulated and provides just the right amount of heart to this otherwise campy and lighthearted musical.
