Something Rotten!
Good Shepherd Players
Photo Credits: Chad Trujillo
Welcome to the Renaissance! The glorious period where everyone may still be flushing excrement into the street, but boy (oh, boy!) can they put on a musical about eggs.
Good Shepherd Players’s production of Something Rotten! had audiences cracking up with its positively over-the-top actors, expert references, and energetic numbers. It’s been a few days, but I still have every song playing on a loop in my head. Clearly, the show’s excitement was infectious.
Let’s quit yolking around and dive straight into it.
(That’s the last egg pun, I promise).
Something Rotten!
I’m a bad theatre person. I wasn’t familiar with Something Rotten! before I saw this production--though to be honest, I’m glad I wasn’t. I don’t think I would’ve appreciated how chock-full of references the show is, and I always love an unexpected plot twist.
Here’s everything I did know:
It takes place in the Renaissance
Shakespeare makes an appearance
There are tap dancing eggs
Which was all true, but I went in knowing nothing in terms of the actual plot. Luckily, you won’t have to!
Written by John O’Farrell and with a score by brothers Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick, Something Rotten! premiered on Broadway in 2015. Boasting an all-star cast (Christian Borle fans, anybody?) it ran for over a year and a half before closing. Since then, its catchy score and laugh-out-loud comedy have become a community and high school theatre staple.
Brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are Renaissance playwrights, but find themselves struggling to make ends meet under the shadow of the popular William Shakespeare. Their patrons are clamoring for another Richard II or Romeo and Juliet; something the Bottom brothers just can’t top.
So, what better way to snuff Shakespeare than by beating him to his next creation? (Bonus unintentional egg pun!)
Nick secretly seeks out Nostradamus, a local soothsayer, and asks him to relay what Shakespeare’s greatest play will be. Though Nostradamus is close to an accurate predication, some of the lines start to blur… and a chaotic production ensues.
So, speaking of production, how did Good Shepherd Players bring this one to life?
This Production
Leading the show were Andy Shaw and Craig Goeringer as Nick and Nigel Bottom. Shaw perfectly captured the desperate, frantic energy of Nick, and imbued each choice with timely humor. One of my personal favorite moments was his rendition of “God, I Hate Shakespeare;” Shaw practically sang the song through gritted teeth, and eventually erupted into a full-body tantrum no 3-year-old would scoff at.
Goeringer, meanwhile, was a pure ray of sunshine. His larger-than-life reactions--like practically melting into the floor upon sight of Megan Fisher’s delightfully-innocent Portia--could have been pulled straight out of a cartoon. “I Love the Way” was another highlight, where the giddy Fisher and Goeringer confessed their unfettered love to one another. This was the first production I’d seen from either performer, and I was instantly hooked.
When it came to Nick’s wife, Maura Lacy brought much-needed girl power to the role of Bea. In a time where women primarily existed as an extension of their husbands (boo), Lacy proved herself to be much more than just Nick’s other half. Her powerhouse vocals and unshaking determination made an independent woman out of her yet (or, as some might even say, a “Right-Hand Man!”). She did quite literally wear a beard onstage for a few scenes, and adopted an old-man impression that rightfully fooled the audience.
Now, where’s the Renaissance without The Bard? Kevin Donlan portrayed the iconic William Shakespeare with power, swagger, and plenty of bravado, commanding the space with a nod of his head. And, yes, his patter (Renaissance rapping?) in “It’s Hard to Be the Bard” was expertly done.
While we’re at it, shout out to both Donlan and Shaw for a riveting tap battle! Tapping slightly out of rhythm is one of my biggest pet peeves, but these two had every move down pat. Plus, not only did this duo crush it, but the entire ensemble did an excellent job keeping Josie Corrado’s choreography in sync during intricate production numbers like “Omelette: the Musical.”
Really, the whole ensemble was incredibly in tune with one another. From the jaunty “Welcome to the Renaissance” (led by Jared Diallo’s velvety vocals) to the show-stopping “A Musical” (I could write another paragraph about Chris Dockins’s hilariously kooky Nostradamus), every member of the company was a standout. The audience was practically rolling over in their seats at Evan Zimmerman’s flouncy Robin, for example. Another standout was Peter Marsh, who brought a hysterical twist to the role of Brother Jeremiah. I won’t quite reveal what he did… so unwess you decide to see the show, stay cuwious.
If you know me, you know how much I appreciate clean ensemble vocals and a fantastic pit; so to my (and the audience’s) delight, Colin Taylor and Rachel Bradley checked all the boxes. Plus, thanks to Donna Sisson’s gorgeous costumes, the ensemble exuded elegance in both layered harmonies and intricate Renaissance style.
If it wasn’t already evident from the rest of my review, director Nancy Lavallee clearly had a strong vision for this production. From set transitions to comedic beats and staging, each element wove together seamlessly.
Who Is It For?
This show is perfect for theatre lovers. And not just lovers of Shakespeare; this show gives a heavy-handed nod to shows from all across the theatre canon. Little Shop of Horrors, Cats, Annie, Les Mis, A Chorus Line… it’s literally a theatre kid’s easter egg hunt. Plus, it stars a fantastic cast (and orchestra!) who perform incredible music.
In terms of content, I’d consider this show appropriate for all audiences. There are certainly more than a few innuendos, but it’s nothing that wouldn’t go over a little one’s head. Just have them focus on the dancing eggs and everything will be just fine.
Something Rotten! runs for one more weekend at The Church of the Good Shepherd, with performances on March 6th at 7:30pm, March 7th at 7:30pm, and March 8th at 2pm.
Visit good-shepherd.net/players/ for tickets and more information.