SOMETHING ROTTEN! Review

SOMETHING ROTTEN! presented by Broadway in Cincinnati through March 5. Click here for more information on the production. I attended the opening night performance.

Cast of the Something Rotten! National Tour. © Jeremy Daniel.

As you are probably aware, I receive numerous press releases every month and, when it comes to comedies, the word “hilarious” is used quite frequently. So much so that I sometimes think to myself, “I don’t think that word means what you think it means.” But in the case of SOMETHING ROTTEN! though, “hilarious” is easily a well-earned description.

Not even half-way through the first act, the audience’s response to “A Musical” stopped the show cold. And that was only the first of three show-stopping numbers. The jokes, musical theater references, and nods to Shakespeare’s works come fast and furious and run the gambit from brilliant to bawdy.

Blake Hammond as Nostradamus & Rob McClure as Nick Bottom. © Jeremy Daniel

The cast, from Bottoms to top, is also brilliant. Rob McClure as Nick, the more aggressive Bottom brother, easily establishes a great rapport with the audience and is a tap-dancing triple threat. Adam Pascal brings rock-star glam to the role of Shakespeare. Maggie Lakis charms as Nick’s way-too-understanding and supportive wife, Bea. As Nigel, Josh Grisetti is the passive, put-upon Bottom who is easy to root for, especially in his budding romance with Portia (Autumn Hurlbert), the Puritan with a love for poetry who looks and sounds like she could break into “Popular” at any moment (that is not a complaint 🙂 ). Scott Cote is a riot on stage as Portia’s father, Brother Jeremiah, who is comically word-choice inappropriate. And you can’t help but love Blake Hammond as Nostradamus whose semi-accurate predictions of the future drive the plot. Finally hats off to the remainder of the hard-working ensemble for sharing their talents.

Autumn Hurlbert as Portia and Josh Grisetti as Nigel Bottom. © Jeremy Daniel

I very much enjoyed the contemporary dance moves, peppered with nods to iconic musical theatre choreography, by Casey Nicholaw who also directs the production. And did I mention there are also multiple tap numbers? The costumes designed by Gregg Barnes were beautiful, clever, and full of surprises which I won’t spoil.

Cast of the Something Rotten! National Tour. © Jeremy Daniel.

Overall, a NOT TO BE MISSED production for any musical theater fan. Hilariously funny and a great time at the theater. I’d gladly see it again before it leaves if I could. Thank you all for a completely enjoyable, laugh-filled Tuesday night.

My rating: 5 out of 5

I would enjoy hearing what you think about the show or my review. All I ask is that you express your opinion without attacking someone else’s opinion. You can post your comments below.