It’s the 90s — the 1590s— and Shakespeare parades around the hamlet followed by his entourage. At this stage of his career, Shakespeare is the shizzle! He’s even bigger than The Beatles — granted none of the Fab Four had yet been born. Everyone adores The Bard.

Everyone except Nick Bottom, that is.

Nick is a struggling writer. Actually, he’s much more of an idea man than a wordsmith — his brother, Nigel, is the one who crafts language with such skill and care that he routinely pens phrases of unparalleled eloquence. Still, Nick is not all that fond of Will. In fact, Mr. Bottom has been known to spontaneously burst into song, vehemently expressing just how much he detests his rival. Ultimately, Nick is determined to create a work so mind-blowingly fresh and original that he will usurp Shakespeare’s moniker and become The Bard.

The stage is set… but nothing can prepare you for the whirlwind of hilarity that ensues. One of the most original musicals you’ll ever experience. Something Rotten! is an adventurous laugh out loud romp featuring a dream team of actors. The miraculously talented cast delivers an exalted performance of sublime ridiculousness.

What makes this particular production so memorable is the multitude of vibrant characters: Nick Bottom (Rob McClure) is brazenly clueless, Nigel Bottom (Josh Grisetti) is brilliantly bashful, Shakespeare (Adam Pascal) is ravishingly egotistical, Portia (Autumn Hurlbert) is adorably quirky, Nostradamus (Blake Hammond) is resonantly outrageous, Bea (Maggie Lakis) is an oblivious feminist, and, Brother Jeremiah (Scott Cote) is pure comedic genius!

The Something Rotten! ensemble is truly worthy of the mythical Tony Award for “Best Ensemble Ever.” The grandiose harmonies alone are enough to make even the most persnickety critic weep with unfettered veneration.

Boasting not one, but several show-stopping numbers, countless theatrical references, tap talking (you’ll understand when you see it), comedy, a dash of devilishly delightful double entendres, a uniquely original story, and so much more, this is the musical that Shakespeare, himself, wishes he would have written!*

*Shakespeare was not available to comment on the veracity of the previous statement.

See this show tonight. Then, see it again tomorrow to catch all the jokes you missed. Something Rotten! is a radically fresh and engaging theatrical extravaganza deserving of repeat viewings!

Remaining dates and times for Something Rotten! at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. [Tickets available HERE.]:
Friday, March 2 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 3 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 4 at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

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Featured photo by Jeremy Daniel.