Review: On Theater: A rollicking, robust and 'Rotten' show

By Tom Titus

Nov. 12, 2017 4 PM PT

Of all the Broadway exports to come down the pike and stop all too briefly at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, few have been so thoroughly well-crafted and downright fun to watch as the current attraction, “Something Rotten!”

Set in the time of Shakespeare, and including the Bard as a major character, the show centers on Nick Bottom, one of his rivals, who strives to come up with a new theatrical gimmick to usurp the throne of recognition. (Never does the show reveal that Shakespeare will use the name Nick Bottom as a key character in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” literally making an ass out of his foe.)

A visit to Nostradamus (not the prognosticator but his goofy nephew) gives Bottom the inspiration to create a musical — and here the fun really begins. How many modern Broadway musicals can be parodied within the running time of a new show? Dozens, as it turns out.

Under both the direction and choreography of Casey Nicholaw, “Something Rotten!” is a brilliant, scintillating production replete with sight gags and double entendres, most of them committed unintentionally by the local Puritan soul saver. The writing (by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell) matches the superb musical score by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick.

Propelling this rich and robust romp is Rob McClure as the energetic yet clueless Nick Bottom, who shines in such numbers as “God, I Hate Shakespeare” and the ambitious first act closer “Bottom’s Gonna Be on Top.” McClure’s energy fuels the production considerably.

His kid brother Nigel, the tall, gangling and awkwardly funny Josh Grisetti, is the poetic half of the duo and his verses charm the pretty young Puritan (Autumn Hurlbert) he tumbles for. Hurlbert is a real kick in a scene where she makes an introduction to Demon Rum.

Shakespeare, in this conception, is somewhat of a rock star akin to David Bowie in his Ziggy Stardust mode. Adam Pascal is a huge force in this role, barnstorming the Bard in egocentric splendor.

Maggie Lakis, who plays Nick’s wife (and is married to the actor off stage), charms as his “right hand man” who’ll do anything to boost her husband’s career. Scott Cote impresses as the Bible-thumping cleric tripped up by his own words.

Commanding his keynote number “A Musical” is Blake Hammond as the weathered and wily Nostradamus character who has great fun predicting such future hits as “Cats” and “A Chorus Line,” among many others.

His great idea, with Bottom, is an egg-heavy musical called “Omelette,” which Shakespeare swipes as the inspiration for “Hamlet,” but not before the big production number, with chorus figures in full hard-boiled regalia, literally lays an egg.

Nicholaw’s choreography is outstanding, even with dancers in period costumes, led by emcee Nick Rashad Burroughs as a really hip minstrel. Solid background efforts bolster the show considerably.

“Something Rotten!” is far from rotten. It’s a superlative evening of musical comedy and one of the more impressive inhabitants of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.