Something Rotten!
Book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell
Music, Lyrics, and Conceived by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick
Directed by Alex S. Freeman
Music Directed by Jason Philip Solis
Choreographed by Kelsey Jordan Ward
Assistant Director Pamela Anglero
Stage Manager Hannah Tolle
Costume Design Dayna Dutton
Sound Design Dylan Hearn
Lighting Design Hank Baldree
Scenic Design/Build Logan Uhtenwoldt and Maggie Sproul
Dance Captain Jessica Deskewies
Deck Captain Esteban Vilchez
Cast
Octavian Lewis
Jason Philip Solis
Faith Greer
Luke Weber
Grant Hollowell
Nicholas Haas
Will Shafer
Scott Straus
Briana Berk
Hunter Lewis
Dakota Britvich
Jessica Deskewies
Emily Dye
Cam Hayes
Justin Konopka
Geoff Lutz
Rachel Nabarrette
Will Shafer
Danielle Smith
The Firehouse Theatre presents Something Rotten!
My thoughts on Something Rotten! or…this Bottom is still on TOP!
This was my 7th time seeing Something Rotten! and I never tire of this send up of Shakespeare and musical theater. The Firehouse Theatre’s production under the direction of Alex S. Freeman, musical direction of Jason Philip Solis and choreography by Kelsey Jordan Ward is a big slice of musical theater heaven and stands toe to toe with the best I have seen. Yes, it’s pared down for the Firehouse stage and there is no live music, but everything else that makes people love musicals is there in abundance.
The plot is well known by now. In brief, Nick Bottom is jealous of Shakespeare’s success and wants to outdo the Bard. He goes to a soothsayer to try to learn what lies in the future for theatre and what Shakespeare’s greatest hit will be. Trouble in River City ensues. Bring on the songs and anachronisms!
The magic of Director Freeman’s Something Rotten! is all in the casting and that magic starts with the incredible voice of Octavian Lewis welcoming us to the Renaissance. When someone as talented as Lewis is in a supporting role, you know good things must await. And they do and they look great in Dayna Dutton’s period costumes.
As the main character of Nick Bottom, Grant Hollowell is just about as good as a leading man gets. If you enjoyed him as King Arthur in last year’s Spamelot, just wait until you see his Bottom! (double entendre intended…and there are much better ones in the show) He’s got the big Broadway voice, dance moves, and off the charts stage presence and likability. His Act 1 closing number, “Bottom’s Gonna Be On Top” brought cheers from the audience. Hollowell is definitely on top.
Another great Bottom is Nicholas Haas as Nick’s poetic, sensitive, and talented younger brother Nigel. Haas has a gorgeous tenor voice and is in the character of Nigel so completely that he is fascinating to watch. His shy, romantic Nigel is the perfect counterpoint to his aggressive older brother and the perfect love interest for Portia, a young Puritan woman.
The last, but certainly not least, of the great Bottoms is Bea, Nick’s wife, played by the dazzling Briana Berk. Two words for Briana Berk: Stage Goddess. That voice, that charm, that laugh. She is simply amazing as the loving, determined, supportive wife. You would have to be crazy not to want Berk to be your “Right Hand Man.”
As the great playwright himself, Luke Weber’s Shakespeare is a dashing, cocky Elizabethan rock star with a voice that can make a “sonnet” soar. Weber’s “Will Power” and “Hard to Be the Bard” are codpiece stirrers. Weber is also quite adept as a comic, especially when disguised as Toby Belch, and Shakespeare’s “tap off” with Nick is one of the funniest moments in the show.
What a plum role Nostradamus the soothsayer is in this play and Hunter Lewis picks that plum and runs with it. To say that Lewis is hilarious is an understatement. The way he goes into his trances to see the future had the audience roaring and Lewis blew everyone away performing arguably the most memorable song in the play, “A Musical.” Well done, Sir!
Another piece of comic genius comes from Jason Philip Solis as the posturing Puritan Brother Jeremiah. Solis, who also serves as music director, takes the Bible thumping Puritan to new comic heights delivering sexual innuendo as often as Bible verses. Solis gets major laughs with every appearance. Solis can even make touching their cape funny.
As Brother Jeremiah’s daughter and Nigel’s girlfriend Portia, Faith Greer is the picture of innocence, but she can twist just about anything into sexual innuendo as well. Greer has an angelic, sweet voice and her duet with Haas is lovely. I admired how Greer portrayed the hesitant sexual feelings Portia has for Nigel, just the right mixture of should I or shouldn’t I.
In Something Rotten! Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, is obsessed with theater. Scott Straus makes Shylock an eager supporter of Nick and Nigel, willing to do anything to be connected to a production.
The ensemble in Something Rotten! is truly phenomenal. They are singing, dancing, acting wonders, who play many small parts when not singing or dancing to Kelsey Jordan Ward’s lively choreography. I wish I knew which ensemble members are the tappers as you are crazy good. The ensemble includes Dakota Britvich, Jessica Deskewies (who also serves as dance captain), Emily Dye, Cam Hayes, Justin Konopka, Octavian Lewis (when not appearing as the Minstrel), Geoff Lutz (You are hysterical. So glad you’re back on stage), Rachel Nabarrette, Will Shafer (who also appears as Lord Clapham and Master of the Justice), and Danielle Smith.
The Firehouse’s Something Rotten! is a joyous celebration of musical theater. It’s filled with great humor and great songs from beginning to end and as someone once said, “All’s well that ends well.” Go and enjoy!
