By Doug Iden
Bottom’s Up at the Covedale! Who knew that Shakespeare could be so much fun? Find out by attending Something Rotten! at Covedale Theater.
Plot and Characters
Set in Elizabethan England in 1595, Something Rotten! follows the zany exploits of brothers Nick (Aaron
Marshall) and Nigel (Anthony Contreras) Bottom who are in direct theatrical competition with
their old company-mate and now very successful playwright William Shakespeare. The
Bottoms discover that Shakespeare is about to present a new play, Richard II, which is what the
brothers are currently working on and they are enraged. Desperate for a successful play and
running out of money, the brothers need a new idea. Nick visits a soothsayer Nostradamus
(Jazz McMullen as a relative of THE Nostradamus) who predicts that the future lies in a play
with music to be called a “musical”. Asked about Shakespeare’s future success, Nostradamus
thinks it has something to do with “ham” which leads the brothers to create Omelette, the
Musical.
Benefactor Lord Clapham (Joshua Van Nort) threatens to withdraw financial support and
moneylender Shylock (Trey Finkenstead) demands payments which adds to Nick’s money woes.
His wife, Bea (Cammi Caldwell) tries to help by working in male-dominated jobs in a series of
sight gags.
Nigel is the creative brain and has developed a journal containing phrases such as “to be or not
to be”, etc. Shakespeare (Christopher Wells) invites Nigel to a soiree with the intent of stealing
Nigel’s ideas. Nigel also, literally, runs into a young woman Portia (Elana Boyd) the daughter of
a Puritan Brother Jeremiah (Jerrod Gruber) who falls in love with Nigel and wants a less
restrictive life. Shakespeare, in disguise, infiltrates Bottom’s troupe to steal more ideas and all
are shocked when Omelette becomes a big hit. There are bad yolks galore. Most of the
characters “real” names are taken from Shakespeare plays.
Tone and Themes
This is a zany homage disguised as a farce rather than a savage satire. The tone is light and
tongue-in-cheek but, lurking below the artificial surface, are some serious themes including the
role of celebrity, intellectual property theft, the traditional roles of men and women (especially
in Elizabethan life and theater) and puritanical censorship.
Musical Numbers in Something Rotten!
Based upon a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell with music and lyrics by Karey and
Wayne Kirkpatrick, Something Rotten! features many upbeat, enthusiastic and highly satirical lyrics. The
music is somewhat pedestrian but the lyrics are very clever with many plays-on-words and
theatrical allusions. The play opens with a Minstrel (Austin Hoard) extolling the virtues of the
time with the clever “Welcome to the Renaissance (where everything is new)”. The curtain
opens and the ensemble, replete with a variety of Elizabethan costumes designed by June Hill
and Jesselee Whitson which sets the tone for the show. Most of the numbers are large
production numbers with superior dancing choreographed by Tina Dealderette. This may be
the best dancing I’ve seen at the Covedale with a combination of very athletic, slinky and
ensemble tap routines.
Under the musical direction of Greg Dastillung, the highlight of Act One is “A Musical” in which
the entire cast describes this new phenomenon. Along with “Something Rotten”, these songs
both spoof and pay homage to musicals. There are dozens of allusions to Broadway shows
through musical snippets and sight gags. An example is the song “Hard Knock Life” from Annie
where the cast sings a few bars of the song while simulating the floor scrubbing activity from
that play.
Production Team and Design
Director Jay Goodlett has crafted an excellent show which moves crisply. Brett Bowling’s
Renaissance set is bolstered with numerous props and the costuming is very colorful and apt
for the period. A dancing and costume highlight is the song “It’s Eggs” with bakers displaying
their costumed and dancing eggs.
The cast is very good with Marshall playing an upbeat but often confused Nick, Contreras as an
optimistic Nigel and Wells as an egotistical, larger-than-life Shakespeare. McMullen
(Nostradamus), Caldwell (Bea), Boyd (Portia) and Finkenstead (Shylock) contribute great comic
turns to the show.
Overall
This is a funny, clever and highly energetic production. You do not have to be a Shakespeare or
Broadway aficionado to appreciate the theatrical and musical allusions but it helps. Including
all aspects of the production, it is one of the best shows I have seen at the Covedale.
Tickets to Something Rotten!
So, grab your quill pen, a doublet and a dogeared copy of The Comedies and, in the oft mis-
quoted words of The Bard: “get thee to a funnery” to see Something Rotten! at the Covedale
playing through November 10. CLICK HERE for tickets or call 513-241-6550 Monday through Friday, 11am to 5pm. Bottoms up!
