‘Something Rotten’ is a treat
Theater Review by Patricia Foster Rye
SOOTHSAYER Blake Hammond, left, and Rob McClure, as Nick Bottom, appear in “Something Rotten!” at the Ahmanson Theatre.
It’s time for FOTFL and laughing out loud again — non stop.
Something Rotten has music and lyrics by Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick, and book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell. The show tells the story of brothers Nick Bottom (Rob McClure) and Nigel Bottom (Josh Grisetti), two playwrights in the 16th century stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star, Will Shakespeare (Adam Pascal) — a real rock star complete with back-up boys and ardent fans.
When a soothsayer (Blake Hammond as Nostradamus) foretells that the next big thing in theater involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, the Bottom brothers set out to write the world’s very first musical.
This show never passes a double entendre or fails to send-up a recent musical we all know and love. There are a couple of romantic relationships so we can all catch our breath. The cast is outstanding, many from the New York production. The big numbers are plentiful and a treat, with direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw. Give yourself a delightful holiday present and see “Something Rotten.”
Through Sun., Dec. 31, Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., 213-972-4400, centertheatregroup.org. 4 Stars
Category: Entertainment
