You don’t have to travel to the Stratford Festival to see an incredible professional production of Something Rotten – you only need go as far as Pinckney to have one of the most fun nights of your summer. But note: If you plan on attending, there are a handful of tickets left for tonight (8/31/24) and September 6th, otherwise the entire run of Something Rotten at the Dio is sold out through October 6th.
Written by movie writers/producers/songwriters brothers Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick (Chicken Run anyone?) and the smartest person in England when it comes to history John O’Farrell, Something Rotten is the current show-du-jour nationwide. (It’s regional release came during the pandemic, then was pulled for a tour that didn’t happen, and is now available again for production).
The production at The Dio is everything you expect from this silly, hilarious, tuneful musical that was nominated for ten 2015 Tony Awards and won one (Christian Borle as Shakespeare). They celebrated with the greatest ad in NYTimes history:
Bottom brothers NIgel and Nick are a losing pair of brothers trying to compete writing plays during the reign of William Shakespeare (treated here like a rock star). This leads to a series of misbegotten attempts to outdo him via a sooth sayer who gets things only kind of right (though much of what he does get right is the funniest material in the show). The musical climaxes with a “Producers” style show-within-a-show tribute that mashes up Hamlet with, well, I’ll leave the rest to the viewer.
Steve DeBruyne directs and plays Nick Bottom, and he is outstanding in both roles. The direction is fluid and tight, and his Nick is a hapless but well-meaning hoofer-and-singer featured in several big numbers. Jordan Hayes-Devloo is terrific as bashful but talented brother Nigel Bottom. Maddie Ringvelski steals every scene she is in as Nigel’s love interest Portia, played with such hyper intensity that when she finally passes out at a party you’ll be relieved that she gets to rest for a few minutes in a chair. Brava.
Elizabeth Jaffe is just right as Nick’s perfect wife Bea, whether she is singing about being his Right Hand Man, or “disguised” as a man (such a clever writing convention by the authors, matching the types of things Shakespeare himself used to do). Griffin Krausse plays the Bard with all the bravado you might expect, and is especially funny when he goes into diguise to try to steal back his own future ideas (never mind, just go with it.) Dan Morrison is great as Quaker Brother Jeremiah, Keith Kalinowski made me laugh all night long as Shylock, and Richard Payton is larger than life as Nostradamus, the sooth sayer (fortune teller). The entire rest of the ensemble is superb and vocally stunning (Alexander Cousins, Cordell Smith, Aurora Renee, Xavier Sarabia, Antonio Vettraino, Hannah Thomas, Autumn SIerra, Donovan Leary, Lily Gechter, and Brendan Martin.)
Lisa Merte’s musical direction brings out clear choral tones and good diction; Michelle Marzejon-Green has created the largest dance numbers seen on the Dio stage, heavy on very good tap, Set, Lighting and Sound Design by Matt Tomich is pitch perfect for this production – and there’s a big surprise in store with his deceptively simple set as we reach the third act. Costumes by Norma Polk are bright, colorful and sometimes gorgeous. Eileen Obradovich does her usual excellent work with the massive number of props in the show.
I can’t say enough good things about this production. From a delicious Shakespearean England themed dinner, to one of the funniest shows you are likely to see in a long long time, it’s a perfect evening (or afternoon) of theater as a true art, written by some very smart people.
Very highest recommendation.
Something Rotten runs at the Dio through October 6th. For very limited remaining tickets order online at DioTheatre.com or best call (immediately) (517) 672-6009
Mostly Musical Theatre 
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