‘Something Rotten’ Review: Shakespearean Farce Looks Like The Heir To ‘Book Of Mormon’

Watch out Book of Mormon. A new outsized comedy, Something Rotten, has arrived on Broadway at the St. James Theater. That may not be all that surprising considering that Rotten is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicolaw, who also handled the same duties on Mormon, but it’s nonetheless great news for Broadway fans seeking an over-the-top Broadway confection.

Conceptualized by brothers Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick, with a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, Rotten brings all the manic energy and puerile fun of Mormon to Renaissance England. The plot centers on the Bottom Brothers, two aspiring playwrights living in the imposing shadow of William Shakespeare in 1590s England.

Nick Bottom (Brian d’Arcy James) is so put out by Shakespeare’s success that he commissions Thomas Nostradamus (well played by Brad Oscar), you know who’s addled nephew, to foretell the subject of the Bard’s most famous work. He comes up with Omelet, The Musical, a hilarious mash up of Hamlet and many of the top musicals of the last century from West Side Story to Cats.

Meanwhile, Nigel Bottom (John Cariani), a brilliant poet, is conflicted about his brother’s odd new work and sets off to find his own voice. He finds his muse in the fetching Portia (Kate Reinders). When the insecure Shakespeare (sublimely played by Christian Borle) pokes around to find out what the brothers are up to, he recognizes the genius in Nigel’s words and tries to pilfer them for himself. Tireless and tart in the extreme, Something Rotten takes off from there in unexpected and hilarious directions. You may never think of Shakespeare in the same light again.

To buy tickets for Something Rotten on Broadway, click here.