Something Rotten!
Something Rotten!
book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrellmusic and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick
conceived by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick
Directed By
JACK BOYAGIAN
Music Director
ANNA MASTIN
Produced By
ALLENA GODFREY
REBECCA REID
The hit musical that took Broadway and Stratford by storm is coming to the Capitol Theatre. This crowd-pleasing musical farce, featuring a live orchestra, incredible costumes, and large song and dance numbers has been hailed as the funniest musical to hit the stage.
In the 1590s, the Bottom brothers are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star playwright known as "The Bard." When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, the brothers set out to write the world's very first musical.
Reviews
Kristin Andrews, Northumberland NewsOriginally published in Northumberland News
If you appreciate the true art of comedy, but hate Shakespeare, then “Something Rotten!” is for you.
The production — which opened on Broadway in 2005 and was nominated for 10 Tony Awards — is current playing at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre as the Northumberland Players annual musical.
Book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick, directed by Jack Boyagian and produced by Allena Godfrey and Rebecca Reid with musical direction by Anna Mastin, this show is fast and funny. I feel like I need to watch it again to catch all the jokes.
This is a big cast and there’s a lot happening on stage, but the actors made it all look so easy. This show has it all; large musical and tap-dancing numbers, costume changes, and even character changes for some. This was all done with high energy from start to finish in the backdrop of a fabulous Elizabethan-era set. It was orchestrated chaos on stage and the players came to play!
In his director’s note, Boyagian said, “As a creative team we were guided by one rule: bend the rules. The play invites anachronism. I have played with that creatively; we have a great deal of fun mixing the Renaissance and the contemporary together.”
“Something Rotten!” takes us back to the Renaissance Era where Nick and Nigel Bottom (Hudson Scott and Evan Soutter) are trying to get their big break by writing a hit play. Unfortunately, they’re living in the shadows of the famous and egocentric playwright William Shakespeare (Jeremy Brans).
Nick Bottom desperately seeks out soothsayer, Nostradamus (Heather Jopling) to help predict the next big thing in theatre: Musicals.
Nostradamus is surprisingly accurate but a little off the mark in her predictions — taking us back through a historic mash-up of musical theatre.
To pull off a show of this scale takes incredible teamwork from the actors, orchestra, choreographers, costume designers, lighting, sound technicians, makeup, set design and construction and set decor. It is impossible to mention everyone individually involved in this production here, but you all deserve a long standing ovation.
Cast
2024-2025 Season Sponsors
Capitol Theatre
Location
The Capitol Theatre is located in downtown Port Hope, right beside Memorial Park.
Address
20 Queen St.
Port Hope, ON
L1A 3Z4
Getting Here
Parking is available in public lots behind the theatre and town hall (off Elias St.).
Street parking is available around the theatre.