The National Tour of “Something Rotten!” kicks off in Boston

Launching their national tour in Boston this week, Something Rotten! plays at the Boston Opera House until January 29^th. The tour features Rob McClure as Nick Bottom, Josh Grisetti as Nigel Bottom and Adam Pascal as Shakespeare. All three closed the Broadway run in those roles a few short weeks ago. Lucky for us they are now touring this hilarious show with twenty-four other incredible performers and it is clear from the start why this show was nominated for ten Tony Awards in 2015.

The show transports us to London, circa 1595, where the Renaissance is well underway. There we meet the Bottom brothers, Nick and Nigel, who are writers and actors constantly competing with William Shakespeare to put a hit play on the stage. After one too many failed ideas, Nick visits a soothsayer to find out what Shakespeare’s biggest hit will be, and what the future holds for the theatrical world. The pandemonium that ensues keeps the audience laughing for the rest of the show.

Rob McClure, Adam Pascal, Josh Grisetti star in Something Rotten!. Photo Credit Joan Marcus

Rob McClure, as Nick, was energetic and funny throughout, delivering solid vocals and sharp comedic timing. His interactions with Maggie Lakis, his wife Bea, were believably heartfelt. Her vocals were superbly showcased in “Right Hand Man”. With his pure vocals, Josh Grisetti, as Nigel, was delightful and his interactions with Portia, played by Autumn Hurlbert, were adorably sweet. Both pairs had great chemistry and their voices blended wonderfully. Adam Pascal is outstanding as Shakespeare and shined in both “Will Power” and “Hard to Be the Bard”. His “duel” of sorts with Nick, towards the end of act one, was fantastic and impeccably well timed. The soothsayer Nostradamus, played by Blake Hammond, was hilarious and his visions of future musicals and Shakespeare’s greatest play instantly generated exuberant laughter from the audience. Hammond was exceptional!

The audience produced robust, long-lasting applause after three of act one’s numbers: “A Musical”, “Will Power” and “Bottom’s Gonna Be on Top”. Similarly, “Something Rotten!” and “Make an Omelette” in act two had the audience laughing hysterically. After the finale, just as the lights came up for the curtain call, the audience leapt to their feet with thunderous and vocal applause. They clearly enjoyed this production. Though I think this production is best enjoyed by people who are familiar with famous musicals and Shakespeare’s works, it’s ridiculously fun enough that even the occasional theatre goer, unfamiliar with the many references made, will find it amusing. Something Rotten! reminded me of the first time I saw Monty Python’s Spamalot. Having at that time, a very limited knowledge of the Monty Python films and humor; I didn’t get every joke, but still found myself laughing and enjoying the overall production. With this show, I caught almost all of the references and was able to enjoy it even more, laughing aloud at many comical moments.

Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, this production is full of exciting, well executed dancing and smart staging. The transitions between scenes and songs were quick and seamless. All the technical elements from the sets to the costumes were stunning and blended together wonderfully. If you didn’t get to see this on Broadway, you have got to check out the tour! Due to the “colorful” content, I recommend this show for a mature audience. It’s a fun, lighthearted, musical comedy sprinkled with farce that will make you laugh and elevate your spirits for a little over two hours.© Like Nostradamus sings, and I completely agree, “go see something more relaxing and less taxing on the brain…there’s nothing quite like a musical!”. Visit www.BroadwayInBoston.com , www.ticketmaster.com, or www.rottenbroadway.com/tickets to purchase tickets, to learn more about the show or to find out where the tour goes next.

The World Premiere of “The Making of a Great Moment” at Merrimack Repertory Theatre (Lowell, MA)

Danny Scheie & Aysan Celik. Photo by Meghan Moore.

Written by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb and directed by Sean Daniels, “The Making of a Great Moment”, in its world premiere at Merrimack Repertory Theatre, stars Aysan Celik and Danny Scheie as actors Mona Barnes and Terry Dean. Written and developed with Celik and Scheie in mind for the roles, this fast-paced comedy follows its characters as they tour their play “Great Moments in Human Achievement” around the country via their bicycles. With the goal of changing lives and inspiring their audiences, the pair cycles from gig to gig, laying their sleeping bags where they can and always hoping the next location has a better performance space than the last.

The witty banter and charisma of this talented duo grabs the audience’s attention from the start. Within moments the audience is chuckling at the situation on stage and from then on they are captivated by Celik and Scheie’s ability to transform from one character to the next, often changing accents and costume or prop pieces. In doing so, they transport the audience to dozens of different places and times throughout history when great moments occurred. They were phenomenal in their ability to transition so quickly from sharing their story to jumping into a part of the play they were performing. Mona and Terry are relatable, flawed individuals who struggle, at times, to find the positive amongst all the challenges they face. Mona is kept up at night wondering how the play can be better which leads her to think how can she make an impact on their audiences and make the world better. They pose that question to the audience, what can you do to make the world better? This recurring theme is one that stays with the audience even after the play is over. 

 

Danny Scheie & Aysan Celik. Photo by Meghan Moore.

The scenic design was created by Apollo Mark Weaver and though it seems simplistic at the start, the complexity and artistry of its design are discovered throughout. All in all it was effective at creating the various spaces the characters were at: be it a theatre stage with only one light, the passing countryside as they pedaled their bikes to their next location or sleeping on the ground looking up at the stars. The technical aspect of creating a way for the pair to actually bicycle on the stage without actually moving around the stage was ingeniously designed and extremely well executed. Additional elements were designed by Brian J. Lilienthal (lighting), David Remedios (sound), and Jessica Ford (costumes).

While this play is an enjoyable comedy, it is also intellectually stimulating. It keeps you thinking while laughing and is full of historical anecdotes and characters. As we follow these characters on their cycling journey, we recall our own journey and how it, in some ways, is similar to that in the play. We learn from past experiences, from our mistakes and accidents, as well as from the joyful fortunes and discoveries. All these things make up the moments in our lives. Some may  seem small, but as we learn from Mona and Terry some may be great.

This 90-minute performance will make you laugh, but it will also get you thinking about how you can more positively influence the world around you and make it a better place. © “The Making of a Great Moment” is a fantastic play to start this fresh new year. It plays at Merrimack Repertory Theatre, located at 50 East Merrimack Street Lowell, MA, until January 29^th, 2017.  Tickets range from $70-$26 with discounts available for groups, students, seniors, Lowell residents, and military service members. To purchase tickets or find more information visit www.mrt.org or call 978-654-4678.