Review By M.T. Bennett, Front Row Reviewers
Hopebox Theatre offers a hilarious tribute to theater and the Bard in their production of Something Rotten which runs till July 12th. They perfectly blend their mission of philanthropy and quality theater with a show you won’t want to miss. I had the opportunity to see this production with the Silver Cast.
Something Rotten is set, as they announce in the first musical number, in the Renaissance, and follows the Bottom brothers who have hit rock bottom. The brothers are struggling playwrights that keep getting outshone by Shakespeare (Jake Swensen). The eldest brother, Nick Bottom, (Ian Fife) is sick of carrying his younger brother, Nigel Bottom (Luke Swensen), and is tired of disappointing his loving wife Bea (Megan Joyner Robertson). Nick enlists the help of a seer, Nostradamus, to foresee Shakespeare’s greatest play so Nick can steal it. Unfortunately, he hires a distant relation of the great seer, Thomas Nostradamus (Kade Saddler), whose fuzzy vision tells him that Shakespeare’s greatest play is called “Omelette” and that musicals are the future of theater. Nick jumps into creating “Omelette”, the first ever musical.
The whole production is a fun-filled farce, full of incredible talent. J. Swensen plays Shakespeare as the rock star of the day, right down to his leather pants and band of groupies. He handles the nuance of being a confident rising star who has to hide the fact that he worries his star has burned out. The audience sees exactly why Nick Bottom really hates Shakespeare, and Fife sells it. With a stellar voice and expressive acting, you get a sense of his desperation to win at just one thing. L. Swensen’s Nigel Bottom is played with an earnest sweetness. In a play that warmly pokes fun at art and theater, L Swensen represents art in its purest form, done for the sake of what he believes to be important and beautiful. Rounding out the Bottom family is Robertson’s supportive girlboss Bea.
Saddler almost steals the show as Thomas Nostradamus. I was incredibly impressed at how nimble he is with his lines and on his feet. He is absolutely hilarious and works the crowd into fits of giggles. His character reminds me of the Genie from Aladdin, kind of a supernatural outsider with a head full of pop culture references from the wrong millennium. Coming in to compete for energy is Kade’s brother Drew Saddler who plays Lord Clapham and Shylock with dramatic zest.
Portia (Emily Nuttall) and her Puritan father (Chad Wilburn) are comical and provide quite a few accidental innuendos despite their strict beliefs. It took me a while to realize Wilburn is blind. It is the first time I’ve ever seen a production with an actor who is blind but Wilburn does an incredible job. Full of fiery passion against the sinners, a great singing voice, and quite a few naughty slips of the tongue, Wilbern is a star rising.
The ensemble cast are an incredible support. I want to highlight Gage Anderson who plays the Minstrel and kicks off the whole play with a clear strong voice. First impressions are everything and the Director, Ryan Bruckman, did well to pick Anderson to present it. Among all the ensemble there is insightful direction on what to do in the background and I wanted to point out that Elizabeth Le Fitzgeral is always on top of the game and has the best expressions.
Speaking of the ensemble there were so…many…costumes. Costume Designer Kathy Richmond has her work cut out for her and includes a lot of fun touches. For example, Shakespeare’s leather jacket is cut in the same style as the rest of the renaissance clothing, and the backup dancers for Shakespeare have small frilled collars in his signature style. Curtis Dalton’s Set Design was masterfully planned as a few moving and flipping set pieces helped to move the play to different locations.
With 18 songs, Music Director Whitney Cahoon is amazing. Especially with tonal shifts and inserts of references to musical theater across the decades. All the sound was perfect to the note. Complementing the music is the choreography directed by Stephanie Bruckman who fits over 20 people on an intimately sized stage without any problems. Director Bruckman has pulled together numerous moving pieces to create an immersive fun-filled evening for audiences.
If you are a fan of Shakespeare, theater, or musical theater, you will fall in love with this show faster than you can say “The Black Plague”. Not only will your patronage support art in the community but Hopebox Theater also donates to help support treatments for those with cancer. You can read about this production’s recipient, Rachel Milne, here, and even donate to help.
Don’t miss this chance to experience some laughs and do some good at Hopebox Theatre.
Hopebox Theatre presents Something Rotten, Music and Lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick.
Based on a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell.
Hopebox Theatre, 1700 S. Frontage Road, Kaysville, Utah 84037
June 17-July 12, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturdays at 7:30 pm with Saturday matinees at 2:00 pm
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(801) 451-5259
contact@hopeboxtheatre.com
Something Rotten press reel
Something Rotten press reel two
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