Something Rotten

 A couple days ago was the birthday of one William Shakespeare, last time we covered ta show that featured him and his wife, as the two of them reworked on of his most famous pieces in "& Juliet". Today I am going to cover the album of a show that I hope to see someday, a comedic love letter to theater fans alike where the bard is in fact standing in the way of the leads and their dreams. Let's see how many musical references, Shakespeare references, and egg puns we can find as I cover "Something Rotten".

The show "Something Rotten" follows the Bottom brothers, Nick and Nigel, both aspiring playwrights, the only problem is that the only plays that are catching the publics eyes are that of Shakespeare, as this show is set in the height of his career. With help from a new, unlikely friend, Nick peaks into the future to see that musicals are what rule the stage, and tries to finally dethrone the beloved, rockstar playwright. This musical is packed with references to Shakespeare's many works, tons of musicals, and is packed with some fun comedic elements. Aside from the references that characterization is infused with tons of modern forms of writing that make them stand out, yet all of the characters are aware of the time period they are in. From Shakespeare being like a rockstar, yet secretly struggles with his job, Nick's wife who longs to be more than just a housewife, and Nigel falling in love with someone whose family is quick to disapprove. They infuse the classic setting with fun and relatable stories, packed with comedy to make a lighthearted time. I would say the comedy is not only historically accurate but would be in the vein of a PG-13 movie, this show is for older audiences.

Going off of online plot summaries, and the album, this much like "& Juliet" are shows I would both want to view after listening to album, or at least get pro shot of. The comedy seeps into the music, with plenty of lyrics that had me laughing and singing along. The music for me was mostly great, I did not press repeat on all of the songs, but a good number of them. The lyrics and instrumentation lead to a fun, comedic, and even at times touching story about wanting to make room for yourself in the world of art, making your art, following trends, and falling in love. 

Unlike the last show covered, Shakespeare is ever present and less of a side character, being more of an obstacle to the leads, yet he is so charming and funny you end up cheering for him. Both shows offering different yet highly entertaining versions of the historical figure, and both worth viewing. This one enjoys being famous yet has a showstopping song in act two of the trials of being a playwright. This incredible song has him comedically lamenting on how it is "Hard To Be The Bard" in a relatable way to fellow writers, while showing he is not perfect. Much like the entire cast, Christian Borle makes Shakespeare stand out in the best way, every one has stellar performance in the album.

The show is filled to the brim with references so I would say this best enjoyed by theater fans, musical fans, and Shakespeare fans. Not knowing does not take away from the fun plot or great music, but there is some missing out to be had as the show uses these from start to finish and does not lighten up. There are plenty of jokes in the song's lyrics, and plenty of non-reference based zingers but there are so many that I felt that I had to acknowledge them, as they are also in the music. These songs are great even without knowing, yet there is an added bonus for those who know. 

Some of the songs that stand out to me are "Welcome To The Rennaissance", "Right Hand Man", "Will Power", "It's Hard To Be The Bard", "We See The Light" and "To Thine Own Self", just to name a few. With "Hard To Be The Bard" being my favorite, whether the listener is writing a paper for class or for their own art, this song hits close to home in the best way possible. The ensemble comes together for great background vocals in many songs, and each lead gets some great moments to stand out. After the bard himself, Nigel is my other favorite character, his side story, optimism, and the moral he delivers all are super well done. I can not talk about this show without talking about "A Musical", an over seven minute showstopper, filled to the brim with musical references and jokes. The song is super fun and it is real treat to look for all the references in it.

Overall, this show is a fun, comedic romp, where not all of the jokes or songs land, a good portion do. It is comedic, and has the right level of self-awareness to work, and plenty of the songs are toe tapping, good times. The instrumentation, lyrics, and vocals hit a bullseye when they land, infused with comedy and tons of charm, wrapped up in good music. This is a piece that makes for good writing inspiration with its themes of love, art, and finding your own artistic identity. Set in the past with some fun modern easter eggs, this is a show that may be called "Something Rotten" but is mostly fresh. 

& Juliet (Cast Album)

 

(Image Source: Amazon dot com)

(Plot Source: Wikipedia)

Every once in a while, I peek into what is going on in The West End, to those who do not know it is London's biggest theater output and sometimes a musical may premiere there before coming here. One show that is getting a ton of positive press over at The West End that many wish will come to Broadway stages and tour is a show called "& Juliet". A tale of the Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare's wife, retooling the classic narrative of the star-crossed lovers to which Juliet survives and finds a new life, and maybe new love. I went to Wikipedia and got the plot synopsis as this show is not available over here in the states and I only had the album to go off of. So how does this change the bard's famous love story, let's have a listen.

This show takes us to alternate timeline where Shakespeare and his wife, but mostly his wife pen a new tale for Juliet. The plot has romance, and many twists and turns while having overlaying themes about love for both the characters of the classic play and those writing it. The plot has many wonderful modern ideas infused into this classic tale while keeping things light and fun. The tone is heartfelt with plenty of room for inspirational self-discovery, comedy, and romance. Reading the plot had me interested, but what of the music that followed with it?

This is a jukebox musical with pop songs from the late 1990's and early 2000's, with some songs from a more recent time. Hits like "Larger Than Life", "I Want It That Way", "Oops I Did It Again" and even "Teenage Dream" and "Love Me Like You Do" are sprinkled throughout this show. Combining a time long gone with music we can still hear on the radio or in grocery stores to this day. These are all well performed by the cast and had me listening time and time again. Each performer brings their all and is completely invested into bringing these songs in a new way to the stage. 

Some of these songs have never seen the stage but they fit because the instrumentation and performers sync well into combining them. Songs about love, break ups, self-discovery, and more fill this album to make it more than just a glorified mix tape. It makes me beyond curious and interested to see how they fit into the plot and are used. A sign of a good cast album is making the listener want to see the show, and after listening I would enjoy seeing this show make it stateside. This show stands out with jukebox powerhouses like "Moulin Rouge" and the countless biographical musicals summarizing a musician's career. I do love when a jukebox musical uses an original plot and this one combine familiar and new in a way that just works.

The album has sold me on the show, I may know these songs, but a good jukebox musical reminds you why these songs are so great. The styles, performances, and the mashups used work so well, and are so well performance. The different pacing and tempos can add a new flavor to a song that brings it a breath of fresh air. Combining it with the fun plot seems like a great night at the theater, and I hope it comes our way or at least is given a proshot. 

This is the first time I ever have covered a show from the West End, but certainly won't be the last. My eyes have been opened to see what some shows entail, such as the "Back To The Future Musical" and others that either premiere there first or never make it to the states. Different styles of cast recordings in some cases with shows like "Mary Poppins", show how many possibilities await, and I can not wait to find more. All the songs of this album may be familiar but are so well performed with such great instrumentation that they are a pure delight.

I had so much fun with "& Juliet" and there are plenty of songs to listen to, a good amount all standing out. Using the works of multiple artists work in this shows favor, making the song a showcase of the artists, and in this case the more the merrier. There are some fun twists and turns in this show that lead to many fun moments, and many sweet ones as well. A tale of love, what matters, growing as a person, with plenty of great representation in it. The bards work glows and is given such a great plot and fun soundtrack that make this an absolute blast. I hope to see this someday, and until next time, I hope your day is a showstopper.

Shakespeare

April 26th is the birthday of one William Shakespeare, so for the next couple weeks, I will cover a couple musicals that involve the bard. But before I dive into those, I wanted to talk about him and my experience with his work. Though there are many writers of his time, his work is still the most celebrated still getting many stage productions, films and is still relevant to be in pop culture. His work is a cornerstone of theater that sees performances all these years later, so lets find out what is to be or not to be, and talk Shakespeare.

Like many, I first encountered his work in school, from "Romeo & Juliet" to "Hamlet" and I always enjoyed the units covering his work. As a theater fan who was only discovering his love of the arts, these sections always felt less like work and more fun. From his tragedies, romances, and comedies, I was always welcome to learning more. I was familiar to references made in pop culture or parodied in shows and movies. These plays are still timeless, and are being performed to this day. 

One aspect that stood out to me as that the settings are so vague that you can be as historically accurate or set the show in a different time period without diverting. Such as a take of "Much Ado About Nothing" but set in the 1980's or "A Midsummer Nights Dream" set in the future. The writing is the same yet it can be told anywhere, showing the versatility of these works. 

From musicals that take inspiration from his works such as "West Side Story" or "The Lion King", the work of William Shakespear appears in more places then some expect. Many modern films even adapt a love story of his in a modern setting, as with thirty seven plays to pick from, there are plenty of options. Many works also whether it's a television show, or documentary like to dive into what it was like being Shakespeare as well. Some movies have done this as well, whether it is exploring who he was, or if he was a stage name for a large group of people.

As for me, I personally believe that Shakespeare was one person who wrote all of his plays, with some of them being collaborations, and he also penned a fair number of sonnets. But the stage is no stranger to exploring him as a person either or an aspect of his life whether it is his marriage in the pop, rock recent hit of the West End "&Juliet". Or perhaps the comedic take done in "Something Rotten", the two musicals I will be exploring to celebrate his Birthday.

Shakespeare is a pillar of theater, his work still relevant and is still continued to be performed to this day, whether as it was or in a different style. He is a part of theaters history and a staple that is mentioned in pop culture even to this day. So next time, we will dive into a couple musicals starring the bard, until then I hope your day is a showstopper.

Welcome To Accessible Arts!

 For those who are new, welcome for those who have stuck around over the years, thank you so much, writing for this blog is an absolute treat. Today I am going to establish what Accessible Arts is for those who are new and create a proper introduction to share, as the last one was more of an update and less of an introduction.

Accessible Arts is a place for all things musicals, from cast albums and proshots, to movies and more! This is coming from the angle of someone who does not get to see shows often, as I live in an area where tours and local theater are the norm. I have to wait for a new show to get a touring cast and come to my area in order to see it, so to pass the time I like covering movies, proshots, the live performances I can see, whatever is on streaming services, and cast albums.

Recently I have been diving into my favorite songs, discussing why they stand out to and are worth a listen. Other times I will review a whole cast album and decide if I want to see the show or not. There are so many ways to find musical theater where you are, and I want to share it in this blog. I want to share my favorites, find new favorites, and just enjoy theater as a whole.

I plan to post once a week, primarily on Tuesdays but sometimes I will post on other days based on life events, and sometimes I might post more than once as well, whether for a large release or a special event. There is plenty of content to read up on while you wait if you are new here, and I will see you again soon. I hope your day is a showstopper.

Rodgers The Musical

 Spoilers ahead for the Hawkeye Disney Plus series!

Some musicals inspire, others make us laugh, and some make us think. This one embodies why we love musical theater in so many ways. The expert songs, the performance from Broadway Alumni Adam Pascal, and the message of standing up for what is right, this is Rodgers The Musical. I never have wanted to give a proshot a standing ovation before but this might be it, this is the future of musical theater. I would not be surprised if we see this show at the Tony Awards. 

The hit song from this show "Save The World" is a real showstopper, it stands out so much and has so much heart. Showing the avengers in the midst of a heated battle, this song embodies what we love about these heroes. Even though it may not be exactly like the source material it is inspired by, Ant-Man may have not been in the original play but he is a perfect addition to the musical adaptation.

The melody of this showstopper is catchy, with deep and inspirational lyrics. Showing a deep love for the place you live and being willing to fight for it, a strong moral. The lyrics are catchy, and the chorus is memorable. This may be the only real stand out song, but it sells the audience on the entire show. 

The costume design is nothing short of amazing, the masks and costumes are incredible. The set design and costumes are also paired with incredible on-stage effects. The sets and design combining with the song to make this show a certified hit. This show is incredible, never before has one song sold me on the entire experience but now that has happened. 

If you want to be inspired listen to hit song Save The City, or watch the proshot is amazing and worth your time. When the Hulk sings the word smash I get chills every time, it is incredible to see the use of wires and the incredible costumes to make this show immersive. 

Check it out, or have a... Happy April Fools Day!