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.