By Randi Bjornstad
It’s a bit difficult to explain the hijinks in Something Rotten!, the musical that runs at Actors Cabaret of Eugene from Feb. 17 through March 11, but start with the concept that “something rotten” is part of a quote from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and you’ll be on your way.
In Something Rotten! the musical, it is 16th-century England. Shakespeare and his plays already are all the rage, and everyone else is just playing catch up. That includes the Bottom brothers, Nick and Nigel, who nonetheless are determined to make their own mark in the fledgling theater industry.
When they happen to meet up with a prognosticator named Thomas Nostradamus (purported nephew of the Nostradamus who was a real historical physician, astrologer, and pharmacist as well as a seer of the future), he tells them that the wave of the future for entertainment will include acting, singing, and dancing, all at once.
So they start writing the world’s first musical. It all gets complicated when Shakespeare hears about it, and the gloves are off as the competing playwrights try to get the best of each other.
That’s an incredibly simplistic description of the plot, which is way more complex and convoluted and incorporates a bevy of musical numbers with titles ranging from God, I Hate Shakespeare to To Thine Own Self, and of course, Something Rotten!.
The musical opened on Broadway in 2015 and ran for more 708 performances, garnering 10 Tony Award nominations — including Best Musical — but coming away with just one, to Christian Borle as Shakespeare, for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. (In fairness, that year Something Rotten! was up against the likes of Fun Home, the King and I, and An American in Paris.)
The original idea for the musical actually did come from two brothers — Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick — who had been mulling over the concept for years. They were responsible for both music and lyrics, and John O’Farrell joined Karey Kirkpatrick in creating the story, or book. The production has had several national tours as well as runs in Sweden, Korea, and England.
The cast of Actors Cabaret’s Something Rotten! includes (in alphabetical order) Paul Anderson, Brent Anderson, Jim Arscott, Tyler Blaser, Delaine Burns, Alexander H. Carr, Gina Cochell, Colin Gray, Janis Hayes, Erica Jean, Tony Joyner, Samantha Kenny, Chris McVein, Cody Mendonca, Lauren Moore, Megan O’Keefe, Jack Oeming, Lois Stark, Sienna Staunau, Will Vanderbilt, and Isabella Willis. Joe Zingo is director and designer.
Something Rotten! at Actors Cabaret of Eugene
When: 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 17-18 and 24-25, and March 3-4 and 10-11 (doors open at 6 p.m. for those purchasing dinner); and 2 p.m. on Feb. 26 and March 5 (doors open 12:30 p.m. for those purchasing brunch)
Where: Actors Cabaret of Eugene, 996 Willamette St., Eugene
Tickets: Show only, $19-$30; dinner and show, $55-$60; brunch and show, $53-$55; available by phone at 541-683-4368 between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, or online at actors cabaret.org/tickets
