by Terrance Mc Arthur
This is a Rotten review.
I don’t mean it’s badly written. I don’t mean it’s a review about a rotten play. What it is, is a review about a show called Something Rotten.
Let me put it this way.
Something Rotten…isn’t.
In fact, it’s something terrific.
Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theatre overflows with the raucous, bawdy fun of the Good Company Players production of the Karey Kirkpatrick/Wayne Kirkpatrick/John O’Farrell 2015 musical, which runs through March 15.
Nick (Jacob Phelen) and Thomas Nostradamus (Steve Souza) in GCP’s production of “Something Rotten”
Williams bounces from being the lovable Buddy the Elf in GCP’s most recent production to a super-cool rock star performance as the brilliant-yet-devious playwright/thief of ideas who proclaims it’s “Hard to Be the Bard.” His rapid-fire delivery of quips, quotes, and rap creates a stunning impression. [By the way, my wife nominates his barber for an award.]
Left to right-Nigel (Thomas Hayes), and William Shakespeare (Shawn Williams) in GCP’s production of “Something Rotten”
Phelen has a Jim Belushi-ish aura (with a touch of Fred Flintstone) as the blundering company leader who never seems to get it right. His verbal sparring with Shakespeare has just the right touch of awkwardness. After all, he isn’t the playwriting brother.
Nigel is the poet of the Bottoms, inventing lines that Shakespeare will steal. Hayes, who was the wonderful Padre in the recent GCP production of Man of La Mancha, has a sweetness reminiscent of Matthew Broderick, and a voice that wraps the audience in a warm blanket.
Front Nigel (Thomas Hayes) in GCP’s production of “Something Rotten”
Pessano is brassy, busty, bursting with life, and bustling about the stage with a massive bustle (I think they called it a farthingale, then). She also choreographed most of the show in a dazzling collection of styles that range from soft-shoe to Fosse.
Left to right-Nigel (Thomas Hayes) and Bea (Emily Pessano)
Souza is an explosion of energy as the slightly psycho psychic who gets things just-enough wrong to propel proceedings into close encounters of the funny kind. Christensen fights sin with proclamations that hold juicy double-entendres (The language in the show is not for the kiddies.), and his comic timing is oh-so-wondrous.
Foose’s GCP debut is one for the books, a naïve Jane Krakowski style with a blockbuster voice. Ward is earnest as the wannabe producer, Cervantes is giggle-worthy, and the ever-reliable Alex Figueroa is charming as the Minstrel who welcomes us to the Renaissance.
Laurie Pessano steers the production aright in her direction (as well as providing additional choreography), while Kaye Migaki supervises the tap routines (I haven’t seen this much tap in a show since 42nd Street!). Ginger Kay Lewis-Reed’s costume crew produced enough Elizabethan wear to clothe an entire Shakespeare festival (I love the biker-style, studded outfit for Shakespeare and his boy-bandish Bard Boys…and you’ve got to see the dancing eggs!) David Pierce strikes again with his half-timbered sets.
You don’t need Shakespeare for Dummies or an encyclopedic knowledge of Broadway musicals to enjoy Something Rotten. You’ll catch a lot of the references (Most of the characters are names from Shakespeare plays.), and you’ll be a-whirl in a storm of frivolity and silliness. You will enjoy it.
The show plays at Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater, 1226 N. Wishon, in Fresno. Tickets can be purchased on the GCP website or by calling the box office at (559) 266-9494.
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Break a leg to the cast.
Great review on the play.
Not writing for the giveaway just to congratulate !