Stage Review - Something Rotten! (Centerstage Theatre)
Stage Review - Something Rotten!
Presented By: Centerstage Theatre - Federal Way , WA
Show Run: May 23 - June 15, 2025
Date Reviewed: Friday, May 30, 2025
Run Time: 2 Hours, 30 Minutes (including a 15 minute intermission)
Reviewed By: Greg Heilman
My first exposure to Something Rotten!, the 2015 musical spoof of the genius that is William Shakespeare and his rocky relationship with the Bottom brothers, Nigel and Nick, was from the 2015 Tony Awards ceremony, at which the ensemble cast sang the hilarious song “A Musical”. I think when I heard it, its satirical lyrics, and the callbacks the song makes to so many of the musicals that I love, I felt like it was the perfect comedic song. Unbeknownst to me at the time, that single number is an encapsulation of the show it comes from, Something Rotten! The show itself was nominated for ten Tonys, though it only won a single award that night, and is a musical that laughs at itself and its genre, while at the same time being a tribute, or a love letter to it. The latest local version of Something Rotten! has come to Federal Way, and Centerstage Theatre, in a production directed by Alyson Soma and featuring a cast of leads who deliver this funny and altogether frivolous piece of musical theatre in the over the top satirical way in which it was intended, and an ensemble that is strong, full, and fleet of foot, all while maintaining a level of vocal excellence across the board that allows this play to land at the center of the board, a bullseye of a production.
The play begins with a welcome, a literal and musical “Welcome to the Renaissance”, led by Kat Elliott as the show’s minstrel and performed by the entire ensemble in front of a set, designed by Niclas Olson, that represents the outside of the Globe Theater, along with its signage telling the crowd that Shakespeare’s latest show is sold out, a little detail that is the first indication as to his success and popularity. The set is a crafty bit of design work when it comes down to it, and is a prime example of adaptation in a creative team. The Knutzen Family Theatre is not blessed with large wings or a significant backstage area in which to keep bulky set pieces to roll on and off during scene changes, so what Niclas has done not only works within those constraints, it actually takes advantage of them. His design is modular, the outside of the Globe turns to expose the stage inside, side pieces rotate to become the Bottom house or the home of Nostradamus, each piece not only multi-functional, but purposeful in the way it helps keep the pace of the musical up, an imperative aspect of a comedy like Something Rotten! The opening number is a great introduction to the the show, full of excellent ensemble harmonies, plenty of fun choreography, and a lead performance from Kat that is strong and replete with stage presence. Kat also kicks off the second act with a reprise of “Welcome” with the same energy and fervor, proving that just because a show has an intermission, it doesn’t mean it also has to lose momentum.
The story, as it goes, follows Nick Bottom and his brother Nigel, as they try to develop a new play, something to compete with the success that Shakespeare is having with his work. Of the brothers, Nigel is the poet and the writer of their prose while Nick handles all of the other aspects of their shows, but their efforts are foiled at every turn by the reputation and superstardom of Shakespeare, turning them desperate for something new. In this production, the brothers are played by David Breyman (Nick) and Travis Tingvall (Nigel). They both have differing opinions on Shakespeare, Nigel is secretly a fan, while Nick despises the Bard and his success, as David sings so fervently in “God, I Hate Shakespeare”, in which he displays the ability through not just his vocals, but through his movements and mannerisms, to show how much his characater does, in fact, despise Shakespeare. I like both of these actors in the roles, Travis is the softer of the brothers, with a sweet spot not just for Shakespeare, but also for Portia (Luciana Colello), daughter of the ultra conservative Brother Jeremiah (Russell Campbell), much to the latter’s chagrin. After their funding source for the new play, Lord Chapman (Andrew Fry), pulls out, it’s all hands on deck to find a way to create something to topple Shakespeare. Nigel turns to Portia, behind her father’s back, and she convinces him to create something from his heart and not follow his brother’s lead. The pair come together in one of the few sweet and tender moments of the show with “I Love the Way”, beautifully sung by the pair. The challenge also invigorates Bea, Nick’s wife, played by Trista Duvall in an understudy performance, filling in for Brooke Upton. Bea is determined to become the breadwinner in the family and goes out looking for odd jobs, though she soon finds out that the world is run by men. Trista’s performance in “Right Hand Man”, with David’s Nick and Travis’ Nigel is extremely good, and she has an uncanny knack for letting her character’s emotions come through, especially her frustration with Nick, it’s a performance that’s humorous, but very well done. Trista’s Bea pops up at various times as the musical goes on and what’s most impressive, even more than how she’s able to grasp and present the humor of her role, is how she’s been able to put this all together in such a short amount of time and deliver it with the confidence and precision that she does, especially with her vocals in “Right Hand Man”.
Nick is perhaps the most desperate, so he goes on a quest to find the soothsayer Nostradamus, but instead of finding “that” Nostradamus, Nick finds his niece, played by Sophie Sen. This is the best that I’ve seen out of Sophie in the shows that I’ve reviewed. This Nostradamus is a soothsayer that can sort-of see into the future, which becomes apparent when Nick asks her what Shakespeare’s biggest play is going to be, so he can do it first. The answer isn’t quite right, which causes all sorts of confusion as the plot progresses, but it also leads into the signature song from Something Rotten!, “A Musical”, which in itself is a satirical and hilarious tribute to the entirety of the musical theatre catalog. Led by Sophie, the entire ensemble joins in on this one and presents a number that has it all, and is performed just about perfectly. It’s a musical that Nick is convinced he must put on in order to beat his rival, but nothing is ever quite right, and that’s the funny of it all. With the solution in place, all Nick needs is an investor. Enter Josh Wingerter’s Shylock, a Jewish financier who is determined to have Nick let him fund his new show. I just love Josh’s Shylock, he’s so funny and so persistent, and he deploys an excellent, albeit a bit stereotypical, Jewish accent. It’s one of those performances that is small, when it comes to stage time, but extremely memorable.
At the end of the day, though, it’s all about the Bard. Shakespeare’s popularity drives all of Nick Bottom’s work, but it also seems to drive everyone else crazy, in a different way of course. In Something Rotten!, the persona of William Shakespeare is larger than life, so it makes complete sense that the actor playing him should also be larger than life, or at least be able to portray it on stage. That’s where Mauro Bozzo comes in. Mauro is exactly what is needed in this role and his performance is quite honestly the closest I’ve seen to him recreating the magic that garnered him our Outstanding Lead Actor award two seasons ago. It’s a brilliant turn that shows off his acting chops for sure, but it’s in his vocals, his dancing, and his second to none stage presence that makes him the standout here. It starts in “Will Power”, where (and much to Nick Bottom’s dismay) the entire ensemble comes out to see him perform in the park, perhaps the first ever example of Shakespeare in the Park. It continues through the performance’s after party, where he makes his entrance, as he does with all of them, with well-timed and hilariously executed snap. In Act 2 , Mauro shows why it’s “Hard to Be the Bard” in a musical performance that is active, bold, and extremely polished. Mauro not only knows this character, but he knows what he wants to get out of him and what he wants the audience to experience. It’s a true showman-like effort. The other impressive component that Mauro brings is in his posture, and not just when he’s dancing, he’s in complete control throughout, and to borrow a line from Dick Button, his lines are exquisite.
The final point on Mauro, and another callback to his award winning Singin’ in the Rain performance, is the high level of quality he brings to his tap dancing. In “Bottom’s Gonna Be on Top”, he has a bit of a tap battle with David’s Nick and the two play off each other extremely well. The number, which becomes an ensemble tap piece by the time it’s done, is a prime example of the excellent and challenging tap dance choreography from Natalie Wingerter that works so well in concert with Rylie Latham’s fun dance design, something that displayed throughout the show and is a hallmark of this production. It also shows how well the entire group is prepared, every move and every step hit just about perfectly on Friday. From start to finish, Friday‘s performance was solid, and the quality doesn’t end with Mauro, or the leads, or even this fantastic ensemble (Natalie Wingerter, Hebron Solomon, Kaira Hensler, Jared McKell, Oliver Callahan. Shawn Torrey, Ted Gentry, and Brad Alemao), but it’s also the orchestra under the direction of Daniel Wolfert. Everything works here to produce a play that is entertaining from curtain up to final bows.
Something Rotten!, the satirical and irreverent story of Nick Bottom’s pursuit of greatness amid a world that seems only to lavish praise on his rival, William Shakespeare, is the kind of musical that can poke fun at itself and its genre, but at the same time be a love letter to the latter. Led by an exemplary cast under the direction of Alyson Soma, the Centerstage Theatre production of Something Rotten! is welcome distraction from the stressful and divisive world we find ourselves trying to scrape by in. The show doesn’t hold back in how it garners laughs, and there’s plenty to go around. It’s a musical treat that will hit your funny bone, bring back a few memories in its callbacks, and even perhaps tug at your heartstrings a bit. What I’m trying to say is that there’s no reason not to go and see the Centerstage production of Something Rotten!, unless, of course, you don’t like to laugh.
Something Rotten!, presented by Centerstage Theatre, runs on stage at the Knutzen Family Theatre in Federal Way through June 15. For more information, including ticket availability and sales, visit https://centerstagetheatre.com.
Photo credit: Michelle Smith-Lewis
