SOMETHING  ROTTEN  at the St. James Theatre

(Seen April 30, 2015)


It's always a welcome surprise when I go to a show that I expect to despise, and I actually enjoy it.  I have problems with shows that keep saying "Look how clever I am!", while I am suffering at the ridiculousness of it all.

While SOMETHING  ROTTEN borders on that, it actually is clever and silly without going over the top,  And of course, having Brian D'Arcy James as a major player, does help.

This story of how the first musical came to be written is funny.  With Shakespeare as a contemporary, two brothers --- would-be playwrights --- try to eke out a living in the shadow of Shakespeare, who is a hot-shot London idol, equivalent to a present day rock star.

Christian Borle's Shakespeare is a preening dandy who makes it big as the premiere writer of his time.  He is not above stealing ideas and plots from his circle of theatre cronies.

James' Nick is told by a phony seer (Brad Oscar) that the next big phase of theatre lies in musicals --- a seemingly crazy idea at the time.  And the play enfolds from that prediction, as Nick and his brother try to create the first musical --- called OMELET, the seer's misreading of HAMLET.  

The show has lots of 'inside' show business allusions.  And while it often approaches  caricature,  it maintains a comedic spirit without going over the line too much.  All in all, an entertaining romp!