UW-Stout’s theater guild has cooked up yet another excellent show this past weekend, performing the musical Something Rotten by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The show, set in the European Renaissance, is a fantastic exploration of what life would be like for those in the arts who lived in the time of Shakespeare, yet were not him.
The show primarily follows two brothers, Nick and Nigel Bottom, in their search for glory and stability in the performing arts. Played by Joseph Wolf and Samual Dobbratz, both show a great understanding of their characters and what goals they aspire to reach. Nick, in his search for financial stability for his family and dreams of being an acclaimed playwright. And Nigel, in his pursuit of love and individuality through his passion for writing. They both do an excellent job of making you want to root for their success, the perfect underdogs against the man himself, William Shakespeare. Played by Kaleb Mueller, Shakespeare is portrayed in a fantastic light. A man of profound ego and acclaim, who makes himself the centerpiece of each scene, even when moving in the background. Em Humphrey and Reece Halda both do excellent jobs in their portrayal of Portia and Bea, two characters that you come to root for, and their relationships with the brothers. Bea, married to Nick Bottom, continuously supports and saves Nick from his hubris throughout the musical. And Portia, in the candid love story she shares with Nigel, and the growth they both exhibit in that journey. The comedic elements of the musical are as captivating as the rest; characters like Brother Jeremiah (Coy Stasiek) and Shylock (Blake Herrick) both play their roles fantastically. Brother Jerimiah, as a devoted man of religion, whose hardline conservative beliefs are often undercut by his tendency to say less than holy things by accident, or as a representation of his real thoughts. Shylock serves as a phenomenal supporting character, whose quips and interesting plot line keep you wanting more whenever he is out of the scene. And my favorite character, Nostradamus (Tyler Hecksel), plays a misguided soothsayer whose continuous 4th wall breaks and references make the show refreshing and perfectly on the nose. The ensemble is active and always committed, whether it’s through stunning choreography or hilarious background antics during scenes. There’s really as much story in this musical in the main plot as there is in the background of the scenes; it is apparent that every member of this cast is truly committed to their role in their respective performances. Not to mention a great orchestra team that both sets the tone and exemplifies intense moments. The songs and movement in the show are always amazing to watch, with many special surprises on stage, especially in the second act. My personal favorite is “Make An Omelette” in Act Two, an interactive and stunning performance to watch. The Minstrel (Rae Weiss) plays her role extraordinarily. Starting Acts One and Two with “Welcome To The Renaissance,” both her singing and on-stage movements draw you into the show in a remarkable way. A character who only sings but has a strong foundational role in the cast, and especially for the audience.
Without giving too much away, the story of the show follows the members of an acting troupe, struggling for an audience with the recent explosive rise of their former colleague, William Shakespeare. Nick Bottom and his wife Bea are struggling financially, and Nick needs his next play to be the big ticket to stardom for their future family’s stability. He and his brother Nigel play as foils to each other; Nigel cares for the art and emotion of his writing, while Nick seeks the fame associated with it for his family. Through their escapades, Nick falls in with a soothsayer (or, future seer) who describes to him the next big thing, musicals, their big ticket to success. But his readings aren’t fully accurate, and a misinterpreted vision of the next big piece Shakespeare will craft turns into the musical Omelette. The show is full of references to other plays and musicals that are so plentiful you couldn’t catch them all in just seeing the show once. I believe the less you know before seeing it, the better it is. And this is certainly a musical to make the time to see.
If you weren’t able to catch the show this weekend, there are still 3 more shows on the docket before closing. Shows will be at the Harvey Hall Theater at 7:30 pm-10 pm, Thursday, April 16th, Friday, April 17th, and closing is on Saturday, April 18th. This show made me want to visit every one Stout puts on from now on, and I’m confident anyone who sees it will feel the same walking out.
