SOMETHING ROTTEN Reviews

Today is Wednesday, April 22, marking the triumphant returns to Broadway for Christian Borle and Brian d'Arcy James, who co-star as theatrical adversaries in the new Broadway musical SOMETHING ROTTEN!, which officially opens at the St. James. The plot centers on two brothers, desperate to write a hit play of their own in Shakespeare's shadow, who end up creating the world's first musical. The cast also features John Cariani, Heidi Blickenstaff, Brad Oscar, Kate Reinders, Brooks Ashmanskas, Peter Bartlett, Gerry Vichi and Michael James Scott. Under the auspice of director-choreographer Casey Nicholaw, the production began previews on March 23.

Here's how the musical is billed: "Welcome to the '90s — the 1590s — long before the dawn of premium tickets, star casting and reminders to turn off your cell phones. Brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rockstar known as 'The Bard.' When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first MUSICAL! But amidst the scandalous excitement of Opening Night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self… and all that jazz. With its heart on its ruffled sleeve and sequins in its soul, Something Rotten! is an uproarious dose of pure Broadway fun and an irresistible ode to musicals — those dazzling creations that entertain us, inspire us, and remind us that everything’s better with an exclamation point!"

Post 'em here, kids!

I'll be curious to see if the critics think it lives up to the hype or if they truly find it to be something rotten.

i honestly have no idea which way these reviews will go.

to top it off, a musical celebrating musicals.

Musical theatre and film are the two most self-congratulatory artforms; how many musicals about how great musical theatre is do we need?

Same thing as the Fun Home dissenting viewers...they will be pushed out of the thread if you say something not gushing or praising their chosen show.  At least in Something Rotten previews thread both who liked and disliked the show are posting.  I got my tix to this show and excited to watch in May, good critic reviews or not! (PS: I have no interest in watching FH)

Updated On: 4/22/15 at 11:40 AM

My guess - almost certain to be wrong and I hope I am wrong because I might like to see this  - is the reviews will be divided into two camps. The positive consisting of all people who loved it on this board and the negative: Virtually every professional reviewer.

But, see, no one cares about what you say.

"Same thing as the Fun Home dissenting viewers...they will be pushed out of the thread if you say something not gushing or praising their chosen show.  At least in Something Rotten previews thread both who liked and disliked the show are posting.  I got my tix to this show and excited to watch in May, good critic reviews or not! (PS: I have no interest in watching FH)"

 If dissenting opinions really are being pushed out, that's disappointing. I'm always up for hearing people who have a different take on a show than mine, particular those that are thoughtful in outlining their likes or dislikes. Obviously, This sucks" or "How can you not live it?" while fine as simple reactions don't do much if you want to advance a conversation.

http://www.broadway.com/videos/156071/video-theres-a-will-and-a-way-to-see-clips-of-something-rotten/#play

Updated On: 4/22/15 at 01:49 PM

The set looks gorgeous

"From what I've read on here the show hasn't improved since my review of the preview performance.  When you leave a first act asking "What is this show about?" I think there are problems.  

If Brantley gives it anything other than a pan, I'll be shocked.  "

I think you should prepare yourself to be shocked.  But finebydesign, you've been wrong about so many predictions before, what should shock you is if you turn out to be right.  And maybe you will be, we'll know in a few hours.  

NBC NY is up and it's Very Positive, especially for the performers:

It's the Bottoms on Top in Easygoing Comedy "Something Rotten!"

"“Rotten!” paints musical theater culture in the same broad strokes that the “The Book of Mormon” used to satirize religion—everyone gets to be in on the joke. This new musical makes us do just enough work that we feel satisfied for picking up on them. Go for the production numbers and the big-hearted turns from the leads, whose enthusiasm ultimately proves even more infectious than the plague."

Hollywood Reporter is Very Positive:

Smells like a hit, a very palpable hit

"The Shakespearean references come thick and fast, along with the winking nods to a whole plethora of modern musicals, in Something Rotten! But the laughs in this rambunctious comedy by Broadway newcomers Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick, written with British humorist John O'Farrell and buoyed by a top-drawer cast, don't require comprehensive recall of classical theater or a particular receptiveness for arcane Broadway in-jokes. This is a big, brash meta-musical studiously fashioned in the mold of Monty Python's Spamalot, The Producers and The Book of Mormon, loaded with crowd-pleasing showstoppers, deliciously puerile gags and an infectious love of the form it so playfully skewers."

Who doesn't smell a whopper hit?