The cast of "Something Rotten!" during rehearsals. (Photo courtesy of H'Arrya Canty)
The WVU School of Theatre and Dance presents the uproariously funny musical “Something Rotten!” from April 23-26 at the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre.
Set in the 1590s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star 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.
“Something Rotten!” is simultaneously a parody and an homage to musical theatre, told through the lens of Elizabethan England in the time of William Shakespeare.
“To take a form of theater that is so popular and universal as musical theater is, though it is an American art form, and use the lens of Shakespearean times and Elizabethan England to filter the joy, the excitement, the clichés and the structure of musical theater is quite ingenious,” said Director Lee Blair, Associate Professor of Acting and Musical Theatre. “As bizarre as that is, it is even more bizarre on stage, but it’s also funny and sweet.”
At its core, “Something Rotten!” is an underdog story: A family man is determined to succeed and make a name for himself so he can better care for the ones he loves. To do that, he just has to out-bard Shakespeare himself, which leads to some outrageous decisions and some unexpected outcomes.
Despite its historic setting, “Something Rotten!” is a contemporary production, dressed in humor and spectacle and liberally sprinkled with musical theatre and Shakespeare references. But one doesn’t have to be a theatre nerd to enjoy the play’s bawdy, slapstick comedy and show-stopping musical and dance numbers.
After the final bows have been taken and the curtain closes, Blair wants the audience to walk out of the theatre feeling delighted.
“Why do we laugh? Because it’s cathartic. We feel better. It makes us feel good to laugh,” said Blair. “So what I want audiences to take away from this performance is joy.”
“Of course,” Blair added, “the people who get the inside jokes will enjoy it a little more.”
‘This musical could not be itself without the dancing’
“There are certain moments and phenomena in musical theatre that people will applaud for just because of the excitement and spectacle of it,” said Blair. “Like a kick line—or tap dancing.”
And “Something Rotten!” has both—and much more.
WVU Theatre usually plans its productions about a year in advance, and when the committee chooses what to perform next, it takes the potential casting pool into account.
“We don’t precast by any means, but we have to have some idea of what we’re capable of doing with the student body that we know will be returning next year,” said Blair.
There are several significant dance numbers, and this cohort of acting and musical theatre students have the ability to pull them off.
Associate Professor of Dance and Musical Theatre General Hambrick choreographed most of the musical numbers for “Something Rotten!” It was a bigger task than he’d anticipated, but he had a blast playing with the show’s various dance styles.
“‘Something Rotten!’ pulls from so many different musicals and Shakespearean plays and sonnets. I wanted to use the knowledge of those plays, musicals and the melding of time periods in music and text to create the choreography,” said Hambrick.
No matter the dance style, though, Hambrick’s priority is to ensure the choreography helps convey the plot or enhance the story.
Hambrick has previously choreographed for the musicals “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “Anything Goes,” among others, including some that have featured audience-pleasing tap dance numbers.
“I love choreographing tap, but it can be challenging,” said Hambrick. “Some of the students say my tap choreography is a bit unconventional. I am not a tap teacher, but because I’ve done shows where I’ve had to tap and I know rhythms, I’m able to choreograph it.”
The cast—a mix of Musical Theatre and Acting students—have risen to the challenge and enjoyed every moment of it.
“It has been such a challenge, but at the end of the day, it's so rewarding knowing that you can't do it yet, but you are going to be able to do it at some point, and people are going to love it,” said Ayden Gonzalez, a freshman Musical Theatre major and a named member of the ensemble (Tom Snout).
Junior Musical Theatre major Ainsley Walker agreed.
“It's really interesting to see it getting better and better each day and turn into something more put together. And we're like, ‘wait, this actually is going to eat once it's done,’ but you got to let it cook in the oven for a little bit. Once it's done, though, it does look great,” said Walker, who plays the soothsayer Nancy Nostradamus. “This musical could not be itself without the dancing.”
This is the last WVU Theatre production Hambrick will choreograph as a member of the School of Theatre and Dance faculty. He will officially retire May 3 after 14 years of teaching at WVU.
“To be part of General’s last project with West Virginia University Theater and Dance is exciting and bittersweet,” said Alayna Scott, a senior Musical Theatre major who plays Portia. “We are learning several genres, which some of us don't have experience in, so it’s not always easy. But it feels so rewarding to be able to do that for him and to celebrate him and his legacy.”
Those who teach also do
“Our professors are always saying, ‘oh, I perform,’” said Scott.
“And we never get to see it,” added Gonzalez.
But this time, they do.
Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Ryan Scoble plays Brother Jermiah, the Puritan (and puritanical) father of Portia, who is determined to keep his daughter away from actor and poet Nigel Bottom.
The students love having their professor as their peer. He’s funny, committing fully to the bawdy absurdity, and full of ideas.
“It’s really fun having our teacher be one of us,” said Walker, “because it’s like, wow, they aren’t perfect either. They mess up on their lines, too.”
As students, they find a sort of comfort in watching their professor try different line deliveries, some of which fall flat, or come out of scene wishing he’d done something different.
“It’s a great reminder that they also go through the exact same process we do,” said Scott.
Audience members may catch references to popular musicals like “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “West Side Story,” “Cats,” “Annie,” “Cabaret,” “Les Misérables” and more. Viewers with keen eyes and ears will spot the allusions in everything from music motifs and lyrics to choreography and blocking.
Those who remember reading Shakespeare once upon a time are likely to hear some familiar phrases and names. Nick Bottom and his struggling troupe are plucked from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” while Portia and Shylock are inspired by characters from “The Merchant of Venice.”
Each cast member has a favorite reference. As young actors, however, they didn’t always understand the allusions at first.
Having Blair and Hambrick at the helm of the production meant students had walking, talking (and sometimes dancing) theatre encyclopedias at their disposal.
“There could not have been a better directing duo than Lee and General,” said Scott. “These are two people who have lived through and been involved with these iconic musicals, and they’re so excited to teach us. They really take the references to the next level. They’re not afraid to be extra, and we love having two directors who are nerdier than we are about it.”
Art imitates life
Scott sees herself in her character, Portia, not because they both have fathers who are religious leaders, but because Portia is the ultimate fangirl.
In the show, Portia loves poetry and theatre, but she comes from a strict Puritan household where such things are considered sinful. She falls for Nigel Bottom, a poet, writer and fellow super fan.
“Playing Portia has been my outlet to unmask and channel my old middle school self and allow myself to be excited and have new discoveries,” said Scott. “It’s been a blast to let all my repressed fangirl feelings out.”
As a member of the ensemble, Greyson Bishoff, a sophomore B.A. Theatre major, has the freedom to put as much of himself into his character as he wants.
“You make yourself a point of inspiration, like certain mannerisms or habits you have that can be replicated and exaggerated. Then you splash that inspiration onto the empty canvas that is your character,” said Bishoff.
Gonzalez has had fun being an actor playing a struggling actor, exploring the highs and lows of success and failure.
“It’s fun to realize how different you can portray anything and everything as an actor,” he said.
The cast of “Something Rotten!” can see reflections of themselves in their characters, but they can also see the reflection of their and others’ artistic journeys in the story.
“This show can remind artists how to keep going and to remember at the end of the day, this is what we love and this is what we want to do: make people smile and make the world a better place,” said Gonzalez.
“As performers, we eventually learn that we only find success when we stop trying to imitate people we think are more successful,” said Scott. “We find true success and self-fulfillment when we write our own story instead of trying to follow someone else’s.”
For Scott, “Something Rotten!” marks an ending and a beginning, as it’s her last show at WVU.
“When I reflect on all the hard work and everything else, I’m reminded that I'm here with my best friends and we get to take our first and final bows together. I just can't wait for that moment to happen,” she said.
Blair called “Something Rotten!” an homage—Bishoff calls it a love letter.
“It’s a love letter to musical theatre itself,” he said. “Right now, we need a holding place where we can forget about the world, have a good laugh and experience the joy of art and comedy. This show is like a sanctuary, you know?”
“Something Rotten!” runs April 23-25 at 7:30 p.m. and April 26 at 2 p.m. in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre at the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for children. Purchase tickets online at go.wvu.edu/somethingrotten, by phone at 304-293-SHOW or in person at the box office located in the main lobby of the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.