(Cover Photo: James Lamoureaux as "Nick Bottom" with Will Sheerin as "Shakespeare" in a scene from the musical "SOMETHING ROTTEN" now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through August 11, 2024. Photo Courtesy Theatre Of Northeastern Connecticut)

By Kevin T. Baldwin

METRMAG Reviewer

# 774-242-6724

“If music be the food of love, play on.”

                                                                             - William Shakespeare      

Theatre Of Northeastern Connecticut, Inc. 

at the Bradley Playhouse 

Presents the Broadway Smash Musical 

"SOMETHING ROTTEN"

Book by John O'Connell and Karey Kirkpatrick

Music and Lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick

Co-Directed by Kathleen Atwood, Carl R. Mercier

Music Direction by E. Justin Simone

Choreography by Kat MacInnes

Cast Includes: LaDelle P. Arnold as "Minstrel," James Lamoureaux as "Nick Bottom," Dean Hernandez as "Nigel Bottom," Marc Cerrone as "Lord Clapham," Darrel Sapp as "Shylock," Catie Verostick as "Bea," Preston Arnold as "Nostradamus," Sophia McLay as "Portia," Jim Archambault as "Brother Jeremiah," Will Sheerin as "Shakespeare.

Ensemble Includes: Hannah Archambault, Alaina Belsito, Christie Brady, Colin Bragdon, Stephen Clarke, Nathan Conrow, Jane Ellis, Angela Foley, Paisley Gothreau, Meghan Harrington, Julie Hemeon, Nick Hemeon, Corey Kostacopoulos, Jordan Miller, Matthew Packard, Sophia Pontbriand, Imma Santerre, Holland Schaafsma, Amy Stoelzel, Casey Stoelzel, Allison Thebeau, Anna Kate Werge.

Additional Creative Team:

Dance Captain – Sophia Pontbriand; Stage Manager – Cassi duCharme; Artistic Committee Liaison – Christine Healy; Production Manager – Jeanne Foley; Production Coordinator – Kathleen Atwood; Costume Design and Coordination – Kris Brandriff; Costume Contributors – Linda Yeaw, Caroline Sloat, Angela Foley, Maegan Kelley, Little Theatre on Broadstreet, Exit 7 Theatre Ludlow, MA., Gilbert Players Hardwick, MA.; Costume Coordination and Dressers – Meghan Harrington, Lily Mueller, Bonnie Theriault (many others); Hair and Makeup – Rebecca Theriaque; Set Designer – Carl R. Mercier; Set Artist – Greg Brock; Set Construction and Painters – Carl Mercier, William Rothschild, Anna Kate Werge, Jordan Miller, Nora Miller, Hannah Archambault, Sophia Pontbriand, Rebecca Patenaude, LaDelle Arnold, David Abbamonte, Amy Stoelzel, Casey Stoelzel, Imma Santerre, Stephen Clark, Jane Ellis, Darrell Sapp, Madison Sapp; Props – Melinda Collelo, Bonnie Theriault, Greg Brock, Kathleen Atwood; Lighting Designer – Aidan Horrigan; Sound Designer – David Panteleakos; Light Operator – David Abbamonte; Sound Operator – Spencer LaBell; Stagehand – Sarah Pupka; Photography – Lindsay Lehmann; Volunteer Coordinator – Cindy Beckman; Marketing Coordinator – Kendra Malizia; TNECT Business Manager – Kristi-Lyn Sadosky.

Performances:

July 26, 2024 through August 11, 2024  

(Contact Box Office for Exact Times) 

THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE, 30 Front Street (Route 44) in Putnam, CT.  

TICKETS       

All seats reserved. Reservations may be made with a major credit card online at www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or by calling 860-928-7887.   

COVID 19 PROTOCOLS

Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.

The highly entertaining Broadway musical "SOMETHING ROTTEN" is now entertaining audiences at the Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut, Inc. (TNECT) at the Bradley Theatre in Putnam, CT. and it makes for some terrific summertime fun.       

TNECT has assembled a vibrant, enthusiastic cast and a top-notch creative team. 

The production showcases many terrific sets and costumes and a marvelous live orchestra. 

The result is a finely tuned and faithful adaptation of the Broadway smash, a wildly entertaining show that brings an onslaught of laughter that spreads like a plague…but in a "good way." 

Nominated for 10 Tony Awards, "SOMETHING ROTTEN" is a musical never fails to bring the funny and thank God (and the Bard) for that! 

"SOMETHING ROTTEN" opened on Broadway in 2015 and played 708 performances. 

The story, performed completely tongue-in-cheek (although not quite farcical), takes place during the Renaissance, specifically the 1590s. 

There is actually a genuine, prevailing “sweetness” to the story as it flows, which is a major factor in what endears it to its audience. 

The show itself balances a solid plot, wonderful music and consistent character development thanks to the musical’s writing team of John O’Farrell with music and lyrics by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick. 

Under the efficient co-direction of Kathleen Atwood and Carl R. Mercier, with music direction by E. Justin Simone (who also plays piano in the orchestra) and sophisticated choreography supplied by Kat MacInnes, all elements of the show have equal part energy and humor. 

The characters we meet during "SOMETHING ROTTEN" are all extremely likeable, even the ones who aren’t intended to be so “nice.” 

(Photo: Dean Hernandez as "Nigel Bottom" meets Sophia McLay as the delightful "Portia" in a scene from the musical "SOMETHING ROTTEN" now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through August 11, 2024. Photo Courtesy Theatre Of Northeastern Connecticut)

In "SOMETHING ROTTEN" brothers and co-writing team Nick and Nigel Bottom (James Lamoureaux and Dean Hernandez, respectively), find themselves continuously and hopelessly out-written and out-performed by egomaniacal wunderkind William Shakespeare (Will Sheerin) whose creative roll has propelled him to superstar status in the eyes of his fans. 

Nick, especially, loathes the obnoxiously popular Bard and illustrates it brilliantly in the side-splitting number, “God, I Hate Shakespeare.”  

The supporting ensemble portraying the “Troupe” for Nick and Nigel are especially well suited to the material, providing many laughs. 

Lamoureaux and Hernandez have tremendous onstage chemistry, critical in portraying the co-dependent siblings. 

Each has been given their moment(s) to excel, musically, as well. 

Lamoureaux shines throughout with musical highlights being “God I Hate Shakespeare” and the Act One Finale "Bottom's Gonna Be On Top." 

Lamoureaux seems to have a full grasp of the comedic text and definitely knows when to land a punchline or when to simply react to someone else's punchline, making him the perfect acting partner to be with on stage in a comedy.

With Hernandez, musical highlights come in the songs "Nigel's Theme" and the second act’s "To Thine Own Self Be True." 

Hernandez imbues Nigel with a terrific child-like quality. Yet, throughout, his character shows far a more heightened sense of maturity and nobility than does his brother.  

Sheerin has a unique “smarminess” as the princely yet boorish and egocentric Shakespeare. Yet, he also shows a vulnerable, desperate side of this caricature of the Bard.

The talented ensemble supports Sheerin in his numbers “Will Power” and "Hard to Be the Bard." 

(Photo: James Lamoureaux as "Nick Bottom," Catie Verostick as "Bea" and Dean Hernandez as "Nigel Bottom" in a scene from the musical  "SOMETHING ROTTEN" now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through August 11, 2024. Photo Courtesy Theatre Of Northeastern Connecticut)

Financially desperate for a sure-fire hit play big enough to compete with Shakespeare’s popularity, Nick seeks out a soothsayer and stumbles upon Nostradamus himself. 

Actually, he stumbles upon "Thomas Nostradamus" (Preston Arnold), descended nephew of the famous original soothsayer and, predictably, not quite as accurate in his predictions. 

Arnold shines in the role of Nostradamus, who presents his “premonitions” more like he’s grasping at very frail straws than solid brass rings. 

Nostradamus gets a lot of fragmented information from the future, and this leads to some hilarious results later in the show. 

However, one big concept Nostradamus gets 100 percent correct: He advises Nick that of a future full of Broadway caliber musicals, which is where the show really takes off and never looks back, with a show-stopping number aptly titled, “A Musical.”  

Many shows are spoofed, referenced, revered, lampooned, and sampled from Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber shows, to “Les Miserables,” “Music Man,” “Annie,” “Chorus Line” and more. 

Nick also asks about Shakespeare’s next work, intending to write it before Shakespeare, but unknown to Nick, one major element Nostradamus does not get right is the title of Shakespeare’s greatest work. 

So, placing all his faith in Nostradamus, Nick decides to write his musical, “Omelet” - realizing that he is actually "lifting" (stealing) Shakespeare’s destined story of "Hamlet." 

It is Nigel who provides the perfect moral compass which pits himself against Nick's immoral decision and direction in the story. 

(Photo: Will Sheerin as "Shakespeare," James Lamoureaux as "Nick Bottom" and Dean Hernandez as "Nigel Bottom" in a moment from the musical "SOMETHING ROTTEN" now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through August 11, 2024. Photo Courtesy Theatre Of Northeastern Connecticut)

Catie Verostick is energetic as Nick’s supportive wife, Bea, with many hilarious highlights throughout the show, but also sparkling in the musical number, “Right Hand Man” which she absolutely nails. 

To quote the Bard, himself, "I love to hear her speak, yet well I know that music hath a far more pleasing sound."   

As written, it could be argued that the “Bea” character is seriously underutilized - because Bea actually provides a message of female empowerment (during the Renaissance) while striking a perfect balance comedically between Nick and Nigel's mutual and separate aspirations throughout the story. 

Similarly, Nigel meets and falls for pretty Puritan, Portia (Sophia McLay), who becomes ardently absorbed by the potential poet, encouraging Nigel to evolve as a writer. 

As Portia, McLay is captivating and renders well the delightful song, “I Love the Way” with Hernandez. 

During Act Two, the duo lead another engaging ensemble number, “We See the Light," which, structurally, comes fairly close to doing for the second act what the aforementioned “A Musical” does for the first, but with far more emphasis on humor than musicality. 

(Photo: James Lamoureaux as "Nick Bottom" back-to-back against Will Sheerin as "Shakespeare" in the musical "SOMETHING ROTTEN" now playing at the Bradley Playhouse in Putnam, CT. through August 11, 2024. Photo Courtesy Theatre Of Northeastern Connecticut)

The entire cast brings forth a rousing and hysterically funny show. 

The costumes, sets and other technical aspects of the show were equally impressive and set changes were executed smoothly. 

Thanks to the combined effort of the Bradley Playhouse cast and creative team involved, "SOMETHING ROTTEN" is a guaranteed musical highlight of the season and is a great way to have some fun over the summer. 

"SOMETHING ROTTEN" continues at the Bradley Playhouse until August 11^th, and is definitely something wonderful. So do not miss! 

Coming up next at the Bradley Playhouse will be "THE CRUCIBLE" by Arthur Miller beginning October 4^th, 2024. 

For tickets and more information, visit www.thebradleyplayhouse.org or call # 860-928-7887.   

Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes including intermission

Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)

@MetrmagReviews 

@Theatre_Critics  

ABOUT THE SHOW

Welcome to the Renaissance!

This hilarious new musical comedy tells the story of brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, two playwrights stuck in the shadow of Renaissance rock star Will Shakespeare. 

When a soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, the Bottom brothers set out to write the worlds’ very first MUSICAL. 

With it’s heart on it’s ruffled sleeve and sequins in its soul, "SOMETHING ROTTEN" is an uproarious dose of pure Broadway fun!

ABOUT THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE

THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE is a 117 year-old vaudeville theatre in the heart of the Putnam antiques and restaurant district in the “Quiet Corner” of Northeastern Connecticut.  Since 1991, THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE has been managed by the volunteers of The Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut, Inc. (TNECT).  

ABOUT THEATRE OF NORTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT (TNECT)

TNECT produces eight main season shows per year and a number of special fundraising events for The Bradley Playhouse Restoration Fund. TNECT’s mission is to produce and sponsor quality theatre and entertainment for the residents of Northeastern Connecticut and the surrounding areas, to encourage the development of creativity through the support of local artists, and to support education and hands-on experience in the creation, direction, and production of theatre and the performing arts.

THE BRADLEY PLAYHOUSE

30 Front Street

P.O. Box 71

Putnam, CT 06260-1942

www.thebradleyplayhouse.org