Something Rotten
2024
Book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell
Music and Lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick
Conceived by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick
Directed by Donna Feore
Choreographed by Donna Feore
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Over the last few years my son, who is now 16, and I have attended a number of plays in Stratford at the festival. We eagerly await the announcements of the seasons shows and often buy our tickets early in the winter. This was our first of four planned shows this season, and we also have tickets for Romeo & Juliet, Cymbeline, and Twelfth Night.
Typically I stick with the histories, the tragedies and the dramas. I am normally not a big fan of comedy in plays, films, and even books. But after seeing the Stratford video for the song ‘It’s hard to be the bard’ featuring Jeff Lillico and the Bard Boys, I know this one would be different. The last musical I enjoyed this much was probably Chess or maybe Tommy many years ago. After seeing that video and listening to the Broadway cast of the play we were both very eager for the show in Stratford.
It did not disappoint. There was audience laughter throughout the production. It is a terribly fun and entertaining story and this cast does an amazing job bringing the characters to life.
Note: this production is such a hit they have already extended the run by a number of weeks.
My top ranking for the performances would be:
Jeff Lillico as Shakespeare
Henry Firmston as Nigel Bottom
Dan Chameroy as Nostradamus
Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane as Portia
Starr Domingue as Bea
My son’s top picks were:
Jeff Lillico as Shakespeare
Henry Firmston as Nigel Bottom
Mark Uhre - Nick Bottom
Jeremy Carver-James as the Minstrel
Dan Chameroy as Nostradamus
The full cast in order of appearance is:
Minstrel - Jeremy Carver-James
Brother Jeremiah - Juan Chioran
Portia - Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane
Shakespeare - Jeff Lillico
Nick Bottom - Mark Uhre
Nigel Bottom - Henry Firmston
Lady Clapham - Khadijah Robertsabdullah
Shylock - Steve Ross
Bea - Starr Domingue
Nostradamus - Dan Chameroy
The Acting Troupe
Robin - Eric Abel
Peter - Gabriel Antonacci
Tom - Devon Michael Brown
Edmund - Jordan Goodridge
Horatio - Alex Kelly
Snug - Anthony Macpherson
Shakespeare Messenger - Jordan Mah
Master Of The Justice - Kevin ‘Koovy’ Mclachlan
Francis - Jason Sermonia
The Ladies Of The Renaissance
Celia - Carla Bennett
Miranda - Bonnie Jordan
Helena - Bethany Kovarik
Rosalind - Amanda Lundgren
Katherine - Gracie Mack
Olivia - Jamie Murray
The Bard Boys
Gabriel Antonacci
Devon Michael Brown
Anthony Macpherson
Jason Sermonia
Chefs
Gabriel Antonacci
Jeremy Carver-James
Anthony Macpherson
Renaissance Writers, Astrologers, Townspeople, Puritans, Eggs, Omelettes
Eric Abel, Gabriel Antonacci, Carla Bennett, Devon Michael Brown, Jeremy Carver-James, Jordan Goodridge, Bonnie Jordan, Alex Kelly, Bethany Kovarik, Amanda Lundgren, Gracie Mack, Anthony Macpherson, Jordan Mah, Kevin ‘Koovy’ Mclachlan, Jamie Murray, Jason Sermonia
Swings
Jarret Cody
Josh Doig
Alexandra Gratton
Heather Kosik
Understudies
Shylock - Eric Abel
Shakespeare - Gabriel Antonacci
Bea, Portia - Michelle Bardach
Minstrel - Jordan Goodridge
Bea - Bonnie Jordan
Nostradamus - Alex Kelly
Portia - Heather Kosik
Lady Clapham - Amanda Lundgren
Nigel Bottom - Anthony Macpherson
Brother Jeremiah - Jordan Mah
Nick Bottom - Kevin ‘Koovy’ Mclachlan
There were numerous laugh out loud moments during the production, and so many hat tips and Easter eggs to other plays, productions, and musicals. The Theatre was nearly packed and the applause and ovation was long and well deserved.
The musicians and the musical numbers were masterfully executed. The staging took full advantage of the large stage and right down to the first row of seating. My son would love to have copy of this performance as he prefers it to the original cast that he has a playlist for. And other than Richard III it is the first play he has asked to go back to again this season. In fact he mentions wanting to see it again at least weekly.
This is a standout performance well directed, staged and choreographed by Donna Feore. If you have the chance to see just 1 play this season this might be the one, (but having just seen Cymbeline in is a pretty close race.) A fantastic production that this father and son give an easy 2 Thumbs Up!
Reviews of Other Stratford Productions:
Richard III – 2022
Hamlet – 2022
The Miser – 2022
King Lear – 2023
Frankenstein Revived – 2023
Grand Magic – 2023
A Wrinkle in Time – 2023
Goblin MacBeth - 2023
Something Rotten – 2024
Romeo & Juliette – 2024
Cymbeline – 2024
Twelfth Night – 2024
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