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‘Something Rotten’ brings the Renaissance to hilarious life

Published 1:30 am Thursday, September 7, 2023

By Herald Staff

Nick_Nostradamus: Nostradamus (right, played by Michael G McFadden) predicts the future of theatre for Nick Bottom (Jordan Mielbrecht) in “Something Rotten!” at Red Curtain Community Arts Center in Marysville Sept. 8-24. (Kenny Randall)
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Nick_Nostradamus: Nostradamus (right, played by Michael G McFadden) predicts the future of theatre for Nick Bottom (Jordan Mielbrecht) in “Something Rotten!” at Red Curtain Community Arts Center in Marysville Sept. 8-24. (Kenny Randall)
The Bottom Brothers’ troupe of actors (from left: Jay Rairigh, Ben St. Hilaire, Bradley Riggs, Christopher Bartness, Drew Sage) react to Nick (Jordan Meilbrecht) and Nigel’s (Jonathan Olson) argument about the new play in “Something Rotten!” (Kenny Randall)
Nostradamus (right, played by Michael G McFadden) predicts the future of theatre for Nick Bottom (Jordan Mielbrecht) in “Something Rotten!” (Kenny Randall)
Nigel Bottom (left, played by Jonathan Olson) introduces a smitten Portia (Katie Wallace) to Shakespeare (Josiah Miller) in “Something Rotten!” (Kenny Randall)

MARYSVILLE — Red Curtain Foundation for the Arts opens the 2023-2024 community theater season Friday with a Shakespeare-inspired musical comedy.

“Something Rotten!” will be staged Sept. 8-24 at the Red Curtain Arts Center, 9315 State Ave. #J, Marysville.

Set in the 1590s, the play concerns brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, who are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of a Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard.” When a soothsayer foretells that the future of theater involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, the brothers 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.

Curtain will be 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors/students/military. Buy tickets online, over the phone at 360-322-7402, or at the box office Tuesday-Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m.

All seven selections in the 2023-2024 season at Red Curtain are Shakespeare-inspired, including two world-premiere adaptations: “Ripeness is All,” an all-female retelling of the tragedy of King Lear, and one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies set in a winter forest in “A Midwinter Night’s Dream.” Other titles are “Shakespeare’s R&J,” “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [abridged] [revised] [again],” “Into the Breeches!” and a musical version of “Twelfth Night.”

For more information, visit www.redcurtainfoundation.org.

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