"Something Rotten!" Has Arrived at the Ahmanson

“Something Rotten!” is big in every sense – big catchy songs, big lively dance numbers with plenty of jazz hands, big jokes about every big hit Broadway show in the past 50 years and a big very talented cast.

The musical even opens big with the show stopping “Welcome to the Renaissance” delightfully performed by Nick Rashad Burroughs.

The story centers on the Bottom Brothers Nick (the great Rob McClure) and Nigel (equally great Josh Grisetti) who write and direct an unsuccessful theater troupe during the 1590’s. They can’t seem to create a hit because all of the Elizabethans are obsessed with Shakespeare, played by the enormously talented Adam Pascal, clad in leather pants and resembling a cross between Mick Jagger and Billy Idol.

Pascal is brilliant and perfectly cast as the strutting self-absorbed bard with standout “Will Power,” “Bottom’s Gonna Be on Top,” and “Hard to Be the Bard” numbers.

Desperate for fortune and fame, Nick seeks out the advice of Nostradamus’ nephew (the excellent Blake Hammond), who informs him that the next big hit will be something called a musical, which is defined by the energetic huge tap dancing chorus line jazz hands production “A Musical.”

When asked about Shakespeare’s next play the soothsayer is a bit off when predicting the bard’s greatest work will be “Omelette,” about a prince with a Danish.

There are plenty of subplots with Nick’s liberated wife Bea wanting to help support the family (Maggie Lakis with a nice “Right Hand Man” solo), Portia, Nigel’s Puritan love interest (Autumn Hurlbert, providing a sweet romantic duet “I Love the Way,” and Brother Jeremiah (Scott Cole) and Shylockk (Jeff Brooks) providing plenty of comedic double entendres.

The final resolution lets everyone share the spotlight in a nice “To Thine Own Self” performance by Nick and Nigel.

Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winning Casey Nicholaw, written by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell with music and lyrics by brothers Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick, “Something Rotten!” is a big clever, funny, energetic tribute to Broadway.

During the performance I saw on Thanksgiving Eve, the audience got a special treat when Adam Pascal performed “One Song” from “Rent” to raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aid. Donations can be made at https://broadwaycares.org.