Something Rotten! StageDoor Theatre
Review Something Rotten! – StageDoor Theatre, Conifer, CO | Eric Fitzgerald
StageDoor Theatre in Conifer is serving up a delicious Renaissance romp with its high-spirited production of Something Rotten! Under the deft direction/musical direction of local favorite, Tanner Kelly, this whip-smart satire springs to life thanks to a company of skillful musical theatre performers who bring boundless energy, crisp comedic timing, and vocal prowess to every outrageous twist.
Written by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, with music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick, Something Rotten! is a delightful caper featuring a hilarious storyline and powerfully catchy show tunes.
Careening through the misadventures of Nick (Andy Ray) and Nigel Bottom (Sean Davis), Something Rotten! is a whirlwind of misadventures that skewers Shakespeare, skewers showbiz, and turns the creative grind into glorious farce. Desperate for a hit and perennially eclipsed by the swaggering, leather-clad, rockstar playwright William Shakespeare (Jason Rexx), the brothers flail for inspiration—until Nick turns to a dubious soothsayer, Thomas Nostradamus, played by Scotty Shaffer, in a scene stealing performance, whose vision of the future includes…tap dancing and jazz hands? Musicals, he declares, are the next big thing. Cue the chaos.
Ray and Davis are both master performers. They carry the show with a magnetic presence, razor-sharp timing, and sincerity that anchors every scene they touch. Whether delivering biting humor or quiet vulnerability, their emotional depth transforms each moment into something unforgettable.
As the Elizabethan rock star, William Shakespeare, Rexx leaves nothing to be desired. He carries himself as the central focus, with a commanding swagger, an electric stage presence, and a charisma so potent that it seems to bend the spotlight toward him effortlessly. He owns every moment. And he’s funny, too.
Adding to the bedlam are a colorful array of scene-stealing characters: Nick’s no-nonsense wife, Bea (Nikki Salinas), whose grit rivals any bard; the earnest Portia (Savannah Vedovatti), whose romance with Nigel blossoms despite her father’s disapproval; and the gloriously repressed Brother Jeremiah (Stephen Sbanotto), a Puritan with a flair for unintentionally scandalous innuendo. Robin (Timmy Pamintuan) is hilarious throughout.
Bringing Something Rotten! to life with vision and flair, Tanner Kelly demonstrates a commanding grasp of both theatrical storytelling and musical nuance. His direction infuses the production with a vibrant energy that captures the show’s irreverent wit and Shakespearean satire, while never losing sight of the emotional undercurrents that ground the comedy.
A special mention goes to Heather Westenskow, choreographer, who has taken the ensemble to a new level of expertise and exuberance. Her work not only enlivens the stage—it transforms it, giving the ensemble a palpable sense of momentum that drives the entire production forward.
From Shakespearean swagger to showstopping musical numbers, the entire production dives headfirst into folly with infectious enthusiasm, making for an evening of irreverent fun and theatrical foibles. The show is on through June 29 at StageDoor Theatre in Conifer. Not to be missed!