Nothing Bad About "Something Rotten" in Garnet Valley

By JessAnn Coder
Jessica Ann Coder can insert musical theatre lyrics into any conversation without even trying.

Garnet Valley Performing Arts Association’s production of Something Rotten follows the Bottom brothers as they try to find theatrical success while competing with the wildly popular William Shakespeare.

Something Rotten is a musical comedy full of laughs, love, and more than a few references to other theatrical productions. The fast-paced lyrics of Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick throw several jokes at you throughout the two-and-a-half-hour show, leaving you smiling as we roll from one scene to another.

Keian Hagstrom’s smug portrayal of the celebrity William Shakespeare was wonderful, with this tap battle with rival Nick Bottom, portrayed by John Dingle, being a highlight of both men’s performances.  

The stand-out song from the production was A Musical, led by Aubrey Murphey’s Nostradamus.  A large, over-the-top number complete with tapping and high kicks covered several popular musical theatre styles and was an absolute joy to watch.  Murphey’s performance was an absolute standout for this performance, perfectly handling the comedic timing required of her character.

Max Hunter’s performance as the younger Bottom brother, Nigel, was stunning.  He brought sweetness to the naive character who claims to be Shakespeare’s biggest fan and was excellent from his first step onto the stage to his last.

Vicki Coleman as Portia, a daughter of the theatre-hating Puritan, shone anytime she was on stage.  Coleman’s smile and charm brought extra energy to her duet with Nigel Bottom in Act One, I Love The Way.  She was an absolute joy and I found my eye drawn to her every time she was onstage.  

The ensemble did a lot of the heavy lifting for Something Rotten, filling the stage for nearly every number and bringing choreographers Gina Veith and Carli Fruchtl’s wonderful dancing to life while also providing harmonies that truly gave me goosebumps.  Be sure to keep an ear out for the crisp and clean acapella portion of We See the Light where their voices really shine.

Omelette, the musical within a musical, brought some of my favorite costumes of the entire production.  Keri Miller, Jenn Schneider, and Chrissy Stuardi absolutely outdid themselves during the second act.  

Performances of Something Rotten were held at Garnet Valley High School Auditorium in Glen Mills, PA. The next summer production for GVPAA is Kids on Broadway, running June 17-21. For more information about GVPAA, visit https://gvpaa.org/ or follow them on Facebook @GVPAA!