If Only All Tall Tales Could Be Oh-So Uproarious, Oh-So 'Something Rotten!'

"Something Rotten!" cast members in costume back stage. Photos from "Something Rotten!" Facebook page.

BY TAMARA BECK

IF the telling had been left to the History Channel, there would have been less tap and more truth in it. And a lot less musical theater!

So, take a bow, “Something Rotten!. At the St. James Theatre through 3 Jan., the award-winning musical plants its genesis of the musical tale deep in the 16th century.

The Bottom brothers, Nick (Brian d'Arcy James) and Nigel (John Cariani) are unsuccessful theatermakers, overshadowed by the dynamic Shakespeare, billed as The Bard (Christian Borle.) CB won a Tony – his second – for his performance in “Something Rotten!.”

Nick, in particular, is jealous of The Bard's idolized popularity. Nigel, however, is in awe of his colleague’s talent and seeks him out to critique some of his own work. Shakespeare thrives while the Bottoms … well … hit bottom.

In desperation, Nick seeks out the soothsayer Nostradamus (Brad Oscar) to point him toward success. His goal is to create what the public wants. Meanwhile, Nostradamus sees "Cats!" in the future of the theater.

Elsewhere, the Puritan Brother Jeremiah (Brooks Ashmankas) finds theater altogether repugnant and works hard to shut down all such entertainments, while his daughter, Portia (Kate Reinders), falls in love with Nigel.

Rounding out the main players in the “Something Rotten!” cast are Peter Bartlett in the dual roles of Lord Clapham, patron of the arts and the Judge who ends up condemning them; Michael James Scott, a minstrel and part of the ensemble, and Gerry Vichi as Shylock, a money lender, as is well-known, but also a patron of the Bottoms.

BO is a standout in a superbly talented cast, as is BdAJ. Under the direction of Casey Nicholaw the ensemble shines and sparkles like the stars. Speaking of which, everyone in the production is a longstanding Broadway star.

In the world of “Something Rotten!” even the marketing (SPOTCo, Inc.) is hilarious. The musical was conceived by first-timers (to Broadway, at least) Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick. The latter also wrote the music and lyrics to John O'Farrell's book (written with KK.)

Rotten actors on the streets of New York City.

“Something Rotten!” makes up its musical theater history from the bits and pieces of musicals we've seen and scraps of theater through the ages with all the assurance that make-believe can have.

It's so not true, and oh-so plausible.

Visit http://www.rottenbroadway.com/index.php to learn more about"Somthing Rotten!.”

Genesis of a Syndrome in 'Peter and The Starcatcher’

Matt D'Amico, Rick Holmes, Isaiah Johnson, Adam Chanler-Berat and Christian Borle ham it up in “Peter and The Starcatcher.” Photos courtesy of O&M Co.

BY TAMARA BECK

“I won’t grow up.”

That anthem to the freedom of childhood so resonates that there’s a syndrome named for the ever-young Peter Pan.

“Peter and The Starcatcher,” in an open run at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, tells the backstory of the young man behind the name. In this tale, the title character starts out as a nameless orphan Boy (Adam Chanler-Berat) imprisoned in the hold of a ship called Neverland. He is to be sold into slavery along with two other boys – Prentiss (Carson Elrod) and Ted (David Rossmer). It’s the pirate Black Stache (Christian Borle) who gives the captive his now-famous name.

Written by Rick Elice and based on a novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, “Peter and The Starcatcher” is a bit of a good-natured muddle.

Kevin Del Aguila and Christian Borle in "Peter and The Starcatcher."

The entire cast takes genuine pleasure in the play’s silly puns and sophomoric hijinks. CB, especially, is comically gleeful in his vamping. Another standout is Teddy Bergman as Fighting Prawn, a royal mess of a king on the island where Neverland eventually docks. Serving as a backdrop for all of the zaniness are songs, though “Peter and The Starcatcher” is definitely a play rather than a musical.

Not exactly this reviewer’s cuppa, but “Peter and The Starcatcher” has an infectious, crowd-pleasing innocence.

Visit http://www.peterandthestarcatcher.com/ to learn more about "Peter and The Starcatcher."