Millbrook High School’s theatre department announced this spring’s musical, “Something Rotten!”, which ran from March 13-15th. The hilarious comedy musical takes the audience on a journey to the 16th century where two aspiring playwright brothers, Nick and Nigel Bottom, struggle to make a name for themselves while living under the great bard William Shakespeare. With its sharp humor and whimsical portrayal of Shakespere’s rivalry, “Something Rotten!” explores the two brothers’s attempt to outdo the Bard and to hopefully find success.
One of the memorable elements in the plot included making fun of Shakespeare’s status. Another memorable element was the aspect of forbidden love when Nigel Bottom (the younger of the two) falls for Portia, the Puritan preacher’s daughter. Their relationships added both romance and conflict, creating tension and laughter in multiple scenes.
The cast of “Something Rotten!” delivered an exceptional performance, with Rowan Kindl as Nick Bottom, the ambitious older brother desperate to break free from Shakespeare’s shadow. Kael Alley played Nigel Bottom, whose talent as a writer shines through despite the conflicts he goes through.
Madeline Atwater took the iconic role of William Shakespere, adding charm, wit, and arrogance in an enjoyable manner. Audience member, Liz Lobaton, loved watching this portrayal of Shakespere, “I thought it was really cool that Shakespere was played by a girl and it honestly made the experience better, it was hilarious to watch her and she’s a great actress!”
Other notable characters included Ella Moore as Nancy Nostradamus (niece of the infamous Nostradamus), who foresees the future, and Noah Finerghty as Brother Jeremiah whose character represented the Puritans conflict with the arts. Berklee Axford played Beatrice Bottom, Nick’s wife, who provided both support and comedic relief. While Ava Moore brought life to Portia, whose love included poetry and Nigel.
Supporting these actors were the hardworking stage managers Nathaniel Baker-Sample and Max Binker who oversaw the production, ensuring a smooth performance. Behind the scenes, the set designers, painters, lighting, sound technicians, and costume crew contributed to the vibrant musical, truly bringing the Renaissance era to life and creating an immersive experience for the audience.
The musical was filled with humorous songs–“God, I Hate Shakespeare”, “The Black Death” and “Something Rotten!/Make an Omelette”. Each song added a unique touch of humor, making it clear the musical wasn’t afraid to make fun of the theatre world and its iconic figures. Junior Arlo Cervantes commented, “My favorite song was probably “God, I Hate Shakespeare”, it was just really funny, and I feel like it said a lot about how most of us feel [about Shakespeare]. His writing is definitely too wordy!”
The show was a delight to watch with its blend of humor, heart, and history, it was clear that Millbrook’s theatre department poured their passion, energy, and time into this standout performance.
