PCT WELCOMES US TO THE RENAISSANCE FOR MUCH FUN AND SOME SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCES
by Laura Bloom Farber
Palm Canyon Theatre (PCT) has another winner with Something Rotten, a musical comedy with a heavy emphasis on farcical, hilarious shenanigans that pit Shakespeare against a fictitious rival.
This is a dance-heavy musical with music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick and a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell. It takes courage for a community theatre to produce Something Rotten when comparison is inevitable to a Broadway cast that included Christian Borle, Brian d’Arcy James, and Gerry Vichi. (You know the face, if not the name). Yet PCT succeeds brilliantly.
The setting is Shakespeare’s England. Nick Bottom, a rival playwright envious of Shakespeare’s success and popularity, seeks to outdo the bard with his next production. He pays Thomas Nostradamus, nephew of the famous Nostradamus, to predict the next big trend in theatre. Nostradamus’ “vision” is a musical, a play where "an actor is saying his lines, and out of nowhere he just starts singing". From this “vision” arises a big, funny, production number, “A Musical!”, involving the whole large ensemble demonstrating what musicals are about. Nick is at first dubious but quickly comes around.
Rubber-faced Raul Valenzuela steals the show with a spectacular, bravura performance as Thomas Nostradamus. Eric Stein-Steele brilliantly portrays Shakespeare as an Elvis-like rock star. Keith Alexander plays Nigel Bottom, Nick’s poet brother, with an endearing sweetness. Rounding out the principal roles are Nick, well played by Ben Reece; Nick’s wife, Bea (Laurie Holmes), who aspires to be his “right-hand man;” Portia, Nigel’s poetry-loving sweetheart (Phylicia Mason); Shylock (David Brooks) — yes, THAT Shylock; and the minstrel (Marcello Tulipano). A large, hard-working ensemble completes the cast.
The show was directed and choreographed by Se Layne, with set and lighting design by J.W. Layne and costume design by Derik Shopinski. Musical director Chuck Peery, new to Palm Canyon Theatre, skillfully led the three-piece band.
Audience members knowledgeable about Shakespeare’s work and about musical theatre will “get” all the many references and jokes, but those less familiar with these genres will still enjoy Something Rotten, which is anything but rotten. Go see it.
The rest of the performances are on Thursday, February 15 at 7:00 p.m.; Friday, February 16 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, February 17 at 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, February 18 at 2:00 p.m.; Thursday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m.; Friday, February 23 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, February 24 at 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday, February 25 at 2:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $38 for adults, $34 for seniors, and $17 for students and children, plus a $3 fee. For tickets, call 760-323-5123 or visit www.palmcanyontheatre.net. The theater is located at 538 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262, between N. Palm Canyon Drive and Indian Canyon Drive, on the north side of E. Alejo Road.
The rest of the 2023-24 season consists of:
SWEENEY TODD (March 8 – 24, 2024)
THE BOYS IN THE BAND (April 12 – 21, 2024)
THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA (May 10 -19, 2024)
BYE BYE BIRDIE (July 5-14, 2024)