Omelette, The Musical

"The future is bright if you could just write a musical!"

Just off Broadway comes the Tony-snubbed, hidden gem that is a Shakespeare enthusiast's (or dis-enthusiast's?) and a theater lover's greatest dream. Full of snark, puns, and just the right amount of vulgarity is this show that, while deprived of proper recognition, is filled to the brim with originality.  Despite the off putting title, Something Rotten!, a satirical take on England's Elizabethan age of literature, is one of the most entertaining shows to grace the stage in the past decade.

Telling the story of Nick Bottom (a clever play on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream) and his brother, Nigel, the musical satirizes the accusations against Shakespeare for his copyright tendencies. With an extended commentary on Elizabethan society in general, the struggles of Nick and Nigel Bottom to write a play that competes with that of The Bard's is brought to life with bright, wildly entertaining musical numbers. The musical's pinnacle explodes in a whimsical homage to musical history while Nick Bottom searches the future for Shakespeare's greatest play, Hamlet. Unfortunately, this results poorly for him as he misinterprets the vision and instead forms the first musical, Omelette. Yes, like the breakfast food. 

While this type of breakfast humor may seem superficial and far too immature for the seasoned literary, underneath lies a deeper type of comedy, one that only those who know their shows will fully appreciate. From mocking Richard III to calling out Andrew Lloyd Webber for the anomaly that is Cats, the humor that exists throughout each scene is superficially funny for most but uniquely funny for those who are more aware, creating a performance that appeals to a wide array of people in different ways. 

On top of this never ending humor and catchy, uplifting songs, comes the undertones of familial bonds and speaking up for oneself that add the morality for those who crave a more sentimental feel. Standing up for love and adjusting to create equal relationships for all allow for this mainly satirical act to have even more depth than the complex literary allusions. 

Combining all of these aspects together, Something Rotten! has something for everyone. Even if one is not versed in the plays of Shakespeare or every Tony winning musical under the sun, the heartwarming story line and the amusing music will get even the least musical/literature inclined person's feet tapping. 

After seeing this show, it is clear that it stands among the many underappreciated shows that have graced the Great White Way. Missing the window and lacking the prestige for the Tony nominations, the musical has now closed on Broadway and is now in the midst of its first, and perhaps only, national tour. This cache of comedic treasure has gone unnoticed by many and those who take up the opportunity to see it are often blown away by its splendor. Take the chance to see the show before it disappears into the vaults, it will leave you giggling over repressed puritans and musing about the ridiculousness of a musical about danishes, bacon, and fried eggs.