PINCKNEY, MI–Something Rotten! is a wildly entertaining musical that brings a fresh twist to the world of Shakespearean-era theater. From its clever book by John O’Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick to its catchy music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick that leaves you humming the tunes as you leave the theatre, this show is a delightful mix of historical satire, Broadway homage, and endearing comedy.

Add all that–especially the sharp and clever writing and story construction—with a first-rate cast assembled by Director Steve DeBruyne, who also plays one of the lead characters, and you have a can’t- miss show to drown out the tensions of the country these days for a few hours.

This show is so popular, the Dio sold out its run on its first weekend, through October 6, and has been able to add shows 10/11-12-13.

Set in the 1590s, the story follows brothers Nick (Steve DeBruyne) and Nigel (Jordan Hayes-Devloo) Bottom, struggling playwrights who find themselves in the shadow of the wildly popular William Shakespeare (Griffin Krausse). Desperate for a hit, Nick consults a soothsayer, (Richard Payton) who foretells that the next big thing in theater will be something called “a musical.” This prediction sets the brothers on a hilarious journey to create the world’s first musical, leading to a series of uproarious mishaps, misunderstandings, and musical numbers that are both parodies and tributes to Broadway classics.

DeBruyne and Hayes-Devloo have a terrific older brother/younger brother chemistry and dynamic. Their timing on the comedy is also spot on. Hayes-Devloo is a very bright and rising actor in the Michigan theatre community.

Richard Payton is delicious as Soothsayer. Always brilliant in his comedic timing, Payton is hysterical in his scenes predicting that music will be added to plays in the future. Dan Morrison as the puritanical, yet quietly and comedically flamboyant, Quaker Brother Jeremiah and father of Portia (Maddie Ringvelski) who is Nigel’s love interest Portia. Her vocal pipes and impish charm resisting her father’s overbearing restrictions are a recurring highlight in the show. Krausse’s Bard is very funny and he uncannily channels both Val Kilmer and Russell Brand as he tries to steal back his own future idea for Hamlet is a great piece of work by both the writers and the actor. Liz Jaffe, as Nick’s wife combines the comedic timing we have seen from her before, as well as spot-on vocals. Keith Kalinowski is perfectly cast as Shylock, a money lender and self-described theatre geek who was, as a jew, prevented from being a producer of theatre in Elizabethan England.

The show shines with its brilliant humor, filled with witty wordplay, puns, and clever references to Shakespearean works and modern-day musicals alike. Fans of both the Bard and Broadway will find plenty to enjoy, as the script is rich with Easter eggs moments and in-jokes that reward theater lovers.

The music is infectious, with standout numbers like “A Musical,” which hilariously sends up the conventions of musical theater, and “God, I Hate Shakespeare,” a number that perfectly captures the frustrations of the less-than-celebrated playwright Nick and at the same time addresses an eternal truth that many members of the theatre-going public and many a student hates Shakespeare because of the difficult-for-many task of comprehending Elizabethan English written in iambic pentameter.

The ensemble is wonderful, and props to DeBruyne for his keen eye for assembling a group with both talent and chemistry–Alexander Cousins, Cordell Smith, Aurora Renee, Xavier Sarabia, Antonio Vettraino, Hannah Thomas, Autumn SIerra, Donovan Leary, Lily Gechter, and Brendan Martin. Lisa Merte’s musical direction brings the whole marvelous production together. Norma Polk’s Renaissance costumes work perfectly, as does Matthew Tomich’s simple, but just-right set that is understated as it should be for the time the story is set. Michelle Marzejon-Green’s choreography, especially the tap-dancing, adds to the fun.

“Rotten” ran successfully on Broadway and was meant to go into touring and licensing as the pandemic began. Now, the play is being done everywhere, and for good reason. There is no substitute for good comedy writing, and that is what audiences are hungry for post-pandemic and amidst a volatile political atmosphere in the country.

Let’s hope the Dio can add shows. It’s a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously yet is crafted with an evident love for the art form it both celebrates and pokes fun at. Whether you’re a Shakespeare aficionado or a musical theater fan, or just like a hilarious night out, Something Rotten! is bound to leave you smiling and humming the tunes while walking to your car.

The Dio serves dinner with the show, and it is terrific.