The laughs come fast and furious at Northampton Community College's Summer Theatres area premiere of the Tony-winning Broadway comedy musical "Something Rotten!"
The show which runs through July 17 in the Bethlehem Township colleges Lipkin Theatre is a raucous love letter to musical theater and fans will find lots to appreciate in this playful production.
Irreverent jokes and pop culture references abound throughout this hilarious show.
Opening the show with style is Daniel J. Hurt as the minstrel leading the cast in "Welcome to the Renaissance." Hurt is in great voice as he shimmies in 16th century-era puffed breeches in this buoyant and catchy tune that sets the stage for the rest of the show.
Jarrod Yuskauskas demonstrates his prowess at physical comedy as Nick Bottom, a playwright who is struggling to compete with the wildly popular William Shakespeare. Yuskauskas is inspired in songs like "God, I Hate Shakespeare" and "Bottoms Going to be on Top."
Nicks poetic prodigy brother Nigel is played with the perfect mix of naivete and earnestness by Jake Ziman. Zimans Nigel has a wide-eyed appeal and his voice soars on songs like "I Love the Way," "We See the Light" and "To Thine Own Self Be True," with Puritan ministers daughter Portia (a giggly Madeline Gambon.)
Maxwell Wetherhold is a humorously egocentric Shakespeare as a renaissance rock star complete with arched eyebrow and melodramatic accent. He is memorable in songs like "Will Power" and "Hard to be the Bard," backed by the energetic and racy "Bard Boys" (Chase Fontenot, Michael Mottram, Jaden Lopez and Nathan Amgelo.)
Ric Stoneback is entertainingly over-the-top as the wild-eyed Nostradamus, a soothsayer who is the nephew of the famous prophet. He and the cast are priceless in "A Musical" which sends up every musical tradition imaginable in one outrageous number that skewers "Chicago," "Les Miserables," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Cats" and much more. Kudos on the tap dancing to choreographer Tina Williams.
Meredith Doyle has some funny scenes as Nicks wife Bea who keeps dressing up as a man to earn extra money and ultimately to save her husband.
Mark Breiner also adds some humorous notes as Portias uptight Puritan father Brother Jeremiah.
But the best parts of the show are the big musical numbers where craziness, high energy dancing and non-stop references ensue. Much of the second act features numbers from Nicks ludicrous new musical about an omelet which features all sorts of inspired silliness from a chorus of dancing egg products to a soliloquy to an egg.
Lucille De Masi Kincaid leads the hard-working band and Bill Mutimer keeps the pace so frantic the show literally zips by.
Although there were some audio issues the night I was there, this is a highly entertaining show that will leave audiences laughing.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. July 1-2, July 6-9 and 13-16 and 2 p.m. July 3, 10 and 12.
Masks are optional and seating is reserved.
Ticket are $20 for adults; $15 for seniors and $10 for students.
For information, call 484-484-3412, or go to ncctix.org.