“Donna Feore, who directs and choreographs, has staged the show with boundless inspiration, making deft use of the theater’s traditional Elizabethan-era stage. The performances are bright, broad and consistently funny, and the spirited dancing—including a funny “tap-off”—keeps one from registering that the onslaught of Shakespeare and musical-theater allusions eventually becomes a bit more exhausting than exhilarating.”

“The production, directed and choreographed with gusto by Donna Feore, is performed by a cast beaming at the knowledge of how good this material is…

Something Rotten!, Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet are performed in rotation with matinee and evening performances; thanks to a crack technical team briskly handling the regular set changeovers, two shows can be seen on the same day. Such a double bill crystallises connections between the plays, but also allows a chance to see actors from North America’s largest classical repertory theatre ensemble take on a pair of roles back to back, such as the superb Jessica B Hill as both Lady Capulet and Viola.”

[Chris Wiegand’s trip was provided by the festival]

“If you’re not a fan of musicals or Shakespeare, you owe it to yourself to see this brilliant and innovative satire of both. I can’t remember the last time I had so much rollicking fun at the theatre.

“Something Rotten” is pure escapist entertainment. It’s hilarious, witty, filled with kitschy dialogue, clever jokes, catchy songs and WAY over-the-top characters that you’ll instantly fall in love with. You’ll laugh so hard your sides will split and your feet will be numb from non-stop tapping. ‘Something Rotten’ is something wonderful and don’t we all need a little wonderful in our lives?”

“The real stars of this show are the singer/dancers in the big numbers. I can’t reveal the amazing costumes here, it would spoil your fun. Suffice to say, they dance their feet off and belt out their voices. Twice on opening night, there were show-stopping numbers. The entire audience was on their feet giving these dancers two standing ovations mid-show. Truly remarkable choreography and staging. The entire cast got loud and long standing ovations at the conclusion.”

“Donna Feore’s production of the egg-cellent musical is so good it could (and should!) outlast the 2024 Stratford Festival season…

It’s stupid. It’s irreverent. It’s choreographed to perfection. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever seen on any stage. When the dancers return to the stage after ditching their uncooked egg costumes, it’s in a get-up so profoundly goofy that I dare not spoil it here. You simply have to see it.”

“Something Rotten! is not one of your better-known musicals because it opened in April, 2015 just before a little epic named Hamilton opened in August, 2015. Everything disappears when next to Hamilton.

Pity.

The pace of the dancing is, fast, furious and breathtaking. It’s creative, inventive choreography. Donna Feore also realizes every single joke in the script and visual jokes that arise from situations. She will have the audience laugh so hard their cheeks will hurt, all of them.”

“..quite funny, sometimes hysterically so. Those with weak bladders are encouraged to wear absorbent undergarments…

Something Rotten is destined to be the “hot ticket” at Stratford this season. To extemporize from my native wit, ’tis not as deep as a well nor so wide as church door but ’tis more than enough, ’twill serve.”

“…it’s the smartest and funniest new musical comedy since “The Book of Mormon.” But you need not take my word for it: on opening night, the company earned not one but two midshow standing ovations. Based on that reception from the sold-out audience, “Something Rotten!” is most certainly certified fresh. ”

“As Nick Bottom, Mark Uhre shines… With a powerhouse singing voice and superb comedic chops, Uhre simply devours this role. As Nick’s incredibly patient and understanding wife, Bea, Starr Domingue is utterly charming. Her song Right Hand Man is in my opinion an underrated number in the American Musical Theatre repertoire and she sings it beautifully.”

“…makes a star out of Mark Uhre, a well-established Canadian musical-theatre performer with an incredible, versatile voice who has never quite found the ideal role to showcase his acting talents.”

“Director Donna Feore takes what’s already an over-the-top meta-musical and kicks it up – often quite literally – a few more notches. The choreography for this production is electric…

[Mark] Uhre, a Broadway veteran, does a lot of the heavy lifting as Nick, who serves as the catalyst for much of the on-stage chaos.”