In 1595 鈥 when William Shakespeare was hitting his stride 鈥 how could any other playwright have possibly made a name for himself during the heyday of a living legend?
The musical comedy Something Rotten! 鈥 the latest project by Penticton's Soundstage Productions 鈥 explores that conundrum, while poking fun at the popular Shakespeare stories that many of us studied back in our high school days.
But Something Rotten! won鈥檛 be anything like English class.
鈥淚t is set in the renaissance era, but it offers a much raunchier, satirical take on Shakespeare,鈥 said Forrest Tymchuk, whosa国际传媒 playing the supporting role of Shakespeare (for fans who remember Soundstagesa国际传媒 presentation of Shrek last year, Tymchuk played Lord Farquaad).
鈥淭he audience gets to see that celebrity aspect of Shakespeare, but the story focuses on Nicholas Bottom 鈥 an up-and-coming writer trying to compete against Shakespeare.鈥
Bottom manages to come up with a novel idea 鈥 produce the very first musical.
鈥淏ut he makes some decisions that eventually end up biting him in the butt.鈥
Another element to the story are the Puritans and Elizabethans, classes of hoity-toity folks who struggled to appreciate Shakespearesa国际传媒 radical embrace of the English language.
Elizabethans remind Tymchuk in some ways of the vapid Live-Laugh-Love mantra, and he says Something Rotten! 鈥 while set in the 16th Century 鈥 delivers many of the jokes through modern references.
鈥淚tsa国际传媒 littered with references. Hardcore musical buffs will be able to catch all of them, but you鈥檒l have to have a sharp ear to catch them all.鈥
Tymchuk emphasizes that Something Rotten! -- nominated for nine Tony Awards in 2015 -- is being embraced by Soundstage because of its ability to entertain todaysa国际传媒 audiences.
And while comedy has evolved over the past four centuries, Tymchuk can appreciate how audiences have always had an appetite for raunchiness.
鈥淚tsa国际传媒 always been that way; people think nasty things are funny.鈥
So when Shakespeare tackled subjects like sex, fools in love, betrayal and suicide 鈥 his ideas would have seemed inappropriate if you were a Puritan and Elizabethan. But those racy topics were a big part of Shakespearesa国际传媒 appeal at the time.
Something Rotten! rediscovers the era with 鈥渁 lot of low brow humour mixed with high brow humour,鈥 Tymchuk said.
In addition to Tymchukm, leads in the cast include Dustin McGifford, Elijah Jagodics, Tayler Harrison, Randall Robinson, Gord McLaren, Jamie Doll and Luci Strandquist.
The director is Lynne Leydier, Maurie Giella is the choreographer and Kerry Younie the head costumer.
Brenda Kotzian, Jen Newton, Michelle Younie, Matt Kowalik and Geoff Johnson are providing backstage support.
The orchestra will consist of Dennis Nordlund, Scott Gamble, Stefan Bienz, Loni Moger, Sandy Andres, Chris Manuel, Misty Knol, Susan Norie, and Catherine Scott-Taggart.
Something Rotten!, a hysterical comedy with great music, runs from Jan. 15-18 at the Penticton Lakeside Resort.
Tickets are $65 and available through: .
