The curtain goes up Friday night on the musical comedy ‘Something Rotten!‘ at the Fox Theater, and it looks to be a high-spirited laugh riot.

In the North Platte Community Playhouse production, two brothers set out to write the world’s first musical in an hilarious mash-up of the Shakespeare era.

The bard himself, and some of his characters, come to life on the stage.

The musical is directed by Marta Holscher-Nelson. The musical director is Sue McKain, with choreography by Hannah Lewis and costumes by Martha Orcutt.

Set in the 1590s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play, but they are stuck in the shadow of Shakespeare, the Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard.” 

As the Bottom Brothers ponder their status and try to figure a way to compete, a soothsayer foretells the future of theatre, with shows that have singing, dancing, and acting all at the same time.

Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s first musical. But it is a time of Puritans, plagues, prophets, Shakespeare’s poetry and a bit of Robin Hood. The talented cast, ages 16-70, brings the scenes to life with lively songs, dances, and jokes throughout the show.

At a full dress rehearsal before opening night, Holscher-Nelson was all smiles.

“It’s been a lot to put together,” she said. “We have attorneys, construction workers, teachers and law officers — tap dancing. It takes awhile to get those things down. There are a lot of very demanding techniques, on a par that way with major musicals such as the Sound of Music. I’m just thrilled with how it’s come together.”

The show is a relatively recent creation, debuting in 2015. Holscher-Nelson saw it at Fort Robinson near Crawford a year and half ago and fell in love with it. She didn’t stop grinning for a week.

The cast, crew and musicians have gone to lengths to bring it to life. For instance, Jesse Young, who portrays Shakespeare, drives to rehearsals each evening from Brule, a one-hour trip each way.

Holscher-Nelson said the show has a heavy male presence, with 16 roles. Most of them have leading roles. At one point, the men sing in spirited harmony and dance to a song with the line “The Black Death is Coming For You.” It’s a riot.

In the play, amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self, and all that jazz.

That’s the way this show seems to be. Even the somber scenes contain a healthy dose of “all that jazz.”

The musical is rated PG-13. It will be presented Fridays-Sundays, April 19, 20, 21, and April 26, 27, 28. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m.

The cast:

Nick Bottom: Lane Swedberg

Nigel Bottom: Benjamin Hill

Shakespeare: Jesse Young

Nostradamus: Glenn Van Velson

Bea: Victoria Cramer

Brother Jeremiah: Dan O’Neill

Portia: Starla Arensdorf

Minstrel: Collin Swedberg

Shylock: William Lewis

Lord Clapham: Sam Fornander

Peter Quince: Mark Cullinan

Robin: Butch Lehmkuhler

Horatio: Stuart Shepherd

Tom Snout: Darr Street

Francis Flute: Seth Vapenik

Snug: Matthew Lunde

Bard Boys: Malikiah Kunse, William Lewis, Derek Ebmeier and Dustin Cartmill.

Chorus line dancers: Jennifer Hinrichs, Tammy Pommenville, Grace Owen, Liz Rohs, Hannah Lewis and Aubrey Franz.

Townspeople: Anne Schmit, Dani Chapman and Eden Karkruff.

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