The title may suggest otherwise, but Something Rotten! is one of the funniest, most joyful and entertaining musicals to arrive in Manchester for years. Ian Cheeseman reviews the UK premiere production at the Opera House.
Never can a musical have been more inappropriately titled because the show currently running at Manchester’s Opera House is anything but rotten. It’s joyous, uplifting and guaranteed to send audiences home with a smile on their faces.
Originally opening on Broadway 11 years ago, Something Rotten! enjoyed a successful 18-month run before embarking on tours across America and beyond. Now, the musical has finally made its UK debut and Manchester audiences are the first to see it.
Leading the cast are two familiar names: Manchester’s own Richard Fleeshman and Jason Manford, playing rival playwrights William Shakespeare and Nick Bottom in the 16th century. Fleeshman is perfectly cast as the swaggering, arrogant and wildly successful Bard, while Manford brings warmth and relatability to Nick, a talented but struggling writer desperately trying to escape Shakespeare’s shadow.
Two-time Olivier Award nominee Marisha Wallace shines as Nick’s wife, Bea, while Cassius Hackforth delivers an impressive performance as brother Nigel. Every principal cast member is on top form, but for me the standout performance comes from Cory English as the eccentric soothsayer Nostradamus.
English recently completed a celebrated run as Doc Brown in the West End production of Back to the Future: The Musical, where his larger-than-life comic timing earned him plenty of admirers. The role of Nostradamus feels tailor-made for his talents.
Speaking to me during the show’s Manchester run, the New York-born performer admitted he has a real affection for the city.
“I’ve been at the Palace Theatre twice with The Producers, working with the lovely Peter Kay and Jason Manford, and I’ve had some really good times here,” he said.
“The first time I was here I had a three-month-old child, so I didn’t get to see much of the city. After spending the last three years with Back to the Future, these five weeks in Manchester feel a bit like a vacation.
“I’ve heard Manchester called Manc-hattan and I can understand why. Parts of the city have that same grid layout, so it feels a little New York-ish. You’ve also got the friendliness of the people and the fact they’re always ready to party.”
English believes the comedy of Something Rotten! closely mirrors his own personality.
“This show is my sense of humour and it’s what I do in real life. If somebody says a line from a musical, I’ll immediately start singing the song, so there’s probably a little bit of typecasting going on.”
Having started his career as a dancer, English is able to showcase every aspect of his considerable skillset during the show’s standout production number, A Musical. The spectacular showstopper allows him to combine singing, dancing, acting and impeccable comic timing into one unforgettable sequence.
In truth, the entire production is on a grand scale. With hopes of a future West End transfer, no expense appears to have been spared. The staging, lighting, costumes and sound design are all first class, creating a production that feels every bit as polished as a major London musical.
One of the advantages for Manchester audiences is that they can experience the show now at prices considerably lower than they are likely to be should the production make the move south.
Fans of musical theatre will also be interested to hear that Back to the Future: The Musical, which premiered at the Opera House just before the Covid pandemic in 2020, returns to Manchester next year. I couldn’t resist asking Cory English whether he might once again step into Doc Brown’s famous lab coat.
He admitted that much may depend on whether Something Rotten! is still running elsewhere at the time.
Roger Bart, the original Doc Brown in Manchester and the West End, has already confirmed appearances in other cities on the tour schedule but apparently not Manchester. That leaves the door tantalisingly open for English to return.
For now, though, audiences should focus on the opportunity in front of them. Something Rotten! is a smart, witty and hugely entertaining celebration of musical theatre, packed with laughs and performed by a cast operating at the top of its game.
If you get the chance to see it, don’t hesitate.
You’ll have a rotten good time.
Something Rotten!
Opera House, Manchester
Until 19 July
Tickets: https://www.atgtickets.com/venues/opera-house-manchester/