Something Rotten This Way Comes

“Alas, poor yolk, I know thee well, there’s something rotten, there’s something rotten,” sings Nick Bottom. You might recognize the name as the poor sap whose head is magically transfigured into that of a donkey in William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” but in “Something Rotten!,” the musical by John O’Farrell and Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick, he’s a theatrical rival of Shakespeare’s — and not a successful one. The show opens at Sharon Playhouse in Sharon, Conn., on Friday, June 23. I spoke with director Amy Griffin about bringing this Tony-award-nominated comedy to Connecticut.

Alexander Wilburn: Hi Amy, so you’re right in the middle of rehearsals, how are you feeling?

Amy Griffin: I don’t want to jinx it, because I’ve been doing this long enough that I know there will come a day when we hit a giant obstacle, but so far we’ve been doing great. The vibe in the room is fantastic. It’s a real team vibe from our incredible young college students in the ensemble all the way to these outrageous Broadway veterans playing the leads.

AW: The Sharon Playhouse is known for its classic, nostalgic musicals, but "Something Rotten!" is a relatively new work. How would you describe it to those unfamiliar?

AG: What’s interesting is that it really is structured just like an old book musical. I love a new musical like “Six,” but my heart belongs to a classic book musical. What’s really wonderful about this show is that it has a classic structure but the music has a contemporary flair — it’s not pop, but it doesn’t feel old-fashioned. It’s also the funniest show you will see. I saw it on Broadway and I was howling. It’s just really strong. It’s brilliantly written.

AW: You’ve directed a number of historically-set musicals, from “Les Mis” to “Little Women” to “Spring Awakening,” do you research the time period as you direct?

AG: I do usually very much research and immerse myself in the time period, but what’s funny with this is that it’s so anachronistic. It’s a farce, so it’s really winking at the period. There are a ton of historical references, but it’s not a documentary depiction of the 1600s. It’s a delightful loving satire of our perceptions of that era. The opening number is called “Welcome to The Renaissance”  and the ensemble sings about how everything is incredibly modern and cutting edge — because now they can freeze meat! We have pewter mugs!

AW: Summer stock is a quick rehearsal time, it’s a quick run on the stage, does that come with its own challenges?

AG: It does. I’ve almost never done a show in my life where I didn’t think, “If we only had another week…” But everyone in this cast knows the deal. There isn’t anyone in the cast or company where we wondering “Are you going to make it to the finish line?” Everyone’s on their game. Summer stock is a joyous experience, in a lot of ways it’s summer camp for adults. You go to rehearsal and then you go have a glass of wine, and sit in the sun and laugh. I think it’s a really interesting experience for our college students because in college you get cast in a play in September and you do in say, January. That’s valuable because you can immerse yourself in the process but of course… you don’t have to pay people for rehearsals. So there can be a learning curve for the speed of a professional show. It’s hard work. You go home from rehearsal at night, you relax, and then you look at your harmonies and go over your dance steps.

AW: You’re an actor yourself, does that inform your directing process?

AG: It very much does. I’m an actor and I love actors. I direct how I would want to be directed. I feel like it gives me an insight into how to approach the acting beat with the principals, but also I’ve been an ensemble member many times. It’s fantastic. Being an ensemble member is no "less than," and can even be more fun because you don’t have to carry the show. But it can also be a very exhausting role, so it does not escape me how hard the ensemble cast is working, how hard their job is.

AW: You’ve got a big cast for this show. What character performance is the secret MVP?

AG: Oh god! How do you pick between your children? I know this is a wimpy answer but it’s too hard to pick just one. Sometimes in summer stock you have local community members join the cast, and they might not be as ready for primetime and really need to be helped along, but that hasn’t been my experience in Sharon at all. The cast is mostly working professionals and students, but our community members are killing it. Their performances are just as strong as the New York professionals.

"Something Rotten!" opens Friday, June 23. For tickets go to www.sharonplayhouse.org

Something Rotten! Choreographer Justin Boccitto, right, rehearsing with, bottom to top, Nico Charney, Tyler Miranda, Griffin Tomaino. Photo courtesy of The Sharon Playhouse

Something Rotten! Choreographer Justin Boccitto, right, rehearsing with, bottom to top, Nico Charney, Tyler Miranda, Griffin Tomaino. Photo courtesy of The Sharon Playhouse