Nguyễn Thủy Tiên
Nathan Lushbaugh as Nick Bottom / Photo by Levi Hott
Welcome to the Renaissance! After 5 long months filled with hard work, BISFA was able to put on their first All-School Musical in 2 years. On April 22nd, 2022, Barbara Ingram School for the Arts brought John O’Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick’s musical comedy to life on The Maryland Theatre’s stage! It was a night packed with family and friends, laughter and wonder, and bittersweetness for this year’s graduating seniors who were part of the production.
The page is not big enough to detail every moment of awe, however I can highlight the best of BISFA’s Something Rotten!
THE ATMOSPHERE
William Shakespeare (the real one, not Caleb Baer)’s famous quote, “All the world’s a stage,” came to life on opening night. The cast, dressed in their period-appropriate costumes, greeted the crowd at The Maryland Theatre doors in character. Staying true to their Elizabethan era personas, the cast spoke in Shakespearean English, questioned today’s fashion trends, and were shocked to see a cellphone among many other interactions.
Timothy Murray as The Minstrel / Photo by Kidney Shilling
And on the topic of character, Timothy Murray seamlessly transitioned our way throughout the play! At the beginning, Murray as the Minstrel and our reliable narrator introduced us to the production with the song, “Welcome to the Renaissance,” which provided the audience with the necessary elements of Something Rotten! such as the time period and much of what the tone was. After intermission, Murray takes the stage once again. They stood stage left and tapped, snapped, and danced to the music played by instrumentalists down in The Pit before reminding the audience where we were in the play.
From the cast staying in character both on and off stage to Murray’s role as the Minstrel, we were fully able to immerse ourselves in Something Rotten!
THE STAGE
BISFA is unlike any other school. Much of our time here is spent practicing our art, and that includes the Theater Department utilizing their discipline-designated class time to work on the set. Managed by Mackenzine Guynes, BISFA’s very own (and very first!) student technical director, theater students participated in workshops during the school day. They created everything from the town square to the platform where Caleb Baer’s Shakespeare and his Company performed, “Will Power.”
Photo by Kidney Shilling
The cast also utilized the whole theatre to their advantage. With a cast so big, how can they fit everyone in a musical number? Well, ask the Puritans. In “We See the Light,” performed by Efrain Santigo’s character Brother Jeremiah, Jake Milburn’s character Nigel Bottom, Kylie Zimmerman’s character Portia, Nathan Lushbaugh’s character Nick Bottom, and The Troupe, we first see The Troupe behind Brother Jeremiah, Portia, and Nigel as Puritans. In Portia and Nigel’s fantasy where Portia’s father Brother Jeremiah and Nigel’s brother Nick accept their relationship, the stage is active with colors and stage lighting turning green in the box seats. Up in the box seats, the Puritans fill the area. Later in the number, the Puritans come down from the box seats and into aisles to perform beside the audience members. It was a surprise for everyone, a real way to interact with the crowd!
Want to know more? Go to @behind_somethingrotten on Instagram for behind the scenes!
THE PERFORMANCES
Last but definitely not least, this is what everyone came to witness. Spectacular performances were made from everyone on stage! Many memorable scenes were given to us, a few fan-favorites being Nigel and Portia’s late-night poetry escapade and the dream-like number that is “Something Rotten! / Make an Omelette” where tap dancers came out wearing full body egg costumes. Double entendres and outright comedic writing galore, there were plenty of moments where the cast brought the house down.
Photos by Kidney Shilling
And what a surprise it was to see a freshman be the lead this year! Nathan Lushbaugh plays Nick Bottom and let me tell you, he was the perfect person for the role. His line deliveries and animated movements across the stage made for an enthusiastic production.
The actors executed tone shifts smoothly, moving from humor to moments where characters will share meaningful life lessons together. In Act II, Scene 5 when Nigel and Bea are alone, Bea goes from celebrating her and Nick’s baby to consoling a gloomy Nigel in a matter of seconds. While Something Rotten! is generally high spirited, this scene brings us out of that lightheartedness to confront the conflicts within the plot. While much of the issues the characters face are masked behind jokes and dance numbers, the moments where the characters face the reality of the situation are perfectly portrayed.
What a wonderful night and an extraordinary performance! Congratulations to every performer! I hate to cut it short, but there’s only so much I can say without giving too much away -- you’ll just have to see the show yourself.
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