Something Rotten! Original Broadway Cast Recording

On social media on June 8, 2015, ads for the Broadway production of "Something Rotten" boasted the illustrious company the show had joined by not having won the Best Musical award at the previous evening's Tony Awards. Smash hits such as "Wicked" and "Into the Woods" are also in this category, and judging by its wit and cleverness, "Something's Rotten" will enjoy a similar level of success. The cast album is currently available on iTunes and digitally, but the CD release is scheduled for July 17 from Sh-K Boom Records.

A ridiculously clever musical that paints broad strokes across a plethora of Broadway subgenres, this new musical from writers Karey Kirkpatrick (book, music and lyrics), Wayne Kirkpatrick (music and lyrics) and John O'Farrell (book) is able to appeal to both the general theater-goer and the aficionado of all shows sung and danced.

The show centers around the struggles of writers Nick Bottom ("Shrek"'s Brian D'Arcy James) and his brother Nigel (the true playwright of "Almost Maine," John Cariani) to come up with a hit play to upstage that famous rock star of the time, William Shakespeare (Christian Borle). Borle just garnered his second Tony for his part-Austin Powers, part-Frank-n-Furter inspired origination of the Bard, and his swagger blatantly boogies through this recording on "Hard to be the Bard," and the power-chord filled, "Will Power."

Desperate for some guidance, Nick seeks assistance from Nostradamus (Brad Oscar), who predicts that the future of plays is in a new style, and recommends that the Bottoms write "A Musical." This production number has instantly joined the ranks of famous showstoppers, with its evolution of storytelling through song and dance told in seven minutes. No fewer than a dozen snippets can be found throughout Larry Hochman's orchestration of this wonderful piece, and even those who can't find them will revel in the smart lyrics delivered through foot-tapping (literally) rhythms.

Like two other recent blockbusters, "The Producers" and "Spamalot," the men carry the story, but both Kate Reinders, and Heidi Blickenstaff ("[title of show]") sell their moments when they're provided, especially Blickenstaff with "Right Hand Man."

Its faring in this year's Tonys shouldn't impact the immense appeal of this show, and the recording is a high-spirited supplement worthy of any theater fan's collection. There's definitely nothing "rotten" here.

"Something Rotten" (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
$13.96
CD and digital formats
www.sh-k-boom.com