Something Rotten! is one of those rare stories that skillfully blends history with original ideas. This musical comedy premiered on Broadway in 2015 and swiftly gained recognition for its comedic greatness and electric performances. Set in the 1850s, it follows the Bottom brothers as they try to break through a Shakespeare-dominated theatre field.
If you want to impress your audience with clever comedy, amazing musical numbers, and a fun story, Something Rotten! is set to be your latest hit. And to bring your adaptation to life, we have prepared a list of rentable backdrops that will energize your crowd and elevate your stage to a new level.
The Story of Something Rotten!
Brothers Nick and Nigel run an unsuccessful theatre troupe. They rehearsed Richard II when they found out Shakespeare was doing Richard III. The whole thing seems absurd, since he already did Richard III. The patron of the troupe insists they need a new play by the following morning.
As he heads home, Nick encounters Shylock the Jew, who offers him help to save the play, but Nick refuses since it is illegal to employ jews. At home, Bea and Nick talk about saving money to start a better life. Nick, who is desperate, tries to open the Money Box, but Bea stops him and tells him she will start working instead. Even though Nick dislikes the idea, Bea insists and goes out to do jobs that Nick believes are for men.
Nick, who feels very self-conscious when it comes to Shakespeare, goes out of his way to see Thomas Nostradamus, a soothsayer. Nick asks what is going to be the next big thing in theatre, and Nostradamus claims it will be a musical.
Nigel, on the other hand, has been seeing Portia, the daughter of Brother Jeremiah, against Nick’s advice. He tells him about the idea of making a musical, but does not tell him where he got it from. Nigel believes they should do a musical of “The Brothers from Cornwall”, which retells the story of how they came to England, but Nick is convinced it needs to be bigger, so he decided to do a musical of the Black Death. When they present it to Lord Caplan, the troupe’s patron, he finds the whole thing outrageous, and they even receive threats from Brother Jeremiah to have them executed if they continue with this work.
Nigel retreats to work on a new idea. Portia shows up and they talk about their mutual love for poetry. Nigel reveals to Portia that he has sent one of his sonnets to Shakespeare, and as they discuss this, a messenger arrives and tells Nigel he has been invited to attend Shakepearse and The Park and the after-party. Nigel accepts the invitation and takes Portia as his plus one.
In the meantime, Bea reveals she is pregnant, and while Nick is excited, he becomes instantly troubled when he hears from Shylock that Nigel is attending Shakespeare’s after-party. When he arrives there, Portia is already drunk, and Shakespeare asks for Nigel’s journal to read his poems. Nick accuses Shakespeare of trying to steal Nigel’s work, and Brother Jeremiah also chastises him for letting Portia get drunk.
Desperate and out of options, Nick lets Shylock invest in his play. Using the money in the Money Box, Nick goes back to Nostradamus and asks what Shakespeare’s next hit is going to be. Nostradamus predicts Hamlet, but confuses it with Omelette.
Shakespeare laments having to write another as he manages his fame. He hears from some spies that the Bottom Brothers are trying to steal his new hit, and decides to sneak in to find out what his next hit is under the disguise of actor Toby Belch.
The trope rehearses Omellete, with Shylock working as their investor. Nick and he are still working to find a way to make his position legal. Toby Welch is hired, and Shakespeare finds it odd that his next hit is about eggs.
Nigel goes to see Portia and reads her some of his sonnets. Nigel is not happy with Omellete, and he shares his frustration with Portia. Brother Jeremiah then shows u and takes Portia to lock her up in a tower for disobeying him. Nigel, heartbroken by the entire situation, writes a new play named Hamlet.
Nigel goes back and talks to Nick, and as soon as he hears the story written by Nigel, Shakespeare realizes this will be his new hit and takes advantage of the boys’ argument to steal it. Nic reveals he also has doubts, but dismisses them when he finds out the play is sold out. Sheakepes steals Nigel’s play, and Bea reassures Nigel that they can trust Nick no matter what. As they rehearse the play, Shakespeare removes his disguise and tells everyone about the schemes Nick has been making up until this point, horrifying his friends and family.
Nick, Nigel, Nostradamus, and Shylock are taken to court, where they are declared guilty and sentenced to beheading. Bea enters the court dressed as a lawyer and makes Nick confess he stole the money from the Money Box. She then uses the argument that it makes no sense to behead Nick, as he has already lost his mind. She makes a deal with Shakeaprear to be exiled to America. Portia also arrives, having escaped the tower. The judge agrees, and they all leave together.
The Bottom Family, Portia, Shylock, Nostradamus, and their acting troupe head to America as they hear the news of Shakespeare’s new hit, Hamlet, with Nostradamus feeling particularly let down since he was very close to the real deal.
The Backdrops of Something Rotten!
Now, take a look at all the beautiful backdrops you can use to bring your stage to life!
1590s European Streets
Our Old World European Street portrays a European town square featuring cobblestone streets and a classical fountain right in the center. Dwellings with chimneys line the streets. The turrets of a castle are visible in the background, and further in the distance, the spires of a church can also be seen.
Watch how this backdrop, available for rent, elevates your stage.
The Quaint Daytime Village backdrop is a perfect representation of a small, quiet village where everybody knows each other. The houses have a classic medieval European design, which stand no more than two stories high each and are made with wooden construction. The towers in the background reach just a bit above the roofs, so they do not take away the glory of the simple life you can come across once you enter the village. Roofs are red and green and are warmly welcoming to all visitors.
This backdrop will enchant your audience with its singular appeal.
Transform your stage with the Serene Rock Footbridge theatrical backdrop. Ideal for the staging of Nigel and Portia’s romantic encounters, it features a beautiful stone bridge over a bright blue river. In the foreground, a dark green field covered in yellow and purple flowers adorns each side of the pathway. Two large, lavish trees frame the footbridge. Across the river, a wide meadow, embellished with blue flowers, extends throughout the scenery. In the background, large trees line up edging a vast forest, with massive mountains and clear blue skies stretching over the back.
This rentable backdrop is set to cover all your needs.
Backstage Theatre
Depict life behind the stage with the Rear Backstage Theater theatrical backdrop. This stage backdrop depicts the theater as seen from the center of the proscenium, with the audience’s seats at the middle ground of the backdrop. The red amphitheater is framed by the back of the stage border.
This rentable backdrop is sure to bring your stage to life.
Exiled to America
Yes, you can see the proud American Flag with our Star Spangled Banner. Bring your American spirit to life with our backdrop of the United States’ Flag waving in the clear blue daytime sky. This scenic background is perfect for the conclusion of this lovely story, as the characters prepare to start a new life in exile.
Create an unforgettable stage using this beautiful backdrop, now available for rent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the backdrops from Something Rotten?
The backdrop from Something Rotten! include beautiful landscapes, European Villages reminiscent of the seventeenth century, and the backstage of a theatre stage. In other words, drops like Old World European Street, Quaint Daytime Village, Serene Rock Footbridge, and Rear Backstage Theater.
What are the key elements from Something Rotten’s backdrops?
The most important elements from the backdrops of Something Rotten! are the classic European designs and the colorful landscapes.
