Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...This show, especially rewarding and amusing for people who know Broadway musicals better than their own children, is the kind of romp that allows you to switch off your brain, drink a glass of wine and let it Brexit you off for a couple of escapist hours. That’s not to imply the piece (book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell and music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick) is in any way dumb. Au contraire. John Webster, Walter Raleigh and the Puritans all make it into the lyrics, along with Shipoopi (if you have to ask, maybe not your show)."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...The plot is a cleverly stupid (yes, that’s possible) cross between hallucination and history, with an edge of sharp insight knifing up every now and again, such as when local financier Shylock (Steven Strafford) brags that Shakespeare (Adam Jacobs) has made him a character in a play he believes will be titled “Shylock, The Really Nice Jew.” In the retrospect of history, Strafford’s optimistic innocence is funny and a bit heartbreaking."
Daily Herald - Highly Recommended
"...Director Scott Weinstein oversees a dazzling production that is cast to perfection -- right down to the smallest role. Not only do the players wring every possible laugh out of the material, they also uncover a surprising amount of poignancy amid all the anachronistic silliness."
Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended
"...The fault may lie, partly, with the production, filled as it is with just-good-enough performers who do their jobs (remember their lines, don't trip over the furniture) but leave us wanting more. The exceptions are Alex Goodrich, quite winning as a young man yearning for love and success, and Adam Jacobs, who really rocks as Bill Shakespeare, superstar. Still, though Something Rotten! is almost always entertaining, the way an old reliable sitcom can be, you don't leave the theater thinking, "Wow! that was great!""
Let's Play at ChicagoNow - Highly Recommended
"...The musical that is direct from Broadway is full of overstuffed-unto-bursting codpieces, and lengthy numbers with non-sequitur tap dances with many references to modern-day musicals; but its works. The musical celebrates the ridiculous instead of the sublime, and it's quite entertaining. Something Rotten!, is worth the trip to Lincolnshire."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...In July of 2017, the national tour of the Tony Award winning musical “Something Rotten!” played Chicago. I remember thinking it to be a brilliant “tour de farce”, but after viewing the current regional production at Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre I see that it is even funnier with the changes made to play this on an in-the-round stage. Under the careful staging of Scott Weinstein and the extraordinary choreography by Alex Sanchez and with a cast that one might say is PERFECT, this should be on your “MUST SEE” list. In fact, a production like this is hard to review because I only have 5 stars to rate it!"
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...A comedy that imagines The Bard as a fawning, self-centered rock star is funny enough; but add to this a pair of bumbling brothers trying to beat Shakespeare at his own game, and you have an exciting new entertainment for everyone. All musical theatre fans, as well as anyone looking for a couple hours of uncurbed comedy, should rush out right now for tickets to the one Fall show that’ll welcome them to the Renaissance and leave ‘em laughing in the aisles."
Chicagoland Theater Reviews - Highly Recommended
"...The cast who brings all this fun to life consists of a full two dozen performers, a few familiar to area audiences but most new names, at least to me. They are one and all wonderful and my praise and appreciation especially goes out to the chorus who seem to have inexhaustible stamina and a happy, unforced stage presences that indicate they are having a wonderful time giving the audience a wonderful time."
Chicagoland Musical Theatre - Highly Recommended
"...Above all, Something Rotten! (book by John O’Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick) is the ultimate send-up (endearingly so) of the musical theatre genre. To wit, click this link to enjoy a few Marriott production highlights centering on the song, “A Musical,” that parodies treasured favorites from Evita and Les Misérables to Annie and The Sound of Music, among many, many others. With a mostly memorable songbook (music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick), hysterical physical comedy, superlative choreography (by Alex Sanchez) and top onstage talent, (JBD is just the start) Marriott’s Something Rotten! is a delight to warm audiences’ hearts as fall’s cool climes settle in."
Chicago Theater and Arts - Recommended
"...Although the show is long at 2 hours, 25 minutes, it is a fun romp across Shakespearean names and phrases. And the age when men play women's roles gets a thumbing the nose by Nick's feminist wife, Bea, played by Marriott regular Cassie Slater who has the chops to put across "Right Hand Man.""
Chicago On Stage - Highly Recommended
"...Something Rotten, with its clever send-ups of Shakespeare, history, and many of the notable conventions and iconic choreography of musical comedy, is simply one of the most joyful shows I know, and Marriott’s top-notch production makes it even better. If you love musical theatre and Shakespeare, you will love this show. It’s even merrier than the Wives of Windsor and far sillier than A Comedy of Errors, and it contains the most uproarious Hamlet parody you’ll ever want to see. This one is not to be missed."
PicksInSix - Highly Recommended
"...Jonathan Butler-Duplessis leads the company in the brilliant opening number, "Welcome to the Renaissance," and the superlative Lehman and company bring the proceedings to a full stop with his rendering of "A Musical." The tender ballad "I Love the Way" by Hurd and Goodrich is a highlight, and the non-stop, exuberant talent of the ensemble, which brings the hilarious Bottom troupe to life and back up the Bard in "Will Power" and "Hard to be the Bard," make the light-hearted folly of "Something Rotten" come up smelling as sweet as a rose by any other name."
Picture This Post - Highly Recommended
"...With a memorable score, top-notch choreography, and a hilarious script, Something Rotten! is, in this writer’s opinion, an event to see. Whether you are a die-hard Shakespeare fan or simply one who enjoys a catchy musical, the Marriott’s production has a little something for everyone."
NewCity Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...“Something Rotten!” is a good play that, when performed by this exceptionally talented cast, approaches being a great play. While rarely hilarious, there are laugh-out-loud moments. And the dancing is absolutely sublime. One weakness is the inoffensive nature of the script, which lacks both the silliness of “Spamalot” or the raunchiness of “Avenue Q.” The music too, while competent, lacks that one big break-out number, although “God, I Hate Shakespeare” comes close. That is not to say that “Something Rotten!” is not worth seeing. But if you plan on only seeing one musical comedy this year, it might make more sense waiting for “Book of Mormon” to come back to town."
