Sometimes you just need to laugh. And laugh again. And find solace in the silliest of things and delight in well-performed singing and dancing and storytelling. And there’s no time like now to enjoy all this and more at MusicalFare Theatre and its regional premiere of Something Rotten.

The story is about as far-fetched as it gets. Brothers Nigel and Nick Bottoms are writers in the Renaissance and Nick’s rival is none other than the Bard himself, William Shakespeare. Nick is determined to best the bard so he asks a soothsayer to give him insight into Shakespeare’s most successful work yet to be so he can beat the bard at his own stage. He speaks of a new theatrical form called a ‘musical.’  Things don’t go as planned and that’s the best part!

The Brothers Bottom are wonderfully played by John Kaczorowski as the jealous and scheming Nick, and the meek and romantic Nigel the poet is perfectly portrayed by Ricky Needham. Kaczorowski’s “God, I Hate Shakespeare” is full of hysterical, teeth-baring vitriol and foreshadowing of things to come. When Nigel falls in love with Portia the Puritan (Rachael Buchanon), their sweet romance is full of gleeful giggles and wide-eyed wonder. The bard himself is Anthony Alcocer and oh-my-pentameter, he’s a riot. He struts, he sashays, he swaggers, he shakes what his mama gave him and you can’t imagine anything more fun. His “Hard to Be the Bard” is a little bit pouty and a whole lotta sassy, too. Next to that is Louis Colaicovo as Nostradamus the hapless soothsayer who can’t see the ham through the omelet. His description of “A Musical” is theatre nerd nirvana. Brittany Bassett Baran is the scene stealer as Bea, wife of Nick who, in a twist on theatre of yore, is a woman who often dresses like a man to get the job. Marc Sacco as Portia’s Puritan Papa is riotously funny in his efforts to keep Portia pure and these new fangled musicals from reaching the masses. Jordan Levin as Shylock the investor is channeling every scheming producer that ever worked the Catskills and is a hoot.

It’s the ensemble that will win your heart, when it’s done palpitating over Alcocer’s tight leather pants and open leather jacket. These emerging and familiar faces  – Gretchen Didio and Dan Urtz in particular – are often in featured or leading roles, and here they are dancing and singing up a storm as part of this outstanding cast.

Director Chris Kelly keeps kept the action brisk and Kristy E. Cavanagh’s choreography is lively and nonstop. Kari Drozd’s costuming is colorful and oh-so-Renaissance. Ditto Chris Cavanagh’s set with plenty of moving parts, too. Phil Farugia leads the musicians in the pop score with plenty of nods to musicals through the ages.

Give thyself the gift of two+ hours with an intermission and see Something Rotten: tickets are selling fast so check out https://musicalfare.com/.