May 07

“Something Rotten!” at Lyric Stage passes the smell test.

The cast; photo by @nilescottstudios

Presented by Lyric Stage
Music and Lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick & Karey Kirkpatrick
Book by Karey Kirkpatrick & John O’Farrell
Directed by Ilana Ransom Toeplitz
Music Directed by Katya Stanislavskaya
Choreographed by Christopher Shin
Dramaturgy by Bindi Kang
Intimacy direction by Samantha Richert

May 1 – June 7, 2026
Lyric Stage Theatre
140 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA 02116

Runtime: 2 hours and 25 minutes including intermission.

Review by Helen Ganley

BOSTON — Something Rotten! The name itself is pithy—the vague and anachronistic “something” paired with “rotten,” a word associated with withered fruit and moldy bread. Accompanying this duo is, inexplicably, an exclamation point, leading to a questionable feeling of excitement after such a combination. Continue reading