You know a musical is good when the kids talk about it on the way home. Think Annie, or Mary Poppins. You might as well. The writers of Something Rotten did.
That was one of the jokes in this comedy: A soothsayer in Shakespeare's time looks into the future of live plays, sees musicals, and translates the future for his client. The seer gets about 10 percent of it right. ("Nazis? Huzzah!")
The two-hour plus run time Wednesday flew by at Reynolds Performance Hall on the campus of UCA. Writers compliment each other by saying something was a "fast read." This play was a fast watch. That happens when you're laughing all through the thing.
Thankfully, the kids have these phone devices nowadays that look up songs on the Internet, so we could listen to the songs again on the drive home. And catch the jokes we missed the first time. ("Nothing rhymes with America!")
But this editorial really isn't about Something Rotten, the national cast that came through Conway the other night, or the musicians and writers who put the thing together. Although the whole spectacle was a most entertaining night out.
No, this editorial is about Reynolds Performance Hall. Not only Conway is lucky to have it in town. Central Arkansas is lucky. The last time we visited, Randy Newman was playing his stuff. We noted then what a crown of jewels central Arkansas has in these venues. From Robinson Center to The Rep to UCA's own diamond in the diamond state. We'll just call this editorial a rave review. Of Reynolds and the campus of UCA.
Wednesday night, a good time was had by all. Except, perhaps, Brother Jeremiah.
Editorial on 01/28/2019