There’s nothing rotten about “Something Rotten!,” the freshest musical comedy of Summer 2022, through July 17, Northampton Community College Summer Theatre.

The musical, in its Lehigh Valley premiere, pits the Bottom Brothers against the Bard. The show is plucky in character, plot and comedy.

As directed by NCC Summer Theatre Producing Director Bill Mutimer, with music direction by Lucille De Masi Kincaid and choreography by Tina Williams, the energetic cast of “Something Rotten!” is in fine form, with terrific choral singing, ensemble dancing and vocal solos.

The July 10 matinee performance was seen for this theater review.

“Something Rotten!,” with music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick, and book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, posits that brothers Nick Bottom (Jarrod Yuskauskas) and Nigel Bottom (Jake Ziman) are on the hoof to mount a successful show to compete with those of Shakespeare (Maxwell J. Wetherhold).

The play cleverly sets up humorous subplots, adding Thomas Nostradamus (Ric Stoneback) to the mix to provide time-traveling predictions; Bea (Meredith Doyle), Nick’s wife, for domestic squabbles; Portia (Madeline Gambon), Nigel’s love interest; Brother Jeremiah (Mark Breiner), leader of theater-disapproving Puritans and Portia’s disapproving dad; Lady Clapham (Beth Breiner), producer of Nick and Nigel’s plays, and Shylock (Brandon Costanzo), ready and willing to step in as backer for Nick and Nigel’s plays.

Never mind that the setting is English Renaissance circa 1595, “Something Rotten!” sends up theatrical conventions from then until now, with spoofy references to classic Broadway shows and pop culture, injects hip-hop dance moves into the proceedings, and pokes fun at just about everyone and everything. The show is frequently laugh-out-loud funny.

Kudos to costumer Brenda McGuire, who gives a semblance of Renaissance attire to the main characters, while adding touches of modern fashion. Praise also to set and lighting designer, technical director Brett Oliveira, who creates a functional facade backdrop for the show and adds some nice flourishes with the lighting.

The show opens with “Welcome to the Renaissance,” sung by Daniel J. Hurt, in great voice as The Minstrel, accompanied by the Ensemble, and sets the tone right away with “God, I Hate Shakespeare,” by Yuskauskas (Nick), Ziman (Nigel) and the Troupe. Doyle (Bea) adds an additional comedic element and sets the stage for the relationship between Bea and Nick with “Right Hand Man.”

The show is rife with comedy numbers, none more so than “A Musical,” with Yuskauskas, Stoneback and the Ensemble in what is really a back-handed tribute to the Broadway musical genre.

The love story of Portia (Gambon) and Nigel (Ziman) is told in one of the show’s lovely ballads, “I Love the Way.”

Shakespeare (Wetherhold) weighs in with “Will Power,” which is a hoot. Wetherhold really brings it, backed by the Bard Boys (Chase Fontenot, Michael Mottram, Jadon Lopez, Nathan Angelo, all good dancers with just the right insouciance) for “Hard to Be the Bard.” One of the show’s smart concepts it presenting Shakespeare as a rock star, Elvis on Avon. Vanity of vanities, it works and Wetherhold gives the role the works.

Without giving too much away, the show puns on the name Hamlet with the result, “Make an Omelette,” one of the many numbers that will have you laughing along. The show’s title song is also terrific. And “To Thine Own Self Be True” is another of the show’s few, but memorable ballads.

Mutimer has assembled a talented cast of, by my count, 24 terrific triple-threats (singers, actors dancers).

The leads are especially impressive. Yushauskas has a wonderful voice and is a master of the material. His sly asides and seasoned timing make Nick Bottom simultaneously funny and endearing.

Ziman has a great voice and plays the role with an appropriate earnestness that makes Nigel adorable.

Doyle has a tremendous voice that fills the theater with beautiful and expressive notes. She also proves to be a fine comedienne.

Gambon has a sweet and very melodic voice. She projects a coquettish that is charming.

Stoneback is delightful and extremely funny. Costanzo hits the right tone in a challenging role. And, brother, is Mark Breiner drolly amusing.

If you’re a fan of Shakespeare, a Broadway aficionado or just want some good laughs and to enjoy solid singing and dancing, don’t miss “Something Rotten!” at NCC Summer Theatre. It’s a production that’s ripe for comedy.

“Something Rotten!,” 7:30 p.m. through July 16 and 2 p.m. July 17, Lipkin Theatre, Northampton Community College, Bethlehem Township. The wearing of face masks by theater-goers is optional in the theater. Reserved seating. Tickets: www.ncctix.org; 484-484-3412