Act I:
In Renaissance England, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom find themselves struggling to keep their theater troupe afloat amidst fierce competition from the legendary William Shakespeare, known as “The Bard.” As Shakespeare prepares to unveil his newest masterpiece, “Romeo and Juliet,” Lord Clapham, a patron of the Bottom brothers, threatens to withdraw their funding unless they produce a new play by morning.
Nick despises Shakespeare’s success and fame, while Nigel, a romantic poet, is in awe of the bard’s genius. The brothers encounter a dilemma when Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, expresses a desire to help their troupe. Employing a Jew is illegal, posing a moral and legal quandary.
Meanwhile, Nick’s wife, Bea, has diligently saved money from her hard work. In desperation, Nick steals the money box and uses the funds to consult a soothsayer, Thomas Nostradamus, nephew of the famous Nostradamus. Nick seeks his guidance on the future of theater. Nostradamus reveals an astonishing prediction—actors will sing, dance, and act simultaneously in a revolutionary form called “a musical.”
In a twist of fate, Nigel meets and falls in love with Portia, the beautiful daughter of Brother Jeremiah. Nick warns Nigel against getting involved with Portia and then neglects to mention his encounter with Nostradamus and his incredible revelation about musicals. Nigel likes the idea and is inspired to write a play about brothers from Cornwall, but Nick insists that a play about the Black Death would fare better.
As tensions rise and the deadline looms, Lord Clapham deserts the Bottom brothers, leaving them in dire straits. Nigel, left alone to compose a new play, encounters Portia, who discovers his poetic talent and shares his admiration for Shakespeare. They decide to sneak away and see “The Bard” perform.
Amidst the chaos of the after party, Portia indulges in excessive drinking, adding to the comedic mayhem. Shakespeare, intrigued by Nigel’s talent, wants to read his poems. However, Shylock intervenes, chastising Shakespeare for attempting to steal Nigel’s ideas and scolding Nigel for his naivety.
As the Bottom brothers face mounting pressure and desperation, Nick returns to Nostradamus, armed with what remains of the money he stole from the box. He implores Nostradamus to reveal Shakespeare’s next big hit. However, Nostradamus, prone to misinterpretations, confuses various details, including “Hamlet,” leading Nick to write a preposterous musical based on these erroneous predictions.
Act II:
Shylock has become the troupe’s new investor, offering financial support to keep their dreams alive. Shakespeare, stooping to new lows, disguises himself and auditions for the brothers’ play to steal it. Meanwhile, the troupe rehearses their new show, “Omelette: The Musical.”
Nostradamus, another unwelcome visitor to the theatre, also claims to be an actor and inserts himself into the troupe’s affairs.
Nigel sneaks away to see Portia again and reads her yet another heartfelt poem about his love for her. Anxieties about her fathers’ disapproval linger, but Portia assures Nigel that her father and Nick will come around once they witness the beauty of Nigel’s poetry.
Nigel, disheartened by “Omelette,” becomes inspired to write a play that turns out to be none other than “Hamlet.” Nigel visits the theater and excitedly shares his improvements to the play with Nick. However, an argument erupts between the brothers, allowing Shakespeare to seize the opportunity and steal Nigel’s efforts.
Amidst the chaos, Nick’s loyal wife, Bea, assures Nigel that they can still rely on him.
To a full house, the troupe performs “Something Rotten!” with a bombastic dance number featuring references to modern-day musicals. Towards the end of the number, Shakespeare reveals himself to the shock of the troupe and Nigel. They also discover Nostradamus’s true identity as a soothsayer, leaving them horrified.
Shakespeare sues the Bottom brothers. In court, Nick is sentenced to beheading. However, disguised as a lawyer, Bea intervenes and makes Nick confess to stealing money from the box. She cleverly argues that beheading him would be redundant since he has already lost his head. Striking a deal with Shakespeare, she negotiates their exile to America, where they will have a country house, and fulfil their dream.
Portia, having escaped the tower, arrives and renounces her father’s ideals. She joins the Bottoms, along with Shylock and Nostradamus, in their exile. The group arrives in America and addresses the audience, sharing the boundless opportunities found in the New World.
