There's nothing rotten about Lyric Stage's new production

At the start of Lyric Stage Company of Boston’s hilarious musical “Something Rotten!,” the superb cast welcomes the audience to the Renaissance era in song, and what a dynamically rousing greeting it is.

With strong vocals and stage presence, ensemble member Indijhan Richard begins this first number from a tower upstage in a neighborhood of Tudor-style homes, setting the scene as other cast members join in. The high-energy production, packed full of phenomenal singing and acting, is centered on two brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom, who are trying to oust William Shakespeare from his literary throne by creating the world’s first musical. But outwitting and outwriting a fabulously smug Shakespeare (an excellent Jared Troilo) is more challenging than they’d hoped.

“Something Rotten!,” showing through June 7, was written by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell, with music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick, arrangements by Glenn Kelly and orchestrations by Larry Hochman. The show debuted on Broadway on April 22, 2015, at the St. James Theatre. The musical, which is set in 1595, ran for 708 performances, closing on January 1, 2017, according to Playbill.

It’s easy to see why the show lasted so long. “Something Rotten!” is the perfect offering for theater and music lovers alike. It references classic tales, pokes fun at the over-idealization of Shakespeare, and sprinkles in just enough bawdiness to be comical but not offensive. Oh, and much of the dialogue is rhyming couplets.

In the show, the rage-filled Nick Bottom (a super Ryan Mardesich) is desperately trying to pen something popular after his last few plays have failed. He also has to take care of his strong-willed wife, Bea (an outstanding Kristian Espritu), who in her own way pushes against gender roles while trying to help her family. To get help, he hires a zany soothsayer, Thomas Nostradamus (a comical and exemplary Joy Clark), who advises Nick that the next big thing is a musical. Nostradamus also shares that Shakespeare’s biggest hit will be called “Omelet.” So, Nick sets out to write it first and won’t tolerate naysayers.

In the meantime, Shylock — portrayed by sage actor Bobbie Steinbeck, the 2023 Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence winner — is trying to help Nick by investing in his work. He declines at first.

Amid the scribe-centered drama is the unfolding of a love story between the kind Nigel Bottom (the wonderful Ohad Ashkenazi) and Portia (a very humorous Lauren Dodds), the daughter of the very religious and awfully fabulous Puritan named Brother Jeremiah (a very talented Kenny Kelleher).

A meet-cute between the bespectacled bookworms occurs when they bump into each other in town, where Nigel’s poems spill into the street. There’s an instant connection that spells star-crossed trouble. Nick tries to warn his brother against it, but the heart wants what the heart wants.

All the action is spurred on by the exuberant playing of the live orchestra, under the musical direction of Katya Stanislavskaya, which helps make the mid-sized theater’s show feel epic. The work of the magnificent creative team also helped give the show dimension. The ensemble’s costumes help capture the story — from pleated purple puffy pants, to dresses with full skirts, getups resembling cracked eggs or Puritan regalia — courtesy of costume designer Chloe Moore. The lovely set by scenic designer Cameron McEachern, warm lighting by Bretton Reis, sound by Alex Berg, props by Lauren Corcuera and great dance moves by choreographer Christoper Shin also help make the show memorable.

For instance, Troilo’s Shakespeare — who is treated like a real rock star — has the gyrating moves that mesmerize his fans, and gets rolled into a party scene on a couch by his workers. But even though Shakespeare is on top in “Something Rotten!,” he understands how precarious stardom can be. So, he hatches his own plan to dominate.

What lengths will the writers go to succeed? And who will win? Audiences should head to the theater to find out. And, be ready to have fun. For me, it was one of the most entertaining shows I’ve seen all season.

“Something Rotten!” runs through June 7 at the Lyric Stage Company of Boston.