Review: Forum show is a timeless, tuneful, terrific musical comedy

Only the pompous could pooh pooh A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

The rest will revel in this musical farce and emerge light hearted and gleefully unen­light­ened, into the summer  evening.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum has been happening since 1962, start­ing on Broadway and gather­ing a long list of slaves, masters, courtesans and acco­lades. Actually its origins date further back, some 2,000 years, as the play is based on the writ­ings of Titus Maccius Plautus. Apparently the funny bone has not evolved that much.

Set in ancient Rome, the story tells of one day in the life of Pseudolus, a slave sweat­ful­ly bargaining for his free­dom by attempting to pro­cure the virginal courtesan, Philia, for his lovestruck master, Hero.

It’s not easy. In vaudevillian style,  Pseudolus faces many ob­stacles involving the requis­ite  gender bending, mistaken identities, general deceit, and denouement. Providing these necessities are Hero’s colourful parents, the courtesan pimp, a trumped up Roman captain who has already paid for Philia, a grovelling slave named Hys­terium, a feeble Erronius in search of his long lost children stolen by pirates, soldiers, and fellow courtesans. A cast of 18 in all animate these stock char­acters to pulsating life.

Most of the show, including the songs, are  delivered direct­ly to the audience. The or­ches­tra, under Music Director Charles T. Cozens, though out of sight is not out of mind, leading the way with Comedy Tonight and staying with the audience all the way home as Finale Ultimo. Music and lyr­ics are by the famed composer Stephen Sondheim.

The courtesans and their helplessly upstaged boss, Ly­cus, played by Nicholas Rice, are beautiful and talented dan­cers particularly in their indivi­dually showcased number The House of Marcus Lycus.

Most notable in his per­formance is Drayton fav­ourite  Keith Savage as “I live to grovel” Hysterium. He is a ner­vous wreck, his hectic demean­or written all over his versatile face, and driving him further to great agility. Watching him perform is a real, funny plea­sure.

Steve Ross, in his Drayton debut, plays Pseudolus. His singing voice is powerful though his role falls into the back­ground. Nathan Lane had received a  Tony for that part on Broadway.

Veterans Doug Cham­berlain as Senex, and Karen K. Edissi as Domina, play their parental roles as sly fox and battleaxe though they are expertly likeable in both roles.

Elena Juatco as Philia is recognizable as a former Cana­dian Idol contestant. She is sweet but only occasionally plays daft, as required.

Robert Longo in his Dray­ton debut as the Captain Miles Gloriosus commands the stage in a performance reminiscent of Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. Bring Me My Bride has him in the same comically arro­gant state, though also in for a dose of humility.

Kenneth Wickes, who just turned 80, plays  Erronius to the hilt. His mere appearance on stage dissolves the audience in laughter  as he circles in a befuddled state, proudly announcing his rounds. Thank goodness the audience can still enjoy the nonsense so gener­ously provided.

Costumes are well done though the wigs are a worry. The one set is functional and provides the three adjacent houses, though it is rather drab.

Director Rona Waddington expertly guided this busy pro­duc­tion into a still hilarious and joyful show that defies not only sense, but time.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum plays eight times a week through Aug. 9.

Call the box office at 519-638-5555 or 1-888-449-4463, or www.draytonfestivalthe­atre.com.

 

 

 

 

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