BWW Reviews: Sadly A FUNNY THING HAPPENED … On the Way to Being Funny at SMT

Sondheim's "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" has been a go to for theaters for years. It's big and loud and can be a crowd pleaser. But should it be? Yes, it can be a very funny show if it's done right. But, as is the case with Seattle Musical Theatre's current production, when it's not done right it can be a plodding mess.

If you want to know the story to the show you just need to listen to Pseudolous (Adam Minton) and his first number, "Comedy Tonight", as much is explained there. Allow me to hit the high points of the song. "It all takes place on a street in Rome around and about these three houses. First, the house of Erronious (Dale Bowers), a befuddled old man abroad now in search of his children stolen in infancy by pirates. Second, the house of Lycus (Anthony Pallozzi), a buyer and seller of the flesh of beautiful women. And finally the house of Senex (Alan Wilkie) who lives with his wife (Christine Goff) and son (Nikolai Mell). Also in this house lives Pseudolous, slave to the son." Now Pseudolous wants his freedom and Senex's son Hero wants the lovely new courtesan at Lycus', Philia (Morgan Dietkus). But Philia has been sold to the great Captain Miles Gloriosus (Garrett Dill). And so in an attempt to win his freedom, Pseudolus tries to con his way into getting the girl away from the captain without losing his head. Things don't really go his way and hilarity ensues.

Or at least it should. The show is basically an homage to the old vaudevillian farce and as such it requires a certain style. Lightning fast pace and a ring master who we thrill in watching juggle all of the elements of the con he's attempting to put over. And that's what this is lacking. Director Vince Brady seems to have forgotten to tell his cast to pick up their cues and listen to each other as they all seem to be waiting for their next funny line. Without that connection the whole things turns into just a lot of mugging. And mugging does not amount to much of a thrill, just a desperate plea for approval. And while the songs and the lines are mildly amusing, they don't make it to the realm of hilarious without that level of controlled chaos. The show needs to be a well oiled roller coaster and it felt more like a broken down carousel.

The cast is passable vocally but, as I said, not all connected to each other. Minton has a wonderful voice but lacks that sense of mastermind and that vaudevillian style. And the same could be said for the rest of the cast. They just don't seem to all be in the same show and are missing that style. All but one. Zack Sanders as Senex's other slave Hysterium is the one who comes closest to taking the comedy to where it needs to be but even he falls into the trap of mugging through much of the show.

When all is said and done the show just misses the mark. Vocally it works on a number of levels but comedically it falls flat and so with my three letter rating system I give it a courtesy laugh and a MEH.

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" performs at Seattle Musical Theatre through April 26th. For tickets or information visit them online at www.seattlemusicaltheatre.org.

Photo credit: Jeff Carpenter

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