BWW Reviews: A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM - A Roman Holiday Treat at the Shakespeare Theatre Company
By: Charles Shubow Dec. 10, 2013
Something familiar, something peculiar, something appealing, something appaling, something convulsive, something repulsive, something esthetic, something frenetic, something erratic, something dramatic, something that's gaudy, something that's bawdy...all part of Stephen Sondheim's incredible lyrics for his opening number "Comedy Tonight" from his very first Broadway show that he wrote both the music and lyrics, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM.
The Signature Theatre has the reputation for putting on presentations from the Sondheim canon, but the Shakespeare Theatre Company? STC Artistic Director Michael Kahn crossed the Potomac to direct a Signature Theatre world premiere play by Paul Downs Colaizzo, PRIDE IN THE FALL OF AUTREY MILL which just ended a successful run starring Christine Lahti. Now, Kahn has decided to pluck a Sondheim musical for his own Shakespeare Theatre Company. After his success with producing the musical CANDIDE three years ago, what a brilliant idea to present this musical farce during the holiday season. What's next? Signature Theatre's Eric Schaeffer putting on Hamlet?
Getting back to the opening number, "Comedy Tonight". It was this number that according to the composer in his treatise "Finishing the Hat" saved his show and it happened while it was in Washington during previews. at the National Theatre. Audiences until then, had little understanding they were in for a show that was full of burlesque and farce. But once "Comedy Tonight" was written, audiences immediately understood.
Making his STC mainstage directing debut is the very youthful Alan Paul. During the opening number, Paul quickly includes an actor with a skull beginning a sonnet from HAMLET, "NO" says the narrator Pseudolus. "Tragedy tomorrow. comedy tonight." Shortly thereafter, the curtain opens and there are three witches from MACBETH and they are quickly dealt with.
Paul at the ripe old age of 29 has directed a masterpiece. What a great future he has in store if this production is an indication of his abilities. In the STC wonderful publication "Asides" (visit www.ShakespeareTheatre.org/Asides), dramaturg Drew Lichtenberg describes how Paul has risen to the position he now encumbers. Like Paul, I also saw the 1996 Broadway revivial of FORUM with Nathan Lane. While Paul was able to get Nathan Lane to sign his FORUM poster (which he hangs in his bedroom), I am lucky to have a FORUM Playbill that my son Justin while at Yale Law School got the composer to autograph "To the Shubows, Stephen Sondheim." Somehting I will always treasure.
While FORUM won the Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Book in 1962, Sondheim was never even nominated. Zero Mostel played the leading role of Pseudolus, garnered a Tony, and did the film in 1966.
The title of the show was taken from vaudeville comediens who would begin a story by saying, "A funny thing happend on the way to the theater."
The book, by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbert, is based on three comedies by the Roman playwright Titus maccius Plautus (254-184 B.C.E.). The musical is unusual in that there is only one set and hardly any costume changes which was unusal at the time. The set (wonderfully done by James Noone) is comprised of three homes in Rome. In the center lives Senex, with his wife Domina, son Hero, and house slaves Pseudolus and Hysterium. To the left , the house of Marcus Lycus who runs a house of prostitution, and on the right is the home of the elderly Erronius, who has been away searching for his long-lost children.
In sum, Hero (the dashing Nick Verina) is in love with a virgin neighbor Philia (the adorable Lora Lee Gayer who reminded me of Kristin Chenowith). His slave Pseudolus (the incomparable Bruce Dow) concocts a plan that if he can win over Philia to Hero, Pseudolus would become free (and what a duet they have together doing "Free").
Hero's parents Senex (Steve Vinovich and his wife Dominia (Julie Johnson) leave their home and son Hero in the care of Hysterium (the brilliant Tom Story). Playing the owner of the brothel is Marcus Lycus (who I remember so well for his terrific portrayal of the leading character in FIORELLO at City Center Encores!). Harry Winter plays the absent landlord Erronius who is looking for his kidnapped children.
Hero's problem is that Philia has been promised to the handsome captain Miles Gloriosus (what a tenor voice Edward Watts possesses).
A highlight of the evening is when Marcus Lycius parades his gorgeous women to Pseudolus who pretends he is looking for someone for himself (trying to help Hero find his future bride). Special mention must be made to the actresses: Gymnasia (Jennifer Frankel), the Geminae twins (Ashley Blair Fitzgerald and Sarah Meahl), Vibrata (Lisa Karlin), Panacea (Chelsey Arce) and Tintinabula (Ashley Marinelli). Josh Rhodes is responsible for the sensual choregraphy and David C. Woolard for the sexy costumes.
A special mention must be made about the three Proteans played by Matthew Bauman, Nick Flatto, and Blakely Slaybaugh who will remind one of The Three Stooges. They are hysterical in various parts.
What is it with nipple tassels (used in the beginning of Act II). I saw this used a few months ago in the new musical HONEYMOON IN VEGAS at the Paper Mill Playhouse. Is this going to be a trend? Just asking.
The nine-piece orchestra is led by Musical Director Adam Wachter. They are wonderful. But I longed for a string section which is missing.
Also missing is the number "Pretty Little Picture" sung by Pseduolus, Hero, and Philia. Sondheim called these lyrics one of his favorites.
Contributing to the wonderful evening are Lighting Designer Rui Rita and Sound Designer Jason Tratta.
This is a show that is not to be missed. You will laugh, and laugh, and laugh some more.
FORUM runs at Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F Street, NW until January 5, 2014 and there is even a New Year's Eve performance which I can imagine will be even greater fun.
There are three free discussion possibilites offered by the STC. "Classics in Context" on Saturday, December 14 from 5-6 p.m.in Harman Hall where there will be a discussion about the play from mutliple perspectives. On Wednesday, December 18, there will be a post-performance cast discussion, and then there is Twitter Night, Thursday, Dec. 19 using hastag #STCnight to join the online conversation from the theater lobby or from home. For more information, visit www.ShakespeareTheatre.org/Education.
For tickets, call 202-547-1122 or visit www.shakespeare-theatre.org.
Playing concurrently at the STC's Lansburgh Theatre is MAN IN A CASE starring Mikhail Baryshnikov until Dec. 22. Look for my review shortly.
Finally, I have two television programs which may be of interest to my readers.
First, HBO has a wonderful documentary on Stephen Sondheim entitled "Six by Sondheim" directed by James Lapine. The six songs by Sondheim used to chronicle his life in the theater are "Something's Coming" from WEST SIDE STORY, "Opening Doors" from MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, "Send in the Clowns" from A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, "I'm Still Here" from COMPANY, and "Sunday" from SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE.
Lapine uses archival material which includes a rarely scene film recording of Larry Kert singing "Something's Coming". Also used is the documentary of the recording of the soundtrack of COMPANY. There is new material featuring America Ferrera ("Ugly Betty"), Darren Criss ("Glee"), Jeremy Jordan (NEWSIES), and Jarvis Cocker of the rock band Pulp. There is even a segment of Sondheim singing from the song "Opening Doors" about needing a melody. What a treasure.
Another DVR alert. Check out "Psych: the Musical" coming to the USA Network on Dec. 15 at 9 p.m. This two hour musical episode features Anthony Rapp (RENT, IF/THEN), Barry Bostwick, Ally Sheedy and series' stars James Roday and Dule Hill (currently on Broadway in AFTER MIDNIGHT).
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