Madeline Kahn Videos From a Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Stephen Underwood as Senex and Denise Poirier every bit Domina in Practiced Theater'due south production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."

A Funny Thing Happened on the Mode to the Forum
Skillful Theater
Through Sun., Feb. 15

Let's run across: we're huddled indoors to escape the snow, ice and os-spooky winds. The economy continues to hit a new depression every day. Ann Coulter'south jaw is no longer wired shut.

These grim facts arrive necessary to escape reality, and that brings us to A Funny Thing Happened on the Mode to the Forum . "Tragedy tomorrow, comedy tonight!" declares the first song of this venerable musical, which Proficient Theater has chosen as its first show of the new year.

We open in ancient Rome, where all roads lead. Old Senex (Stephen Underwood) and his shrewish married woman, Domina (Denise Poirier), get on a picayune journey, leaving their young and naïve son Hero (Christopher Reilling) lone with the assistance. Tony Reilly plays Hero's personal slave, Pseudolus, who as a servant is less than sedulous — he'd rather gamble and carouse than grit the urns. Only when Pseudolus learns that Hero is in love with a virgin who lives in the house of lechery next door, he makes the immature master a bargain. If I go yous the girl, says the slave, you lot set me free.

Playwrights Burt Shevelove and Larry (One thousand*A*S*H ) Gelbart begin with this simple ready-up and keep to pile on the comic complications. First of all, the comely virgin in question has already been sold to a full general, who is expected to arrive at whatever moment. While Pseudolus deals with that little complexity, Hero's parents render to Rome, soldiers start running around like Keystone Cops, mood-altering potions are brewed, disguises are donned, misunderstandings multiply, lightly clad courtesans sashay and tintinnabulate, and puns are flung most like banana peels. But fear non: everything works out in the cease, for is that not the definition of comedy?

The songs here are past Stephen Sondheim, a theatrical main not known for giddiness or light amusements. In other plays, his incisive wordplay and disinterest in tricky melodies often combine to create songs that are intellectually impressive but as emotionally moving equally the Times Sunday crossword. Merely here he'due south in crowd-pleasing style: the keys are major, the tempi are boisterous, the best lyrics bawdy.

Impossible not to laugh: Christopher Reilling as Hero and Underwood as Senex.

Take "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid," in which several males sing the praises of servile women. Underwood leads the chorus with a twinkle in his eye. Of all the bandage, he seems the about in tune with the spirit of the prove — he's randy, shameless and proficient-natured. "Something smells divine," he announces later on a bath, "and it's me!" All he wants is to get laid, and who can blame him when a parade of languid lasses with names like Vibrata and Gymnasia are draped seductively all over the stage?

Underwood'southward cheerful lechery contrasts nicely with Reilling's goggle-eyed naiveté equally Hero. Male parent and son, entranced by the same girl, share a hilarious duet called "Impossible." Equally absurd and amusing is Poirier as Domina, vamping it upwards all over the identify in a fine Madeline Kahn manner. And let's not forget Bill Elllis equally Captain Miles Gloriosus. Any young man who tin can proclaim, "I am my ideal!" with such brawny self-regard and however command affection is welcome on the stage.

Yet all these fine performances are non plenty to perfect this iteration of Forum . Halfway through Human action I, the footstep slackens then much that one longs for the fall of the Roman Empire. (If at that place were groundlings at the St. Lawrence, they'd be shouting, "Get on with information technology!") Reilly, at least during the matinee performance I saw, seems more weary than puckish in the pivotal role of Pseudolus. It's easy to forget in the midst of all the silliness that Pseudolus is bargaining for his liberty.

Though there are a few lumps in this pastry, it'due south still low-cal and sugariness. Sondheim and Gelbart have washed amend work elsewhere, but who cares? Forum remains a diverting slice of escapism, and in these serious times, silliness must be treasured.

— Jason Wilkins

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum runs through Sun., Feb. 15, at the St. Lawrence Arts & Community Middle, 76 Congress St., Portland. Performances are Thurs. at 7:30 p.m., Fri. and Sat. at eight p.m., Sun. at two p.m. (additional evidence Sat., Feb. 14, at 3 p.grand.). Tix: $20 (Thurs. and Saturday. matinee), $28 (other performances; $25 seniors and students). 885-5883. goodtheater.com.

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Source: https://thebollard.com/2009/01/29/a-funny-thing-happened-on-the-way-to-the-forum/

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