A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forumn Stone Theater
Theater | New Jersey
An Enduring Musical Comedy Gets a Gender-Bending Twist
The opening lyrics of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" briskly promise "Something familiar, something peculiar, something for everyone: a comedy tonight!" That pledge is nicely fulfilled by Two River Theater's unconventional staging of the musical in Red Bank.
The familiar something is "Forum" itself, which has remained popular ever since its Broadway premiere in 1962, when the show won six Tony Awards, including best musical. Successfully revived twice on Broadway and made into a film, this giddy romp through ancient Rome is often staged by theaters of every description.
What makes Two River's revival something peculiar — or at least delightfully unorthodox — is the decision by Jessica Stone, the director, to stage the musical with an all-male cast.
This concept succeeds on several levels. The daffy script, deftly crafted by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, is drawn from several comedies by Plautus (254-184 B.C.), whose works were originally performed by male troupes. So Ms. Stone's approach salutes the ancient Roman traditions.
The conceit works in another way: At a time when a story of men lusting after a flock of courtesans might strike some as offensive — the jaunty number "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid" characterizes its mind-set — having guys with hairy armpits and tummies portray the women undercuts any whiff of sexism.
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A celebration of baggy-pants burlesque humor, the intricate plot involves people popping up frequently in disguise. These antics require many of the actors in the 12-member company to take on multiple roles. All the quick-changing and cross-dressing, which showcases Clint Ramos's brightly hued costumes, adds to the mirth of the show.
Ms. Stone, a smart comic actress who has lately turned to directing, first staged an all-male version of "Forum" at the Williamstown Theater Festival in 2010. This new iteration employs her first production's set and lighting designers, as well its choreographer. Several actors also reprise their roles, most notably Christopher Fitzgerald, who zestfully incarnates the leading role of Pseudolus, a wily slave who aims to win his freedom by any means necessary.
The director is married to Mr. Fitzgerald, an award-winning Broadway regular whose frisky, youthful presence as Pseudolus sets a snappy pace for his fellow actors. Somewhat small in stature but always large in expression, Mr. Fitzgerald winningly unpacks a trove of funny faces, attitudes, voices and rude sounds as his character scampers about, uniting lovers and outwitting adversaries.
Michael Urie (of "Ugly Betty" repute) gives Hysterium, Pseudolus's fellow slave and unwilling ally, a sunny disposition that is unlike the usually neurotic depiction of the character and makes his later throes seem all that more droll. Kevin Isola provides a humorously growling voice for Senex, a lecherous patrician, mixing intonations of David Burns (who originated the role), Groucho Marx and Bert Lahr.
David Turner blissfully portrays a lovely though empty-headed ingénue with a radiantly dopey smile. Graham Rowat stumps dourly around as a flinty-eyed warrior. Everybody in the company contributes high spirits and some agreeable singing.
A significant part of the musical's appeal comes from Stephen Sondheim's breezy music and clever lyrics. His fetchingly light score, which was his first Broadway outing as a composer and lyricist, was underrated in 1962 — no Tony nomination for him — but it sounds thoroughly charming today. While the eight-member band in the pit sounds clunky at times, and the wonderfully alliterative wordplay of "Pretty Little Picture" is obscured by busy staging involving shadow puppets, the allure of the supple score is undeniable.
Alexander Dodge's setting of three Roman villas provides a dignified background — a nice contrast to all the ridiculousness onstage. The choreography by Denis Jones combines vaudevillian capers with gymnastic flourishes. Ms. Stone's controlled direction smoothly rolls out the merry madness that makes "Forum" such an enduring musical comedy treat.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/13/nyregion/review-a-funny-thing-happened-on-the-way-to-the-forum.html
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