A tumultuous
three-ring Forum
by Michael Dresdner
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Lakewood
Playhouse, deftly directed by Brie Yost, is a rollicking, bawdy, musical comedy
that can barely contain itself. Think Marx Brothers meets Three Stooges and
you’ll have a sense of what transpires. An outstanding cast creates a
three-ring-circus of singing, dancing, and lowbrow comedy peppered with puns,
sight gags, and humorous anachronisms, all played out in outstanding costumes
on a beautifully conceived and elaborately painted stage.
Set in 200 BCE Rome, the basic plot has young Hero (Colin
Briskey) in love with a face in the window of the brothel across the courtyard.
The face belongs to Philia (Gretchen Boyt), a vapid blond virgin whose only
skills are seduction and obedience, and who is already sold to a soon-to-arrive
soldier, a vain braggart of a captain.
When his parents leave him in the care of their aptly named
slave Hysterium (Alex Smith), Hero upends things by promising freedom to his
other slave, the devious Pseudolus (Christopher S. Cantrell) if he gets Philia
away from brothel owner Marcus Lycus (Jeffrey Weaver). That plot device allows
Cantrell to initiate a madcap parade of mayhem.
Cantrell’s Pseudolus orchestrates the show like a Roman era
Jackie Gleason, a manipulative puppeteer racing from one exhaustingly convoluted
song and dance filled scheme to the next. Through it all he is abetted and
amplified by a delightfully funny trio of Proteans (Josh Johnson, Coleman
Hagerman, Jed Slaughter) who appear regularly in various characters and
costumes, singing, dancing, mugging, doing acrobatics, and generally adding
another layer of distracting hilarity to the already frenetic action.
For our viewing pleasure, Pseudolus gets brothel owner Lycus
to parade across the stage a bevy of varied and appropriately costumed dancing courtesans.
Mute but physical, they gyrate lasciviously enough to arouse not only the rapt men,
but even the fountain in the courtyard. Cantrell’s Pseudolus also manipulates
the hapless, excitable, marionette-limber Smith into cross dressing, lying, and
even faking death, and cons everyone in sight in every way possible.
Subtle but humorous anachronisms abound. Soldiers drink water
from a plastic bottle and the captain wears a sundial wristwatch. A wizened,
addled neighbor named Erronius (Martin J. Mackenzie) reappears regularly as he
circles the city on foot, wheezing and humming classic theme songs from shows
like Bonanza and The Adams Family.
Supporting the excellent cast is a worthy support crew. The
simple, very functional set, designed by Blake York and deftly painted by a
crew led by Jen Ankrum, is beautiful. Costumes are outstanding, from the
variety of Roman upper class and slave outfits, through some amazing togs on
the dancing courtesans, down to both humorous Protean and elegant soldier’s
outfits. Lighting by Kristen Zetterstrom is suitable unobtrusive, and music is
provided by a very capable quartet led by Terry O’Hara.
I should mention that while this is a musical, its strength
is more in its comedy than its songs. Don’t expect great soloists, deep emotion
or cerebral repartee. This is vaudevillian slapstick at its finest, and at
that, it is fine indeed.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
June 15th
to July 8th
Lakewood
Playhouse
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