A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, with a rather large 'tip of the quill' to the Bard throughout.  “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum” was first seen on Broadway in 1962.          Very much a show of it's time, that said, it is still a really clever, witty and humorous farce musical.

We're introduced first to Pseudolus, a cunning Roman slave, played brilliantly by Mark Norris. This really is a pivotal role, which he owns. Pseudolus who is desperately trying to find ways to gain his freedom, strikes a deal with his lovelorn master, Hero, James Duckworth.

Hero's love interest is the beautifully voiced virgin courtesan girl next door Philia, Vicky Webb; who much to Hero's horror, has been sold to warrior Miles Gloriosus, played in a gloriously narcissistic way by Craig Chesters.

Spying an opportunity to gain his freedom from slavery, the ever hopeful Pseudolus, hatches a plan the hilarious farcically complex plot, I wont even begin to try to explain, ensues which centres on three adjacent suburban Roman houses.

House one belongs to Lycus, Simon Hills; a purveyor and supplier of courtesans.

House two belongs to Hero's parents, Senex and his wife Domina, she boasting to Miles that she once entertained two hundred soldiers, both very well portrayed by Ian Bowen and Helene Sandy. 

House three is owned by Erronius, Bill Coles; an old man recently returned from searching for his children stolen by pirates many years ago.

Pseudolus is aided and abetted by Senex and Domina's head slave Hysterium, the ever funny Alec Voss. There is some great interplay between the two slaves. Erotic Pottery collection anyone?

Lycus's courtesans were really funny in their varying efforts to tempt Pseudolus. The whole cast added panache to the show, always engaged and enjoying themselves.

This really is a fun show. Mark Doran has done an excellent job with the direction. Musical direction by Susie Dickson shone throughout, giving us sing on the way home Sondheim songs, with such memorable numbers as “Comedy Tonight”, “Lovely”, “Everybody Ought To Have A Maid”.

Good sound, effective lighting and costumes worked well on the single ornate set. There was also great use of the theatre auditorium to facillitate moving large numbers of cast quickly on and off the stage with the limited space backstage.

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