A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

promenade productions

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

Cheltenham Playhouse                                                                           July 20th 2019

Director and Choreographer: Ceri Winrow

Assistant Director: Daphne Herbert                                         MD: Dave Whittle  

This musical from the pen of Stephen Sondheim is a witty, irreverent romp and I do not understand why it is not more popular.  Set in Ancient Rome and based on the plays of the Roman comedic playwright Plautus, it is a farce, complete with pimps, courtesans, slaves, young lovers, old men, a self important army captain, who end up chasing each other round the stage as a result of mistaken identity.

The Playhouse venue was a new one for this company and they certainly made themselves at home.  The action takes place in a street in Ancient Rome outside the houses of Erronius, Senex and Marcus Lycus, as there is much coming and going into the houses, the doors need to be sturdy.  Stage Manager Dave Herbert had designed and constructed a very sturdy, workable set; he had even managed balconies on the houses, which is no mean feat as there is very little height on this stage; it was all well painted and transported the audience to Ancient Rome.  The lighting complimented the set helping to give a feeling of sunshine and warmth.  The follow spots were well positioned and operated with steady hands.  Wigs and makeup worked well with the costumes to create a visual delight.  The props were all in keeping and used well.

As with all works by Sondheim the music for this show is challenging.  Musical Director had worked hard to produce a score for a reduced band using 2 keyboards, bass guitar and percussion.  The music and songs had been well taught and were mostly well sung with the musicians always sympathetic to the voices.  The ensemble numbers were sung enthusiastically, and ‘Everybody ought to have a maid’ was well delivered. The microphones were well cued, and the balance between music and voices was good.

The show had a strong cast who were comfortable in their roles.  Everyone had developed well-rounded characters, who worked well together; there were no weak links.  There is so much humour in this show, which was well delivered and kept the audience entertained.

Ceri Winrow, who is a seasoned performer, took on the role of Director and Choreographer for the first time, and brought an enjoyable production to the stage.  The choreography suited the abilities of her cast, and the production, with everyone looking confident.  She had helped her cast discover the humour, there are so many funny lines, and deliver it to the audience.  This was a real team effort with everyone involved working together to develop an entertaining piece of theatre, in fact ‘something for everyone, comedy tonight’.  Well done everyone.

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