Something for everyone, a comedy tonight!
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” (A Funny Thing for short) is a musical set in ancient Rome with music and lyrics by legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, whose credits include “Sweeney Todd,” “A Little Night Music,” “Into The Woods,” and “West Side Story.” The original Broadway production in 1962 won several Tony Awards and was made into a successful film. Decades later, “A Funny Thing” has found its way to Chapel Off Chapel, and in a world-first, according to the producers, Watch This, it’s been reimagined featuring an all-female-identifying cast. More about that later.
“A Funny Thing” tells the story of a slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door. The most recognizable song from the show is “Comedy Tonight.” If you don’t know it, you’ll be humming it after you leave the show, I promise. I’m a fan of Sondheim’s work – “Gypsy” is my favourite musical of his – but I’m the first to admit that his musicals are an acquired taste. Full marks to Watch This for being Australia’s only Stephen Sondheim repertory company.
I’ll be honest. I was unsure about the all-female casting when I read the press release, but this testosterone-free production of “A Funny Thing,” directed with clarity by Melanie Hillman, has much to enjoy. Instead of men pontificating while wearing togas, we get a stage full of women of all ages and body shapes. They make a meal of both the male and female roles as scripted by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. No attempt is made throughout the production to disguise any of the actresses as men; they’re simply introduced as male characters, and it works. The audience is required to use their imagination and remember who is male and who isn’t.
Charmaine Gorman as Pseudolus makes for an affable “leading man.” With comedy, timing is everything, and Charmaine rarely misses a beat. She’s got vaudevillian blood running through her veins and holds the show and the company together. Milo Hartill (as Hero) and Mel O’Brien (as Philia) are delightful in their musical number, “Lovely,” and make the most of their roles as star-crossed, virginal lovers. A Funny Thing is basically a musical farce, which means it’s shamelessly about hamming it up as well as singing Sondheim’s songs… and O’Brien in particular understands this. She uses her voluptuous figure, expressive face, and plunging neckline to great comic effect, often stealing the spotlight from others on stage. The hardest-working performer on Chapel Off Chapel’s stage has to be the energetic Kristie Nguyen. Her many roles might be small (she plays the entire ensemble), but this little pocket rocket shines, making the most of what she’s been given. The two best vocal performances belong to Luisa Scrofani (as Miles Gloriosus) and Sophie Weiss (as Domina). Weiss, who sings “That Dirty Old Man,” has only one song in the second act, but she left me wanting to hear her sing more.
The plot is too ridiculous to explain at length, so I won’t try. What you need to know, though, is that there are a lot of laughs in this production of “A Funny Thing”. Despite a small production budget and a stripped-back ensemble, the female-led cast works hard to make everything work. Sure, there are times when the script, littered with roles for men, cries out for some muscles, chest hair, and boyish features on stage. Most notably in the second act when Sondheim’s songs take a backseat to the script and plot twists… and the Romans start to feel frisky under their togas. If you catch my drift! 😜
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” with its cast of glorious women (all in terrific voice, by the way), is a fast-paced, well-directed, witty show. While I wouldn’t want to see every Sondheim musical performed without testosterone, this production of “A Funny Thing” at Chapel has something for everyone to enjoy. A little comedy tonight? Oh, yes, please, Pseudolus. I really loved it. Grab a ticket!
Photography by Jodi Hutchinson.
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM!
The Cast: Charmaine Gorman (Pseudolus/Prologue Act 1), Milo Hartill (Hero), Jacqui Hoy (Hysterium), Mel O’Brien (Philia), Sophie Weiss (Domina), Luisa Scrofani (Miles Gloriosus), Cathy Woodhouse (Senex), Sarahlouise Younger (Marcus Lycus), Judith Roberts (Erronius) and Kristie Nguy (All the ensemble incl. Courtesans).
Director: Mel Hillman – Musical Director: Trevor Jones – Choreographer: Sophie Loughran – Assistant Director Bobbie-Jean Henning – Set Designer Sarah Tulloch – Costume Designer Jemima Johnston – Lighting Designer Rob Sowinski – Sound Designer Marcello Lo Rico – Production Manager Anna Davies – Creative Producer Dean Drieberg
More Info: https://linktr.ee/noelanderson
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