EDMONDS — Not only is there “Comedy Tonight,” it’s great comedy each night at the Wade James Theatre.
The Edmonds Driftwood Players’ current production of Stephen Sondheim’s Tony award-winning musical “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” continues through May 10.
Don’t miss it.
“Forum” is one of the funniest shows ever written, and the Driftwood team does it justice.
It’s appropriately vaudevillian, bawdy, fast-paced and packed with witty little bits that will keep you on the edge of your seat, ready for the next belly laugh.
On opening night, the theater was filled with an adoring audience who generously let this community theater cast know how much they enjoyed themselves. If you laugh, the actors will do an even better job, so laugh loud.
Set in ancient Rome and inspired by the 2,000-year-old farces of Platus, the story involves the clever slave Pseudolus, who works hard to win the hand of the beautiful, but slow-witted virginal courtesan Philia for his young master Hero. If he is successful, Pseudolus will be granted his freedom.
The plot includes mistaken identity, slamming doors and lots of running, punctuated with great songs such as “(Tragedy Tomorrow) Comedy Tonight,” “Lovely” and “Everybody Ought to Have a Maid.”
Directed by Martin Mackenzie, with music direction by Mark and Nancy Press and choreography by Carissa Meisner Smit, the ensemble makes it obvious that they, too, are having fun.
The musical was written in the early 1960s, so, OK, don’t expect feminist themes and political correctness, Mackenzie said.
“I encourage my actors to explore and embrace the stereotypes of their characters,” he said in a statement from the theater. “All of the characters’ (Latin) names are a perfect description of who they are and what their personalities are.”
Outstanding in this production are Terry Boyd as the slave Hysterium, who hilariously tries to calm himself when all chaos breaks loose, and Jay Vilhauer, who plays the lead character Pseudolous, played on Broadway and in the movie by Zero Mostel.
Boyd is a Driftwood regular and very funny, but he hadn’t done much in the way of musical theater until last year’s Driftwood production of “Thugs: A Musical Manifesto.” He shines in “Forum.”
The delightful Vilhauer also was in “Thugs” and played the Tin Man in “The Wizard of Oz” and Harold Hill in “The Music Man.” He professionally sets the tempo for this production and keeps everyone on track.
Also, enjoy the Proteans, a versatile and talented quartet of men, Patrick Hogan, Tim Mezger, Jonathan Olson and Stewart Wood, who play slaves, citizens, soldiers and eunuchs.
“Forum,” is not the best show for showcasing the talents of women, but each of the courtesans, as well as Krista Erickson as Hero’s mother Domina and Ireland Woods as the lovely Philia do a good job.
The set is great, the costumes are great and the orchestra does a fabulous job. Any community theater group that can support a live orchestra is top notch.
“Forum” is one of the best shows at Driftwood has produced in the past few years.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @galefiege.
If you go
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” continues through May 10 at the Wade James Theatre, 950 Main St. Edmonds. Performances are 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $25 or $22 for seniors, youth and military. Go to www.edmonds-driftwoodplayers.org or call 425-774-9600, option 3.
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