If you’re in the mood for a bawdy, wild comedy, you’ll definitely want to get your tickets to the next Averitt STARS production which will be performed for two weekends — April 11–20 in the Emma Kelly Theater.
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is a musical comedy set in Ancient Rome, where slaves were fashionable, virgins were regarded as objects to be conquered and Eunuchs were in abundance. This play does little to change the stereotype usually associated with ancient Rome — corruption, vice, brutality and violence all abound as they play on all of those vices to create a hilarious farce.
“This is really going to be a great play, full of humor and crazy antics,” said executive director Tim Chapman.
As Prologus (played by Jeff Akins) warns everyone when he sings “Comedy Tonight”—there’s something familiar, peculiar, appealing, appalling —something for everyone. And true to form, audiences will be wowed with “Pantaloons and tunics! Courtesans and eunuchs! Funerals and chases! Baritones and basses! Panderers! Philanderers! Cupidity! Timidity! Mistakes! Fakes! Rhymes! Mimes! Tumblers! Grumblers! Fumblers! Bumblers! No royal curse, no Trojan horse, and a happy ending, of course!”
Slapstick burlesque antics are intrinsic in the play providing ample gags, puns, farcical characters, and broad comedic schtick. One of the most entertaining aspects in the play is its cast of characters. It all takes place in a street in ancient Rome and follows the antics in three houses. Erronius (played by Richard Sussman) is a “befuddled old man” who is searching for his children who were stolen by pirates.
Lycus (played by Alan Tyson) operates a house of ill repute where he sells his lovely collection of courtesans who are appropriately named Tintinnabula (played by Stephanie Kea), Panacea (played by Alison Lyall), the Gemini twins (played by Marie Maciejewski and Rachel Godbee), Vibrata (played by Meagan van Buren) and Gymnasia (played by Kimberly Roman). Even more comical than the courtesans are their guardian eunuchs.
The third house is that of Senex (played by Glenn Spell) — a husband and father who finds himself at odds with his son, Hero (played by Stephen Mullinax), as they compete for the attentions of a young virgin name Philia (played by Jennifer Luikart Russell).
“It's all coming together to be a great show,” said director Jaime White.
Theatergoers can expect great things from this Averitt STARS production of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” including loads of laughs from a great script and score, an outstanding cast, recognizable music with witty lyrics, eye-pleasing sets and lighting designs typical of STARS productions, and top-notch direction that is sure to include the puns, gags, lechery, and raucousness for which the play has come to be known. You should expect “nothing that’s formal, nothing that’s normal,” This show has “something for everybawdy — comedy tonight!”
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart.
For more information and to order tickets, call the Averitt Center for the Arts, (912) 212-ARTS, or visit the box office Tuesday–Friday between 1-5:30 p.m.
