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A laughing ‘Forum’ is underway in Dover
(by Elizabeth Martin - May 07, 2008)
The Dover Little Theatre is so small you would think you had stumbled into someone’s heavily curtained living room were it not for the rows of seats. The tiny stage and small house make for an intimate theatre-going experience. To be sure, an actor falling off stage and into you is a genuine concern for those in the first row, and this petite stature quite evidently carries over into the theatre’s budget.
However, what the Dover Little Theatre does have in abundance, at least in their latest musical endeavor, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” is heart.
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is an exceedingly well-known musical, with book and lyrics by the acclaimed Stephen Sondheim. The plot of the musical is based upon the comedies of the ancient Greek playwright, Plautus. The musical has won several Tony awards, both in its original Broadway run in 1962 and in subsequent revivals. Such famous Broadway stars as Zero Mostel and Nathan Lane have played the leading role of Pseudolus, both earning Tony’s for their portrayals.
“Forum” is a funny show all on its own without too much direction; the jokes are clever, the songs and dialogue funny and many clever bits are already worked into the script. What makes the Dover Little Theatre’s production special is how much fun the cast seems to be having. Every single person who performed on that stage has the singular power to make someone laugh. And in this laughter, the show becomes endearingly silly.
The costumes and set are cheap and cheesy, but these too are part of the production’s charm. Plastic kiddie swords and armor add to the high camp value of the production. This is not a piece of theatre attempting to move the audience to great emotional heights, as leading man, Pseudolus, points out in, “Comedy Tonight” at the show’s opening, “Nothing with gods, nothing with fate; weighty affairs will just have to wait!”
Jokes are funny and well-timed, particularly those of the Proteans, played by Gloria Mui of South Orange, L. Douglas Weed of Plainfield and Laura Carey of Ledgewood. The Proteans play a variety of minor roles throughout the musical, providing many of the shticks and gags. The three actors ability to work in seamless unity greatly adds to the humor.
Randy Hertzog of Randolph plays the lead role of Pseudolus in the production. Hertzog’s portrayal of Pseudolus is quite funny. No, really, it’s funny stuff. He carries the production smoothly from beginning to end and plays wonderfully off Rick Brown of Verona, playing fellow slave Hysterium. Indeed, the cast as a whole works quite well with one another.
The production is of course not without its flaws. The lack of a band seriously detracts from the enjoyment of some songs that need the support of full musical accompaniment. And, while perhaps not occurring at every performance, the box office staff’s incessant need to get up from their seats and walk in and out of the theatre during opening night was an annoyance at best.
In such an intimate space, every movement of every person is both noticeable and distracting to performers and audience alike. The staff’s movements, especially every time there was a minor mistake on stage, drew attention to problems, instead of allowing the audience to forget about them and focus on how funny the actors were.
At the end of the performance the overall message of “comedy tonight,” prevails despite any flaws. The performers deliver a delightfully cheesy production, which reminds that, if nothing else, community theatre should be about fun.
See “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” in Dover on Friday or Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $20. For more information, call the Box Office at 973-328-9202 or visit www.doverlittletheatre.org
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