A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Travel back to comedy's roots with one of Broadway’s greatest musical farces.

With an 18-person cast of slaves, citizens, courtesans, soldiers and eunuchs, the UI Department of Theatre Art’s rendition of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is not your average song and dance — though there will be plenty of both.

Each character does a bit of each, said director and theatre performance professor David Lee-Painter.

“The students have to sing and dance well, while still creating wonderful characters,” he said. “For a time, they all have to be ‘triple-threats.’”

The musical comedy was written in 1962 by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart with music by Tony Award-winning composer Stephen Sondheim. Set in ancient Rome, it tells the story of “Pseudolus”, a wily slave, who discovers his master’s son is in love with the girl next door — a courtesan. In exchange for his freedom, “Pseudolus” promises to help win her heart. Satire, puns and cases of mistaken identity abound as he concocts a plan so outrageous the whole neighborhood ends up playing a part, whether they know it or not.

The show plays at 7:30 p.m. April 26-28 and May 3-5 in the UI Hartung Theater on the corner of Sixth Street and Stadium Drive. A matinee performance will be 2 p.m. April 29, also in the Hartung.

Master of Fine Arts student Sam Dinkowitz’s character, “Pseudolus,” drives much of the action, addressing the audience and ensuring they keep up with the fast-paced plot.

“I act as a pitcher a lot. I set up jokes so the others can knock it out of the park,” he said.  “... (“Pseudolus”) gets to do all kinds of fun stuff, but he also must be the grounded foundation of the show, surrounded by the wackiness of the other characters.”

UI Theatre is partnering with the Lionel Hampton School of Music to bring a live orchestra to the stage. UI conductor Hal Logan has been working with theatre and music students since rehearsals began following spring break. About 20 musicians will be part of performances.

The orchestra will be housed behind the set, not in the orchestra pit underneath the stage. The pit would be in use if it wasn’t covered by the extra staging built to hold the show’s massive set.

The set will consist of three houses in which the eclectic cast of characters live.  Senior Paul Barrois, a first-time designer, said he gathered inspiration from a variety of regions all the way from Renaissance Italy to Las Vegas. He said one of the houses was designed after the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

“From the very beginning, (Lee-Painter) and I wanted to make the houses very iconographic of the people living there,” he said. “I have had a lot of fun designing the houses around these crazy characters. So, not only is the set completely outrageous, but it instantly tells you what type of people live there.”

With such a large mix of characters running through this neighborhood from scene change to scene change, Dinkowitz said the comedy is constantly pushing top speed, even through some deep subject matter.

“It is about finding the humor of your own problems in your own lives,” Dinkowitz said. “Someone once said that comedy is tragedy at 80 mph. It’s so true ... Forum could be a very dramatic tale of challenging relationships, slavery, objectification and love.  But when you shift the perspective, combine it with music ... you can find the humor.  If people can start to find the humor in their own lives, this world will be a better place.”

The play is rated PG-13 for some sexual innuendo.

General admission is $10. Tickets are free to UI students. UI faculty and staff, and Washington State University students are $8. Tickets can be purchased at the Kibbie Dome Ticket Office, the Hartung box office or by calling (208) 885-7212. Tickets also can be purchased online.