Preview of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the ForumPREVIEW: 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'Posted by Roger LeLievre | The Ann Arbor News June 05, 2008
"Farce is always in demand when times are bad," she said. "With the price of gas and everything that's going on around us in the world - anyone who needs a great laugh will walk out lifted." "Forum" runs tonight through Sunday at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. The show follows the exploits of a Roman slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door. "The first time I read it I laughed out loud, and I'm not a laugh-out-loud person. And my brain caught on fire. There aren't a lot of musicals that do that," Gass said. Civic's production of "Forum," with choreography by Kat Walsh, stars Sam Pazicni as Pseudolus; Joel Nofziger as his master, Hero; Hank Naasko as the seedy Roman senator Senex; Susan Zill as his manipulative wife, Domina; Erik Wright-Olsen as purveyor of disreputable ladies Marcus Lycus; Rachel Nofziger as the virginal Philia; Jimmy Arnold as Hysterium, slave of Senex; Edmond Reynolds as Miles Gloriousus and Joe York as Erronius. The cast also includes Alix Berneis, Jessica Harris, Susie Berneis, Brianne Hawes, Scott Harris, Brandon Cave, Michelle Nixon, Becky Roberts and Chris Schewenko. A 12-person orchestra, led by Tyler Driskill, also boasts a harpist. This is Gass' first show in three years; however, she has been directing since 1974. By day, she teaches at Pathfinder Middle School in Pinckney. She directed "Forum" once before, 10 years ago for the Dearborn Civic Theatre. "There's something about farce. ... It's so fast, so precise and such a challenge to get 18 people off and on stage in exact moments and with timing that's impeccable," she said. "That is a real challenge that I enjoy." Although farce may appear to be a superficial form of comedy, Gass said, there's plenty of seriousness to be found. "A lot of people look at farce and think it's one-dimensional. It's definitely three-dimensional. The more dimensions you can add to a farce, the more fun the audience has with it," she said. "Below the surface, 'Forum' is obviously a show about caste, about status and sometimes how those with the highest status appear to be the lowest in rank and those with the lowest status appear to be the highest in rank," Gass said. "People revel in that. They like to see the high come down and the lowly come up. "We generally think of farce as low comedy. ... As stupid-funny as ('Forum') is, it's intelligent," she added. "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" opened on Broadway in 1962, with Zero Mostel in the lead role and direction by George Abbott, produced by Hal Prince. To help spiff up weak ticket sales, director/choreographer Jerome Robbins was brought in; it was Robbins who insisted the show have a new opening number. The result was the now familiar tune that promises "something familiar, something peculiar, something for everyone: A comedy tonight!" Gass said she is allowing cast members a lot of leeway in their interpretation of their roles. "We're allowing the actors a lot more rein to find out what's in their character and go with it," she explained. "I don't tell them what to do. You don't have the levels and depth and character that way." Parents should know that although the themes are adult (courtesans, talk of virgins, men in togas), there's no nudity or bad language in "Forum." "In terms of audience, it's bawdy. We try to be naughty without crossing lines. A lot of the sexual innuendoes will go over the little ones' heads," Gass observed. Roger LeLievre can be reached at 734-994-6848 or by e-mail at rlelievre@annarbornews.com .
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