There's 'Comedy Tonight' at Local Theatre

There’s ‘Comedy Tonight’ at local theatre

Posted by TBN Editor On 07/10/2015

LEXINGTON PARK, MD - The Newtowne Players’ (TNP) production of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” is based on a book written by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, and includes music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The show’s opening was scheduled for Friday, July 10 and runs through Aug. 2 at the Three Notch Theatre in Lexington Park.

This bawdy musical opened on Broadway in May 1962 and closed after 964 performances in August 1964, winning several Tonys along the way. It enjoyed subsequent Broadway revivals in 1972 and 1996, in additional to West End revivals. The 1966 film starred the musical’s original lead—Zero Mostel. Reportedly, Phil Silvers had turned down the lead role of Pseudolus on Broadway but he did play that part in the 1972 revival, which he performed wearing his signature glasses. In the 1966 movie, Silvers played the role of Marcus Lycus. Milton Berle had also passed up the role of Pseudolus which ended up going to Mostel. The movie saw both Mostel and Jack Gilford reprising their Broadway roles.

Forum marked Stephen Sondheim’s first Broadway musical for music and lyrics. The musical’s best-known song is “Comedy Tonight”.

If the Three Notch Theatre were eligible for Tony awards, Zeke Poiro, as the Newtowne Players’ indefatigable Pseudolus, would surely be a contender. Poiro is a Navy test pilot, familiar to local audiences as part of Sotterley’s Ghostwalk and for his supporting and cameos roles in NTP’s Arsenic and Old Lace and Little Shop of Horrors. It is almost impossible to believe Pseudolus is his first lead role.

The basic plot is inspired by the farces of Roman playwright Plautus (251-183 BC) and includes such elements of classic farce as puns, which are delivered at a dizzying pace; lots of slamming doors, innumerable opportunities for mistaken identity and satirical comments on social class. The title derives from a vaudeville routine that begins, “A funny thing happened on the way to the theatre.” The play is set in ancient Rome on a street with three neighboring houses. Pseudolus, a Roman slave owned by Hero, resides in the House of Senex, and desperately wants his freedom. One of the houses is owned by Marcus Lycus, a buyer and seller of beautiful women. The third house is owned by Erronius who has been abroad, searching for his long-lost children who were abducted in infancy by pirates.

Hero is in love with Phila, a virgin in the House of Marcus Lycus. Pseudolus promises to help Hero win Philia in exchange for his freedom. Unfortunately, Philia has already been sold to Miles Gloriosus, a captain in the Roman army. Pseudolus creates a ruse with Marcus Lycus, explaining that Philia has contracted a plague from Crete and must be isolated in Senex’s house, which allows Hero and Philia time alone. Although Philia is in love with Hero, she feels duty-bound to honor her contract with Miles Gloriosus.

Pseudolus concocts another trick. Philia will take a sleeping potion. He will offer to remove the body which he will smuggle out of town. Then Philia and Hero will stow away together on a ship bound for Greece.

What could possibly go wrong?

Of course, things do not go as planned. Besides mistaken identities, the play offers complications which include a ghost, a soothsayer, a suspicious wife, escaped curvaceous courtesans, eunuchs, Proteans, a warrior Captain, and a chase scene, before the ensuing pandemonium results in a happily-ever-after ending.

With imaginative direction by Michelle Friere, choreography by Krystal Rickard McCoy and under the expert musical direction of Diane Trautman, the cast of the Newtowne Players at the Three Notch Theatre forms a cohesive ensemble from beginning to end, ensuring that the laughter never stops. To say that the cast’s antics will leave you rolling in the aisles is an understatement. And speaking of the aisles, be sure that they are kept clear as the actors will be utilizing them often during the performance.

This adult-themed musical opens with Pseudolus (Zeke Poiro) singing “Comedy, Tonight!” he is soon joined by the three Proteans and then by the entire company. Long before this opening number concludes, the amazing Mr. Poiro has demonstrated his remarkable abilities in singing, dancing, acrobatics, impeccable comic timing and vocal inflection.

We are introduced to each character in turn. Domina (Jeanne Louise), wife of Senex, exhibits excellent vocal projection in both speaking and singing. She manages to switch her voice from lyric soprano to “belt” quality seamlessly and admirably. Through her acting, she manages to make what could be an unlikable character very likable, indeed.

Hero (Jacob Lejeune) is in love with Philia. He delivers his first solo while seated at the edge of the stage, addressing the audience directly. His sincerity is complete and convincing.

Dawn Weber takes the role of Marcus Lycus, buyer and seller of courtesans for the House of Lycus. Dawn is gorgeously costumed and gives an over-the-top performance as “Madame” Lycus.

Marcus Lycus introduces her courtesans one-by-one. We meet the bell-wearing Tintinabula (Jessany Fogle) who is wickedly adept at playing the finger cymbals, snapping them with attitude.

Panacea (Vickie Powalisz) undulates seductively while demonstrating her pole-dancing skills. Vickie’s NTP acting debut was realized this past spring when she alternated in the roles of Christine and Millie during the run of Picnic.

As the abundantly-endowed The Geminae, Kathleen Weber confidently displays her eye-catching “twins”

Page 1 Vibrata (Stacey Mulrooney), a “wild” courtesan in the House of Lycus, is so wild and scary that she needs to be leashed by her handler, who also seems terrified of her, giving new meaning to the term “personal trainer”.

And as for Gymnasia? Well, let’s just say that Marcus Lycus caters to a variety of tastes, and Christopher Joyce is there to comply with any requests, complete with whip.

The Chorus of three Proteans, a multitalented group comprised of a Jill-and-two Jacks-of-all-trades Maddie Oosterink, Sean Scriber, and Timothy Joyce appear as slaves, citizens, soldiers, and eunuchs.

Philia (Lauren Drewello) endears herself to the audience by singing “Lovely” and she truly is.

As Hysterium, chief slave in the House of Senex, JR Cook pairs well with Zeke Poiro as Pseudolus; together, they form a dynamite duo with Mr. Cook as the willing “sidekick”.

Pseudolus hatches his plan in “Pretty Little Picture” and consults Hysterium’s Book of Magic. He needs Hero’s assistance, however, since, as he is a slave, he is unable to read. It is determined that a key ingredient is essential for the sleeping potion he plans to give Phila.

“Everybody Ought to Have A Maid” features the song-and-dance team of the hen-pecked Roman Senator, Sextus (Steve Fogle), and Pseudolus; they are joined by Hysterium and Marcus Lycus. Mr. Fogle, seen here in his sixth NTP production, excels once again as a father figure, having recently played Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors. (Mr. Fogle’s favorite roles also include Father Shea in The Penitent at the Watermelon One-Act Festival and Bellomy in The Fantasticks). In addition, he shares this Forum stage with his daughter, Jessany, who portrays Tintinabula.

Hysterium’s solo, “Calm” allows Mr. Cook to display his comic skills and expressive singing voice as he ultimately convinces us that he’s anything but calm!

Joe Bowes (a gifted comic actor), as Senex’s elderly neighbor, Erronius, returns from searching for his long-lost children and adds even more confusion to the plot. (He was seen in NTP’s production of Barefoot in the Park, and has also acted with the Alumni Players, Patuxent Playhouse, Port Tobacco Players, and the Watermelon One-Act Festival). In an effort to get Erronius out of the way, Pseudolus impersonates a soothsayer, and assigns Erronius the task of circling the Seven Hills of Rome seven times.

As the plot layers complication upon complication, the audience is introduced to one of the most important players right near the end of Act I - Miles Gloriosus (Mike Cahall) - who makes an impressive entrance from the audience accompanied by his entourage. He sings “My Bride” in an appropriately warrior-like fashion with strong vocal quality and interpretation. This character is quite the ham – a self-proclaimed “legend in his own time”. Mr. Cahall succeeds in making this potentially villainous character surprisingly sympathetic – a tribute to this actor’s talent. By the time the plot resolves in Act II, you may even find yourself feeling a bit sorry for him as he struggles with the characters who are preventing him from claiming the bride for which he has already paid. Mr. Cahall holds a degree in music performance with additional studies in voice from WVU and has post-graduate credits from the Peabody Conservatory of Music (both schools are my alma maters!) He is an active volunteer St. Mary’s County paramedic, and is making his NTP debut as Miles Gloriosus.

After the majestic entrance of Miles, and as it seems that the increasingly complex situations created up to this time could not possibly get any worse, Pseudolus utters a most significant word which brings Act I to a close.

At this point we are left with: an incomplete “escape plan” for Hero and Philia, poor Erronius circling the Seven Hills of Rome (with six laps to go); Miles Gloriosus deprived of his already-paid-for bride, and a host of other “loose ends” to be tied up (somehow!) in Act II.

Act II opens with a lively cleverly-staged chase scene. Domina returns unexpectedly from her visit to the country and sings “That Dirty Old Man”.

Act II also showcases the talents of Jonathan Berry as the Sound Effects Man, who makes his every entrance an event! Phila sings “That’ll Show Him”. Hysterium disguises himself as “dead body Philia” and sings a riotous reprise of “Lovely” in a duet with Pseudolus.

Pseudolus attempts to pass off “dead body Philia” to Miles, hoping that the Captain will depart, but nothing in this show will be resolved so easily. Miles insists on holding a proper funeral and “mourners” are dutifully summoned. Miles surrenders his marriage certificate to the Gods and is just about to leave town, when he declares that there has been no plague on Crete and he should know, as that’s where he came from!

Domina makes an appearance disguised all in white (just like Hysterium) and eventually all three white-costumed “virgins” meet in a scene that is fleetingly reminiscent of the famous “I Love Lucy” Harpo Marx episode. Somehow the marriage contract finds its way to Hero’s hands, siblings are miraculously discovered and re-united with their father, and all ends happily just in time for the finale’s reprise of “Comedy Tonight”.

Superlatives go out to the entire production crew for a first-rate job in bringing these characters to life so gloriously in this hilarious presentation.

Kudos to all!

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