Theater Reviews—

A Very Funny Thing Is On The Boards

At Downtown Cabaret Theatre

By Julie Stern

BRIDGEPORT — A Funny Thing Happened on The Way To The Forum, or, Comedy Tonight as it is sometimes known based on its opening number, is probably Stephen Sondheim’s funniest and most accessible show. It’s been done – and done well – over the years by many local groups ranging from TheatreWorks to Musicals at Richter and WestConn.

But the current production at Bridgeport’s Downtown Cabaret Theater is the first one I’ve seen in which the main character, the crafty slave Pseudolus, is played by a woman.

Does it work?

Marilyn Farina – who is best known for having created the role of Reverend Mother in the original Off-Broadway production of Nunsense, comes across like a reincarnation of Zero Mostel mixed with Elaine Stritch. In other words, she is hilarious, charming and totally believable.

Based on a farce by the Roman playwright Plautus, Forum follows Pseudolus’ attempts to win his freedom in return for helping his inexperienced young master, Hero, get together with Philia, the girl of his dreams, while Hero’s parents are off in the country.

Unfortunately, Philia is in the clutches of Marcus Lycus, a slimy purveyor of courtesans. As a virgin, she is worth a lot of money, and Lycus has promised her to Miles Gloriosus, a captain in the Roman army. The plot goes on, as a good farce should, to involve lost children who were kidnapped at birth, sleeping potions confused with love potions, three characters wearing identical white dresses, a six-pack of sultry courtesans, a philandering husband and a shrewish wife (Hero’s parents), and the Proteans: a chorus of three identically clad young men who switch from being slaves to citizens to Roman soldiers to gibbering eunuchs in the blink of an eye.

As is almost always the case with DCT, this production is impeccable in all departments. Richard Sabellico’s direction and choreography, Tom Kenaston’s music, Gail Baldoni’s costumes,  Gerard Kelly’s wigs,  J Branson’s scenic design, Joe Boerst’s sound and Hugh Hallinan’s lighting all contrive to make it seem effortlessly polished and professional.

In addition to Farina, the rest of the cast has great comic presence combined with attractive voices.

Michael Busillo, Eddie Marco and Jamaal Clark Turpin make delightful Proteans. Teddy Eck is dopily starry-eyed as Hero, while Becky Gulsvig is as beautiful and dumb as he deserves, in the role of Philia, who can’t add two and one, but knows how to be “Lovely.”

Marty Passante is very funny as the faithful slave Hysterium, Laurent Giroux is properly sleazy as Marcus Lycus, and Gerritt Vandermeer is fearsomely impressive as the mighty warrior Miles Gloriosus.

The house was packed, as it should be, and the audience was so caught up in the spirit of the thing that many of them were singing as they left. If you’ve never seen it, this show is a treat, and if you have seen it before, this production is worth bringing your picnic basket down to Bridgeport and seeing it again.

(Performances continue on weekends until May 9. Tickets range from $34.50 to $42.50.

Call 203-576-1636 for directions to the theater, reservations and other information.)