Cover photo by Christopher Mueller
It’s been, by all accounts, a trying week in this country, and the DMV needed to laugh more than any time I can remember since perhaps 2016. So, when Pseudolus (the energetic and hilarious Erin Weaver, who narrates the show) announces to the weary audience that she and her fellow troop of thespians in A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum will be performing a comedy rather than a tragedy, there is a palpable and collective exhale.
Forum is an outrageous and farcical Roman comedy musical in the style of playwright Titus Maccius Plautus (c. 254 BCE – 184 BCE). What does this mean for modern audiences? Bawdy humor, cat-and-mouse chase scenes, and timeless themes of self-determination, lust and love, and the lengths one will go to for pursuit of a heart’s desire. In short, the show is a rollicking good time.
As narrator, Pseudolus guides the plot through a series of capers designed to bring together Hero (Zachary Keller) and Philia (Kuhoo Verma) and free herself from a life of servitude. The chemistry between Keller and Verma is as sweet as it is raunchy; their rich voices shine in “Lovely” and their clumsy displays of affection leave the audience in stitches.
The couple’s happy ending, however, is under attack from all sides: Hero’s father, Senex (the delightful Christopher Bloch) determines Philia may be just the distraction he needs from his own marriage, while his wife, Domina (the powerful Tracy Lynn Olivera), is just one step behind him. Meanwhile, the Roman general Philia is promised to, Miles Gloriosus (the well-biceped and vocally-gifted Cameron Loyal) commands Pseudolus to bring Philia to him, upon penalty of death.
What is Pseudolus to do in such a pickle? Well, you’ll have to see the show to find out the full story, but the answer involves a little bit of trickery and a lot of risqué courtesans and antics by clear fan-favorite, Hysterium (Mike Millan), who at one point pretends to be a dead bride-to-be as soldiers wait to pounce. Don’t worry, friends, Romans, countrymen: it has to end well; it’s a comedy, after all!
The physical comedy of the show shines particularly bright, and is perhaps best exemplified by poor Erronius (the incomparable Sherri L. Edelen), who wanders the stage (and, indeed, the whole theater) half-blind, in search of her long-lost children and a spirit-free home.
From the fantastic and multi-leveled sets (Jimmy Stubbs), to the rich costumes (Erik Teague), to the flawless orchestra (Jon Kalbfleisch), this show does not falter in its quest to make the DMV laugh once more, and you’ll want to be a part of this warm and welcoming community. “Tragedy tomorrow; comedy tonight!”
FINAL GRADE: A
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is now playing at the Signature Theatre’s MAX Theatre Lab through January 25, 2025. Run Time: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes including one 15-minute intermission. Tickets can be purchased HERE.
The show has sexual innuendos, loud whip cracks and will use theatrical haze and herbal cigarettes. Recommended for ages 8+
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