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A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To the Forum
Book by Burt Shevelove & Larry Gelbart
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Directed by Michael Weber
Choreographed by Alberto J. Arias
Musical Director Linda Slein
At Noble Fool Theatricals
Pheasant Run Resort
St. Charles, IL
Call 630-584-6342, tickets $27 - $37
Wednesdays through Fridays at 8 PM
Saturdays at 5 & 8:30 PM
Sundays at 2 PM
Running time is 2 hours, 20 minutes with intermission
Through November 4, 2006
Burlesque is alive and well at Pheasant Run
I was tired from laughing at Forum. From the opening, J. Chris Baum commands the stage and wins out hearts as few performers can. His lovable performance as Pseudolus, the wily, naughty, lovable slave was effective as he engages us to buy into the show. Chris Baum made Pseudolus his own delivering a splendid performance in one of the greatest characters every created for the stage. Audiences must relate and care about Pseudolus for the show to work. Baum’s Pseudolus instantly becomes the focal point getting us to realize that we’ll see a “Comedy Tonight.” This genius opening number (one of Sondheim’s best) clearly sets up and promises the many laughs that follow. Forum is pure vaudevillian burlesque complete with zingers, sight gags, adlibs as well as terrific songs, tongue-in-cheek characterizations and energetic physical comedy. You’ll laugh until you’re exhausted.
Forum’s story has a whirlwind of mistaken identities, silly disguises and perilous pratfalls containing an outrageous convoluted plot where the devilishly clever slave, Pseudolus (J. Chris Baum plays with charm, charisma and naughtiness to spare) becomes matchmaker for Hero (the boy-faced Michael Mahler) in a scheme to win his freedom. Complications galore as Hysterium (the funny Mark David Kaplan fresh from three years in The Lion King as the hilarious ‘head slave’), a horny old man, a warrior and a buyer and seller of courtesans, a nasty wife, a wondering old man in search of his children taken by pirates, a blond virgin who can’t count all converge on a street in ancient Rome to produce a farce, an old-time slapstick comedy filled with outstanding sons, cute bits and wonderful mayhem that has become Broadway’s funniest show ever.
Director Michael Weber has Chris Baum engage the audience with his exuberance, large grins, cute smiles and pointed winks and cute facial expressions added to his rich vocal chops. Baum deftly milks each scene for all the laughs contained without getting too hammy or upstaging anyone. He paves the way for the cast to deliver their characters as he allows each their moment of humor. J. Chris Buam reminds me of Zero Mostel, the original Broadway Psudolous. Mark David Kaplan matched Baum’s comedy talents.
The Sondheim score contains excellent numbers like “Free,” “Lovely” and the cute vaudeville song “Everybody Ought To Have A Maid” that contains a cute soft-shoe dance. Michael Mahler and Megan Grey Gobel are the young, cute lovers who land their duet, “Lovely” with nicely. Brandon Dahlquist was terrific as the vain Roman Captain.
With funny work from veterans John Reeger (in a terrific underplayed comic turn) as Senex, the sex starved old man and Gary Joy as Erronius searching for his kids, Forum is a showcase for Chicago talent. The Nobel Fools Theatrical’s crafty production qualities are in place here allowing for a quick paced effective show that lets the performers enough latitude to get and exploit the show’s funny lines allowing their adlibs and improv moments to shine. The result is one of the funniest Broadway musicals ever. You’ll laugh yourself silly.
Artistic Director John Gawlik’s has deftly revitalized Nobel Fool Theatrical as he has attracted “A” list directors (such as Michael Weber) and “A” list actors like Chris Baum, John Reeger, Cindy Gold, Mark David Kaplan and Ed Kross to do terrific shows like the recent Ruthless and now Forum. He is making the Western Suburbs worth the ride from the city.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2006
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