[NEohioPAL]Times calls "FORUM" 'the best musical staged at CVLT in years'

[Chagrin Valley Little Theatre]

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    Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
    /40 River St. Chagrin Falls OH 44022-3024/


  A Funny Thing Happened
  on the Way to the Forum


    the musical comedy classic by Stephen Sondheim, Larry Gelbart & Burt
    Shevelove

    Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 PM through AUGUST 18th
    Sunday at 2:00 PM, JULY 29th


      /Tickets $16 adults, $12 students/seniors
      Group rates starting at 10 tickets!
      CALL (440) 247-8955
      Mon-Sat, 1-6 PM
      www.CVLT.org <http://www.CVLT.org>/

*'FORUM' CAN'T GET MUCH FUNNIER*
Herb Hammer, Theatre Critic/
Chagrin Valley Times - 7/26/07/

Stephen Sondheim offers "something for everyone" in his bawdy farce, "A 
Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." Along with a book by Burt 
Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, Mr. Sondheim wrote this, his first musical 
in which he not only wrote the lyrics but he also wrote the music as well.

Often revived, "Forum" has reappeared on Broadway and many other places. 
This time we get another look at the show at Chagrin Valley Little 
Theatre. They don't let us down.

Veteran director Don Edelman is beck where he belongs, directing musical 
comedy. After putting together a remarkable cast, he shows us how to 
make funny even funnier.

After casting Pat Mazzarino in the lead role, Mr. Edelman could have 
stopped there. Mr. Mazzarino is an ingenious comic who is funny every 
moment he is on stage. And can he sing. If you could bottle his 
performance, you would take it home with you.

But the show isn't all Pat Mazzarino, just most of it.

Mr. Mazzarino plays Pseudolus, a slave. We are in ancient Rome, where 
everyone has a slave. His master, Hero, a young man in love with the 
girl next door, will do anything he can to win her love. Pseudolus 
strikes a deal. If he can somehow have Philia fall for Hero, Hero would 
be obliged to set him free, for free is all Pseudolus ever wanted to be.

There is a catch. The girl next door happens to live in a brothel. And 
Marcus Lycus, who runs the place, has already sold the young virgin to 
an ego-maniac Roman soldier. Mixed in with some of the funniest though 
not very tuneful songs ever on Broadway, the plot runs wild. This is 
where the rest of the cast comes in.

A well-known local director once confided in me that 90 percent of the 
director's job is casting. And what a job Mr. Edelman has done.

Funny man Steve Kay lends his sly wit as Hero's father, Senex, who 
believes he will win the virgin. Marilyn Fadeley is the perfect 
laugh-a-minute angry wife.

As the loyal, though frantic, Hysteriurm, J.P. Makowski fills the bill, 
adding his own riotous humor. Sy Levine brings fresh character and 
laughs as Erronius, who spends his time walking across the stage and all 
around Rome searching for his long-lost children.

Ryann Angelotti, as Philia, and Ben Fankhauser, as Hero, have the 
perfect voices for the silly love songs.

Choreographer Ida Perris is able to make all the non-dancers actually 
dance. Costumer Tara Holman does some pretty amazing things with the 
costumes, giving the show additional comedy.

Mr. Edelman apparently has felt that some bits of modern dress are 
necessary. He would better have left the Roman costumes alone. The show 
is confusing enough. He also has some young characters running around in 
Groucho Marx disguises during the opening number. This practically kills 
the opening song, "Comedy Tonight", which is the best in the show.

Edmond Wolff's set. with the well-known three, two-tiered houses, is 
colorful and another nice touch.

The original 1952 production won several Tony Awards: best musical, best 
actor (Zero Mostel), best supporting actor (David Burns], best book and 
best director. Mr. Sondheim's score was coolly received, not even 
garnering a nomination. Audiences loved it, however, and still do.

All in all, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" rarely 
stumbles. Smart, witty and "something for everyone," this could well be 
the best musical production staged at CVLT in years.


    www.CVLT.org <http://www.CVLT.org>


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<h2>Chagrin Valley Little Theatre<br>
<em>40 River St. Chagrin Falls OH 44022-3024</em></h2>
<h1>A Funny Thing Happened <br>
on the Way to the Forum</h1>
<h2>the musical comedy classic by Stephen Sondheim, Larry Gelbart &
Burt Shevelove <br>
<br>
Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 PM through AUGUST 18th<br>
Sunday at 2:00 PM, JULY 29th </h2>
<h3><em>Tickets $16 adults, $12 students/seniors<br>
Group rates starting at 10 tickets! <br>
CALL (440) 247-8955<br>
Mon-Sat, 1-6 PM<br>
<a href="http://www.CVLT.org">www.CVLT.org</a></em></h3>
<p><b>'FORUM' CAN'T GET MUCH FUNNIER</b><br>
Herb Hammer, Theatre Critic<i><br>
Chagrin Valley Times - 7/26/07</i></p>
<p>Stephen Sondheim offers "something for everyone" in his bawdy farce,
"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." Along with a book by
Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, Mr. Sondheim wrote this, his first
musical in which he not only wrote the lyrics but he also wrote the
music as well.</p>
<p>Often revived, "Forum" has reappeared on Broadway and many other
places. This time we get another look at the show at Chagrin Valley
Little Theatre. They don't let us down.</p>
<p>Veteran director Don Edelman is beck where he belongs, directing
musical comedy. After putting together a remarkable cast, he shows us
how to make funny even funnier.</p>
<p>After casting Pat Mazzarino in the lead role, Mr. Edelman could have
stopped there. Mr. Mazzarino is an ingenious comic who is funny every
moment he is on stage. And can he sing. If you could bottle his
performance, you would take it home with you.</p>
<p>But the show isn’t all Pat Mazzarino, just most of it.</p>
<p>Mr. Mazzarino plays Pseudolus, a slave. We are in ancient Rome,
where everyone has a slave. His master, Hero, a young man in love with
the girl next door, will do anything he can to win her love. Pseudolus
strikes a deal. If he can somehow have Philia fall for Hero, Hero would
be obliged to set him free, for free is all Pseudolus ever wanted to be.</p>
<p>There is a catch. The girl next door happens to live in a brothel.
And Marcus Lycus, who runs the place, has already sold the young virgin
to an ego-maniac Roman soldier. Mixed in with some of the funniest
though not very tuneful songs ever on Broadway, the plot runs wild.
This is where the rest of the cast comes in.</p>
<p>A well-known local director once confided in me that 90 percent of
the director’s job is casting. And what a job Mr. Edelman has done.</p>
<p>Funny man Steve Kay lends his sly wit as Hero’s father, Senex, who
believes he will win the virgin. Marilyn Fadeley is the perfect
laugh-a-minute angry wife.</p>
<p>As the loyal, though frantic, Hysteriurm, J.P. Makowski fills the
bill, adding his own riotous humor. Sy Levine brings fresh character
and laughs as Erronius, who spends his time walking across the stage
and all around Rome searching for his long-lost children.</p>
<p>Ryann Angelotti, as Philia, and Ben Fankhauser, as Hero, have the
perfect voices for the silly love songs.</p>
<p>Choreographer Ida Perris is able to make all the non-dancers
actually dance. Costumer Tara Holman does some pretty amazing things
with the costumes, giving the show additional comedy.</p>
<p>Mr. Edelman apparently has felt that some bits of modern dress are
necessary. He would better have left the Roman costumes alone. The show
is confusing enough. He also has some young characters running around
in Groucho Marx disguises during the opening number. This practically
kills the opening song, “Comedy Tonight”, which is the best in the show.</p>
<p>Edmond Wolff’s set. with the well-known three, two-tiered houses, is
colorful and another nice touch.</p>
<p>The original 1952 production won several Tony Awards: best musical,
best actor (Zero Mostel), best supporting actor (David Burns], best
book and best director. Mr. Sondheim's score was coolly received, not
even garnering a nomination. Audiences loved it, however, and still do.</p>
<p>All in all, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" rarely
stumbles. Smart, witty and "something for everyone," this could well be
the best musical production staged at CVLT in years.</p>
<h2><a href="http://www.CVLT.org">www.CVLT.org</a></h2>
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