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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Something
“funny” happening in Chardon <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">News-Herald,
Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times
Courier<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Member,
International Association of Theatre Critics <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">This
review appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">News-Herald
</I>3/12/10</SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Lyrics from the
opening musical number of <I>A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the
Forum</I><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic"> promise </SPAN>“something
for everyone.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A comedy
tonight!”<SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That is exactly what is delivered in
this </SPAN>Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart play, and in the current <SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Geauga Lyric Theater Guild’s production of
it.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN" lang=EN>Set in
ancient Rome, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Forum</I> </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">tells the wild tale of an
ever-conniving slave named Pseudolus, who is owned by the young and innocent
Hero.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Pseudolus </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN" lang=EN>seeks
to win his freedom by offering to help his master win the heart of Philia,
</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">a beautiful and
intellectually vacant courtesan in the neighboring house of ill
repute,</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN" lang=EN> who
the shy Hero adores from a distance</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Of course, the girl has already been
sold to the great warrior Miles Gloriosus, who is coming to claim his
bride.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>In true
burlesque fashion—and make no mistake, <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Forum</I> is as burlesque as it gets—an
absurd plan needs to be hatched in order to undermine the warrior’s acquisition,
which goes thoroughly and wonderfully astray.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Let the comedy
begin.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>No crude joke,
no sight gag and no opportunity for outrageousness goes unheeded or unrewarded
in this play, complemented by Stephen Sondheim’s clever and hummable score.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Sure, some of <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Forum’s</I> 1960’s-era bawdiness may seem
politically incorrect and a tad sophomoric by today’s standards.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But the play is set in ancient Rome, so
there is every inclination to do as the Romans do and simply enjoy the
tomfoolery. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That appears to be
director Karen O’Baker Porter’s approach to this play, which makes for an
entertaining evening.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Such a play is
the perfect vehicle for actors built for burlesque.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The GLTG has found two in John Kolar and
Patrick Fagan.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Kolar, as
Pseudolus, lacks the endearing clown-like qualities that Zero Mostel brought to
the role on Broadway and in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Forum</I>
film.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, he comes fully
equipped with a mischievous twinkle in his eye that can be seen from the back
rows of the Geauga Theater and is as charming as can be. He successfully seduces
the audience into going along for the ride and completely commands the stage as
his character manipulates his masters and seizes his freedom.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Kolar is a pleasure to watch.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Fagan, a string
bean of a fellow, bears the perfect physicality for a character named
Hysterium.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So frenzied is Fagan, as
Pseudolus’ sidekick, that it is a miracle he does not implode from hyperactivity
or completely wear away under his own kinetic energy.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>O’Baker Porter gives him free reign,
which leads to some overboard antics, but Fagan’s willingness to take risks pays
off.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>So good is the
writing in <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Forum</I> that it easily
accommodates community players’ tendencies to play things too broadly and for
laughs. Such is the case in this GLTG production and its enthusiastic assemblage
of local favorites. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>So good is the
music in <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Forum</I> that it effortlessly
accommodates less accomplished voices without compromising the show’s
entertainment value.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This, too,
comes into play in this GLTG production, as more than one featured player has
difficulty hitting the high notes with confidence.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They are not helped by a fine but
under-appointed and, thus, unsupportive orchestra.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Still, there are
moments of sheer brilliance in this production, where everything comes
together—fine performances, superb musicality and Lisa-Marie French’s
choreography. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The musical number
“Everybody Ought to Have a Maid,” featuring Kolar, Fagan, Jim Ray as Hero’s
wife-whipped father, Senex, and Todd Sarbach as the keeper of the courtesans,
Marcus Lycus, is the best example.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">When such moments
occur, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Forum</I> certainly lives up to
its promise of “something for everyone.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>A comedy tonight at the Geauga Theater<SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">. </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">A Funny Thing
Happened on the Way to the Forum</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">
c</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">ontinues through
March 28 at the Geauga Theater, 101 Water Street, Chardon.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For tickets, which range from $15 to
$18, call<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>440-286-2255 or visit <A
href=""><FONT
color=#0000ff>www.geuagatheater.org</FONT></A>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>