Goodspeed’s “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” a gaggle of giggles

EAST HADDAM — “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” at the Goodspeed, is a delightfully hysterical, witty and pun-filled night of entertainment that offers “something for everyone — it’s comedy tonight.”
Set in ancient Rome, a savvy slave, Pseudolus, (Adam Heller) promises his young master, Hero, (Sam Pinkleton) that he will hook Hero up with his courtesan love, Philia, (Emily Thompson) in exchange for his freedom.
Comedy is all about timing and good casting, and these actors have it all.
Complications ensue when it is learned that Philia has been sold to Capt. Miles Gloriosus (Nat Chandler) and the Philia mistakes Hero’s father, Senex (David Wohl) for the Captain.
The head slave of the household, Hysterium (John Scherer) does his best to go along with the hoax, eventually pretending to be the virgin Philia. Scherer has a face that is a study in comic expressions that changes on a dime. Scherer and Heller are a great team and work together seamlessly.
Each actor is perfectly cast for his or her role, and they all clearly are having a terrific time, expending an enormous amount of energy, with spot on comic timing. Heller’s quick thinking and talking Pseudolus leads the proceedings and is the mayor of all good times.
From the get-go Pseudolus speaks directly to the audience, and this works well to get everyone along for the bumpy, farcical musical.
Wohl, who looks like a younger W.C. Fields, is adorable with a sweet lisp as the pudgy father Senex, whose mind is willing to fool around with the lovely Philia, but whose flesh isn’t quite up to the task.
His frustrated and fanatical wife, Domina, played by Mary Gutzi, is a powerhouse of determination, with good reason to be suspicious of her husband.
The opening number, “Comedy Tonight” with all songs and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, is the catchiest tune in the show that features actors as living cartoons which is a good thing, on the way to the forum.
Directed and choreographed by Ted Pappas, this show picks up speed as it goes, particularly in the second act when the actors all start running and slamming doors, chasing each other down, and having a grand time.
Nat Chandler is sufficiently self-impressed as the Captain, while Ron Wisniski who plays the brothel-owner, Marcus Lycus has a rubber face of expressions and is amusingly high-strung.
The men-folk in the audience will love the gorgeous courtesans dressed in the tiniest of bikinis, with costume design by Martha Bromelmeier, while the men’s costumes, which were mostly wide-striped pajamas, covered imperfections nicely, but look sloppy and aren’t up to the usual Goodspeed standard.
Mark Baker as Erronious, who lives in one of the three houses on the stage, returns from a voyage around the world trying to find his children who were stolen by pirates. This plot point, that seems totally unrelated, helps tie up the story in a neat deus ex machina at the end.
Part slapstick, part farce, with some cornball humor thrown in, plus some Romeo and Juliet magic potions that go awry, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is a goofy ride that tickles all kinds of funny-bones.

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM

3 Stars
Location: Goodspeed Opera House, 6 Main Street, East Haddam
Production: Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. Directed and choreographed by Ted Pappas. Musical direction by Michael O’Flaherty. Scenic design by James Noone. Costume design by Martha Bromelmeier. Lighting design by Kirk Bookman. Sound by Jay Hilton.
Running time: 2 hours, with one 15-minute intermission.
Show Times: Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (select performances at 2 p.m.); Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. with Saturday matinee at 3 p.m.; and Sunday matinee at 2 p.m., with Sunday evening performance at 6:30 p.m. through Nov. 29. Call for Thanksgiving week schedule.
Tickets: $27.50 — $69.50. Call the box office at 860-873-8668 or visit their Web site at www.goodspeed.org
ACTOR…CHARACTER
Adam Heller … Pseudolus
Sam Pinkleton … Hero
Emily Thompson … Philia
David Wohl … Senex
Mary Gutzi … Domina
John Scherer … Hysterium
Ron Wisniski … Marcus Lycus
Stephanie Lynn Nelson … Tintinabula
Semhar Ghebremichael … Panecea
Abby O’Brien, Krista Saab … Geminae
Laura Keller … Gymnasia
Mark Baker …Erronius
Nat Chanderler … Miles Gloriosus