A DIRECTOR might not ordinarily be pleased to see his cast cracking up into fits of laughter during the serious business of rehearsal.
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But when the show is A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, billed as one of the funniest musicals ever written, the laughter is clearly a good sign.
And that's how Wyong Musical Theatre Company's director Michael Partridge has reacted to his cast's inability to always keep their game faces on.
"Rehearsals are progressing splendidly with a strong, talented cast working hard to bring out the comedic timing necessary for the play," Partridge said.
"From early rehearsals, the cast were coming away with smiles on their faces from the constant laughing at the funny lines and situations. I've never seen a cast so happy in rehearsals as this cast.
"I see it as a testimony to the hysterically funny nature of the musical."
Forum features a young woman, sold to a captain, but in love with another, a scheming slave intent on gaining his freedom, and a collection of wacky characters then puts them all in outrageously comic situations.
A fast-paced farce, it was written by Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim (Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods).
Forum combines the stock characters and situations from the comedies of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus, then gives them a modern vaudevillian delivery.
Pseudolus connives to attain the heart of Philia, a beautiful virgin, for his youthful master, Hero. In return, Pseudolus will be granted his freedom by Hero. However, things never go as planned.
Chaos follows with reckless, ill-conceived schemes, cases of cunning disguises gone wrong, chases and complicated plot twists.
Marc Calwell heads the cast playing Pseudolus, a wily slave who longs for his freedom and will do anything to achieve his goal, aided unwittingly by fellow slave Hysterium, played frenetically by Brett Perkins.
Playing alongside them are Connor Logan (Hero), Rachel Kay (Philia), Margaret Holdom (Domina), Russell Bridge (Senex), Michael Adamson (Lycus), Stephen McLaren (Miles Gloriosus) and Les Besseny (Erronius).
Musical direction is by Beverly Partridge, with choreography by Madeline Stephenson assisted by Julie Young and Maddie Stephenson.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will run from Friday, April 5, to Sunday, April 14, and will be performed at the Grove Theatre, at 1 North Road, Wyong.
- Tickets at wmtc.com.au or by phoning 1300 366 470.
