Excursion to Massachusetts

FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM

The Williamstown Theatre Festival is enjoying its 56th season. This, one of the great summer theater companies of the U.S. (and having received the Regional Theatre Tony Award to prove it), is still situated on the campus of Williams College as always, though there is now a brand new theatre arts building to house it. The main stage is a beautiful modern, multitiered proscenium theater in metal and sandy woods with comfortable seating and a deep red act curtain. Currently upon the stage is a wonderful assortment of New York talent performing Stephen Sondheim’s A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM in an all male casting in the manner of the ancient classical theatre. This novelty doesn’t exactly help the show, but neither does it harm the show. The fact that men are in drag playing female characters is a laugh that comes and goes quickly. The real humor comes from the characters these men have developed and they are just as honest and hilarious as they would be with a traditional casting. The merry band of players is headed by Christopher Fitzgerald as Pseudolus. Anyone who saw him on Broadway as Igor or Og understands the deliciousness of this choice. Josh Grisetti plays Hysterium and delivers the kind of delightfully quirky character expected from this star of Off Broadway’s ENTER LAUGHING (I am still upset that BROADWAY BOUND never opened last season because we were robbed of a potentially brilliant night at the theatre with Josh Grisetti). He frolics about the stage like a young Ray Bolger––nearly a replica. Kevin Cahoon, that veritable martian who was featured in THE WEDDING SINGER and CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG to freakish delight, played Tintinabula and Erronius. David Turner was wonderful as Philia, making “I’m Lovely” a new comic masterpiece. Brice Pinkham was Hero in an expected reading of the character, strangely sporting a horrid white blonde wig, though he sang is material nicely. Jessicca Stone directed an hysterical production upon Alexander Dodge’s sturdy three dimensional set, punched up with Catherine A. Parrott’s colorful costumes. Gary Adler conducted a fine orchestra and Denis Jones choreographed the numbers with whimsy. Stephen Sondheim was in the audience, for all the critics praised this all male production and it was well worth the trip to the Williamstown Theatre Festival to see the show in top form.