As a writer and re-creator of Greek New Comedy, the great Roman playwright Titus Maccius Plautus used outrageous comedy to keep his spectators from wandering toward other forms of entertainment.
Twenty-six of Plautus' plays are the basis for the Tony Award-winning musical "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," which opens the department of theater and dance's 2003-2004 season this weekend.
With original choreography and direction by musical theater chair Lynne Kurdziel-Formato, the show runs Oct. 16-19 and 23-26 at the Center for the Arts' Black Box Theater.
The musical was written by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gilbert (producer and writer of the sitcom M*A*S*H), and composed by Stephen Sondheim, considered by some to be the epitome of American musical theater composers.
With the stage of the Black Box as her canvas and the actors in medieval attire as her medium, working on a blank slate for this show allowed Kurdziel-Formato's choreography to paint a picture of vaudevillian humor.
According to Kurdziel-Formato, tailoring ideas and concepts for a particular cast is something all first-class choreographers should do for every production with which they are involved. Although this show is not new to Kurdziel-Formato, this production allows for a new experience.
"My choreography is new, always," said Kurdziel-Formato. "As a good choreographer, you adapt for your cast."
Because the musical will be presented in a smaller and more intimate theater than the CFA's 400-seat Drama Theater or 1,744-seat Mainstage, the production staff, which includes student designers, has ample room to be as inventive as it wants in their creation.
"This show demands a high level of intimacy that you could not have in a large space," said Chris Critelli, a freshman musical theater major in the show.
Designed to look like a traditional Romanesque display of three asymmetrically shaped houses, the set is caught in a state of limbo, quirky and conventional. The set is critical in keeping the audience's focus on the intelligent one-liners and plethora of sexual references.
"'Forum' is one of the best-written scripts for musical theater," Kurdziel-Formato said. "Three houses are all you really need."
Due to the lack of space in the Black Box, the original physical element of tumbling will be removed from this production. Nevertheless, the comedic element will not go astray in the snug setting because of the script's spontaneity and incredibly crafted dialogue.
"When (the show) is in your face, it makes it a lot funnier," said Joanie Alberte, a senior musical theater major who plays one of the several sexy women who serenades the lead character, the conniving slave Pseudolos (played by Tom Detrinis, a sophomore musical theater major).
But sexy does not begin to capture Alberte's Amazon woman-like role that she is still learning to feel comfortable playing. All about breasts and black leather, her character is completely opposite of the characters she is used to playing.
"It's like, 'look at my t-ts, look at my t-ts, look at my t-ts!'" Alberte said. "But I've learned to deal with it because my character is my body. I had to get over it."
Putting on this kind of musical takes a dedicated and hardworking cast.
"I have extraordinary, gifted students," Kurdziel-Formato boasted. "I am always so pleased." For the students, it's not only a time to have fun with theater; it's an educational experience as well, as they receive department credit for their participation.
On stage for nearly the entire musical, Detrinis' workload is a heavy one, though this did not scare him away from taking the leading role. To get through it successfully, it took a positive attitude and the ability to recognize the opportunity he had earned.
"Putting myself in the right mindset helped me to not focus on the weight of the part but the joy of the part," Dentrinis said. "I just hope everyone enjoys it, comes with an open mind and are ready to laugh."
The department of theater and dance will present its production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" Oct. 16-19 and 23-26 in the CFA Black Box Theater. Tickets are $6 for students and $15 for the general public, and can be purchased at the CFA Box Office or any Ticketmaster location.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
