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| Pseudolus (Gary Beach) ponders with the help of Proteans (Jeffrey Schecter, Eric Christian and Scott Bridges) in the Music Circus production of FORUM July 17-23. |
I suspected this show was going to be funny. It couldn't miss with Gary Beach in the lead role of Prologus/Pseudolus. Beach, most recently seen in Sacramento as Harlequin in TRIUMPH OF LOVE, has a true comic presence on stage. His body movements, motions, facial expressions and voice are the essence of comedic delivery. All he need do is twitch and the audience is sent into hysterics.
FORUM premiered on Broadway in 1962 and was turned into a movie starring Zero Mostel and Phil Silvers in 1966. It's the tale of a slave named Pseudolus (Beach) who help's Hero (Gavin Creel), the young son of his owner, to win the heart of a beautiful courtesan named Philia (Misty Cotton). What ensues is a hilarious romp through ancient Rome.
I've already raved about Beach, who originated the role of Lumiere in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST on Broadway and has also appeared in several Music Circus productions of SOUTH PACIFIC. But his partner in comedic crime in FORUM gave the crowd one of its biggest laughs on opening night.
Don Stephenson plays Hysterium, the head slave of the household. Beach
and Stephenson did their best impressions of Abbott & Costello or The
Three Stooges, keeping the audience in stitches most of the night. The
bit that brought the house down, however, was evidently a piece of improv
as Pseudolas sprinkled mare's sweat on Senex (Lenny Wolpe), his owner,
in an effort to get him to leave the room. Making the best of a stinky
situation, the slave suggested he take a bath. Rather than endure the faux-stink,
Stephenson as Hysterium buried his nose in the rear end of a rubber chicken
he was carrying -- and kept it there. The crowd stayed in near hysterics
and roared minutes later when Beach told Stephenson, "The band goes home
at eleven," -- finally taking the chicken away from him.
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| Prologus/Pseudolus
- Gary Beach
Erronius - John Z Ickes |
The Proteans - Scott
Bridges, Eric L. Christian,
Jeffrey Howard Schecter |
Senex - Lenny Wolpe
Miles Gloriosus - Christopher Carl |
| Domina - Brooks Almy | Hysterium - Don Stephenson | Hero - Gavin Creel |
| Lycus - Darin DePaul | Tintinabula - Amber Owens | Panacea - Laura Shoop |
| Vibrata - Mami Saito | The Geminae - Amy & Gena Williams | Philia - Misty Cotton |
Let's hope we see more of Stephenson in the future. Also in the cast are longtime Music Circus favorites Lenny Wolpe as Senex and John Z Ickes as Erronius. Ickes' involvement under the tent dates back to 1951 in the Circus' first production of SHOW BOAT. He has appeared in 19 other productions since then. Wolpe is a 10-show veteran and has appeared in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, CABARET, SOUND OF MUSIC and many others. The entire cast blended together well and made for a memorable and hilariously funny evening.
Audience members will recognize some of FORUM'S great Stephen Sondheim songs including "Comedy Tonight," "Lovely," and "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid."
FORUM will be performed in the Music Circus tent on the corner of 15th and H Streets through July 23. Performances through Saturday are at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are priced at $27 to $45, depending on date and seat location. Tickets are on sale at the Wells Fargo Pavilion box office, 1419 H Street, or all Tickets.com outlets including The Wherehouse and select Raley's. To order tickets by phone, call (916) 557-1999 or (916) 766-2277.
Next up at the Music Circus is ANYTHING GOES (July 24-30). ANYTHING GOES stars Leah Hocking and Lewis Cleale.