A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a musical farce that thrives on quick-fire comedy, mistaken identities, and a dash of Roman chaos. At the Tower Arts Centre, audiences were treated to an enthusiastic romp, with plenty of physical humour, colourful characters, and a few laughs along the way.
Terry Crowe, making his first foray into musical theatre, approached the demanding role of Pseudolus with clear relish. Vocally, much of his performance was delivered in a talk-sung style, though when he did sing — particularly in “Pretty Little Picture” — there were glimpses of a pleasing tone. More significantly, his characterisation of Pseudolus grew in confidence as the play progressed, and he captured much of the scheming charm needed to drive the farce forward.
Among the cast, Josh van’t Padje stood out as Hysterium, delivering sharp timing and strong vocals, particularly in his solo “I’m Calm.” Zachary Baseby brought Hero a charming innocence, well paired with Olivia Tod’s sweet soprano as Philia. Peter Dewar showed comic flair and a sense of fun in the role of Senex. Aled Proeve gave Marcus Lycus a colourful presence, and James Hanna had fun strutting as the boastful and bombastic Miles Gloriosus.
Musical challenges were evident at times, with the orchestra occasionally straying off-key and some songs stretching the cast. Yet the cast embraced Sondheim’s demanding score with spirit. When the full company came together — in numbers such as “Comedy Tonight” and the rousing “Finale Ultimo” — the sound lifted, and their commitment to the larger-than-life characters brought energy and fun, carrying the audience along with the romp.
The physical comedy — so crucial in farce — was one of the production’s stronger elements. Under Harry Dewar’s direction, chase scenes, slapstick, and exaggerated gestures were staged with clear attention to timing and clarity, and the ensemble threw themselves into the mayhem with gusto. The set, by Maria Davis and Rachel Lee, provided enough doors and spaces for the inevitable chaos, and costumes by Harry Dewar and Pam Tucker certainly made an impression. Notably, the production went without microphones, yet voices carried well, and the audience was spared the technical glitches often associated with microphones.
The show itself has dated, with some patriarchal humour and physical gags that can feel uncomfortable to modern audiences, but there were still witty lines that drew laughs.
Overall, this Forum may not have scaled every musical height, but it delivered lively performances, physical humour, and an afternoon of cheerful nonsense.
