Photo courtesy of Plays of Wilton
Lourelene Snedeker performs as Pseudolus in POW in the Park’s inaugural production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
By AARON KRAUSE
These days, many of us can probably identify a “lecherous, lewd, lascivious, loathsome, lying, lazy, dirty old man.”
Fortunately, the individual you are probably thinking about is nowhere in sight at Mickel Park in Wilton Manors. Indeed, instead of darkness, disgust, and disturbance, “Comedy Tonight” are among the only words that matter here.
Remove your thinking cap, let a gentle breeze caress your skin, buy a slice or more of pizza and a soda (concessions are available, and you can bring your own food) relax on a blanket, or chair, and get ready to laugh.
Plays of Wilton’s new POW In the Park outdoor theater program has launched its debut production. The show is the hilarious Stephen Sondheim/Burt Shevelove/Larry Gelbart musical comedy classic, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. And here is the best part – like Joseph Papp’s Shakespeare in the Park in New York City, this POW in the Park production is free, thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Warten Foundation and support from the City of Wilton Manors. The Warten Foundation is a Boca Raton-based private group that primarily funds unrestricted performing arts and religious related donations and operating grants.
Residents and visitors to South Florida have three more chances to experience this roughly two-hour debut production, including intermission. Simply visit the website at https://www.powinthepark.com, and register to attend one of the three remaining performances Friday night through Sunday night. Showtime is at 7 p.m.
A large cast of talented performers and other theater artists dynamically and believably whisk us back to ancient Rome. That is the setting for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
The characters include the aforementioned “lecherous, lewd, lascivious, loathsome, lying, lazy, dirty old man.” More specifically, he is Senex, a “henpecked, sardonic Roman Senator with a wandering eye.” Rick Prada portrays him opposite Sharyn Peoples. The latter steps into the skin of the aptly named Domina, Senex’s wife. Peoples’ Domina is as loud and commanding as Prada’s Senex is henpecked and helpless.
With deft comic timing and plenty of energy, POW artistic director Ronnie Larsen directs Prada, Peoples and other versatile performers you may have seen on South Florida stages.
Lourelene Snedeker stars as Pseudolus, and her castmates are Jack Stein (Macus Lycus), Mark Erson (Erroneous), Michael Gillespie (Philia), Irma Gloria (Miles Gloriosus), Brian Piedra (Hero), Michael H. Small (Hysterium), Rick Prada (Senex), Sharyn Peoples (Domina), Krystal Bly (ensemble), Gianni Palermo (ensemble), Nicole Hulett (ensemble), Scott Jordan (ensemble), Manda Gonzalez (ensemble), and Lin Joy Luber (ensemble).
The inspirations for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum are the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus (251-183 B.C.E.).
Melqui Dominguez’s brightly-colored set, befitting a comedy, includes three adjacent homes. There is the brothel belonging to Lycus, a buyer and seller of courtesans. Meanwhile, next door, you will find the home of Senex, Domina, and their son, Hero. Also, the adjacent home belongs to Erronius. He is another old man looking for his children. He believes pirates kidnapped them a long time ago.
But the character who fuels the action is Senex’s slave, Pseudolus. You might recall that Zero Mostel portrayed him in the 1966 movie version.
Understandably, Pseudolus will do anything to obtain his freedom. And opportunity knocks when he learns that Hero has fallen for one of Lycus’ courtesans-in-training. Specifically, Pseudolus sets his eyes on the beautiful, yet shallow Philia.
Of course, this is a farce, a comedy that seeks to entertain an audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, ridiculous, absurd, and improbable. Since this is a farce, numerous complications crop up. For instance, a vain Roman soldier has already purchased Philia to be his bride. Even old man Senex has set his sights on Philia. At one point, there are three Philias.
Mistaken identity, disguises, a chase scene, verbal humor, and physical comedy all make it into this musical. They are among the ways that librettists Shevelove and Gelbart, as well as late, legendary composer and lyricist Sondheim use to make us laugh.
Like many farces of the past, this musical concludes with a happy ending. It is one in which everybody appears to get what they want.
Often, farces include slamming doors. But this POW in the Park production does not have any visible doors. Instead, three cloths stand in place of them.
While you may miss the humor and energy that slamming doors can lend a production, POW has found other ways to make us laugh. For instance, anachronisms exist within Dominguez’s set. In addition to the brightly-colored structure that stands for the three residences, seemingly ancient statues dot the set. One sports a red clown nose and hair the colors of the LGBTQ flag. Another statue holds what looks like a double cheeseburger. Yet another figure wears sunglasses, through which he tries to look at his cellphone.
Tim Bowman’s colorful costumes also include anachronisms. They include a character clad in a football jersey. In addition, I am not sure people gave each other high fives in ancient Rome, although that is what happens here.
We can usually hear the performers loud and clear. And when they sing, pianist Aidan Quintana flawlessly accompanies them. The performers ably sing and Quintana plays keyboard under Eric Alsford’s music direction.
Of all the songs in this musical, the one that you may know best is the upbeat opening number, “Comedy Tonight.” It beautifully establishes the production’s tone, and prepares us for what we are about to see – a comedy. One of the creatives cut the show’s original opening number, “Love is in the Air,” and replaced it with “Comedy Tonight.” Of course, Sondheim’s sophisticated lyrics are always a delight to hear, as are his complex and intricate music in general. Some have accused Sondheim (1930-2021) of not composing tuneful music. However, “Comedy Tonight” is so memorable and hummable that you will recall the song long after the curtain falls.
One of the first characters we see is the aptly-named Prologus. He is an actor who introduces the musical during its prologue and then changes into Pseudolus. In POW’s case, Snedeker ditches Prologus’s black robe in favor of a blue outfit with red suspenders. The latter outfit befits a comedy more than the darker clothing. Still, you could argue that the light and dark clothing stands for comedy and tragedy, respectively.
But it is “tragedy tomorrow, comedy tonight” as the lyrics to “Comedy Tonight” remind us.
Speaking of Snedeker, her wide-eyed, wily, and determined Pseudolus lends an air of urgency to the action. Snedeker, a veteran actress, is a four-time Carbonell award-winning performer. Her Pseudolus is intense but believable. She is fun to watch.
Small, also a veteran, award-winning actor, nails the aptly-named Hysterium’s nervous energy and plays the role with intensity but is also always convincing.
Peoples, a performer since her childhood, commands the stage and is domineering as Domina. She is the character who describes her husband in less than glowing terms.
Piedra imbues Hero with an endearing and fresh-faced purity, but also a no-nonsense demeanor when Hero’s slave, Pseudolus, needs a reprimand. Piedra’s Hero has boundless vigor and the performer makes us sense his character’s love for Philia.
Speaking of her, Gillespie plays Philia hilariously in drag and as an ingénue. The white feathers that surround this character might represent Philia’s innocence.
Gloria portrays the braggart soldier Miles Gloriosus with a fearless and commanding aura. Stein’s Marcus Lycus is a sharp-eyed opportunist, while Erson’s Erronius is appropriately kindly yet befuddled.
Thankfully, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is the first but not the last POW in the Park production. Next up is the wholesome Rodgers and Hammerstein classic musical The Sound of Music at Richardson Park, also in Wilton Manors. Stay tuned for dates.
POW is seeking corporate, private, and foundation sponsors for future POW in the Park productions. If you would like to help POW in any way, send an email to RonnieLarsenPresents@gmail.com. POW is nonprofit. To donate to them, go to https://plays-of-wilton-inc.monkeypod.io/give/support-plays-of-wilton-inc.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: POW in the Park’s free production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday-Sunday.
WHERE: Mickel Park, 2675 N.W. 7th St. in Wilton Manors.
TICKETS: Free, however, you must register by going to https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ronnielarsenpresents/1583480.
Photo courtesy of Plays of Wilton
Characters stand ready and armed in POW in the Park’s inaugural production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
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