Production Details
- Dates: 29th October – 1st November 2014
- Venue: Gala Theatre
- Director: Fred Wharton
- Musical Director: Steven Hood
- Choreographer: Kathleen Knox
Synopsis
Pseudolus, a Roman slave, strikes a bargain with his love-struck young master: in exchange for his freedom, the scheming servant will clear the way for the young man to meet the beautiful maiden he’s admired from afar.
So what if she’s been promised to a jealous (and gigantic) warrior? Pseudolus will try anything – from vestal virgins to eunuchs in tunics – to be free.
And the result according to Clive Barnes in the Post is: “one of those few terrific evenings which really can send you home dancing on air!”
“You’ll laugh your togas off!”
Cast
Principals
- Pseudolus – Anthony Smith
- Hysterium – Steven Berry
- Senex – Paul Maddison
- Domina – Delia McNally
- Hero – Ed Turner
- Philia – Rebecca Turner
- Lycus – Steve Hill
- Miles Gloriosus – Guy Lawes
- Erronius – Rob Gair
- Courtesans – Emma Barthel, Rebecca Fishwick, Jennifer Kirby, Louise Masters & Nina Walsh
The Company
The Proteans – Mark Armstrong, Richard Hall, Geoff Knott, Nicky Tones, Graeme Walton & Jack Watson
Female Citizens – Liz Cairns, Doreen Cothay, Christine Dobbie, Megan Milton, Sharon Milton, Sue Robinson, Katy Walton, Sarah Watson & Jade Worthy
Backstage
- Stage Manager – Craig Pugh
- Deputy Stage Manager – Liam Glendinning
- Assistant Stage Managers – Jonathan Gilderoy, Gary Milton
- Technical Manager – Brian Dunn
- Stage Plans – Alan Ball
- Set Hire – Border Studios Selkirk
- Original Set Design – Olly Burton
- Properties Team – Denise Brooksbank, Melanie Spedding, Rachel Burnett, Judith Baglee, Peter Baglee, Anthony Dixon, Maria Turner, Peter Turner
- Properties – Company Prop Store
- Extra Properties – David Foxall, Olly Burton
- Wardrobe – Jane Flowers, Jean Graham, Carolyn Knott
- Costumes – Company Wardrobe
- Make-Up – Brenda Mullen, Eileen Glenton, Hannah Bickerdyke, Claire Lonsdale, Lauren Maddock, Becky Gittens, Lesley Wright & Team
- Wigs – Christopher Carr Whitley Bay
- Lightning Design – Graham Rushton
- Sound Design – Andy Playford
- Follow Spot Operator – Sarah Jackson
- Prompt – Hazal Harle
- Rehearsal Pianists – Steven Hood, Martin Dack, Mark Thompson
- Chorus Notators – Maxine Hitch, Ruth Ball
- Front of House – David Foxall, John Cuckson, Frank Cure, Val Cure, Mike Dixon, Catherine Finn, Bill Harland, Michelle Hood, Mollie Hughes, Andy King, Mary Robinson
- Chaperones – Maxine Hitch, Ruth Ball, Ed Turner
- Dressers – Valenda Taylor, Ruth Ball, Audrey Robinson, Maxine Hitch & Team
- Refreshments – Joan Foxall, Maxine Hitch, Steph Hitch
Orchestra
- Trumpets – Graham Hardy & Dave Hignett
- Trombone – John Flood
- Reeds – Andy Jakob & Jackie Catchpole
- Bass – Jack Cunningham
- Percussion – Peter Forster
- Keyboards – Steven Hood & Mark Thompson
Gallery
Programme
Reviews
Michelle Coulson – NODA
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is a farcical comedy adapted from the Roman comedies of Plautus and was the first mainstream hit for its composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim.
The opening number promises “Comedy Tonight” as well as a happy ending, and it was certainly delivered. The plot is based around Pseudolus (Anthony Smith), a slave, and his mission to buy his freedom from his owner Hero (Ed Turner) by arranging for him to be with his true love Philia (Rebecca Turner) a virgin from the house of courtesans next door. This show requires a cast with vocal, acting and comedy performance skills, and this cast certainly did not disappoint.
There were strong supporting performances from the female citizens and courtesans and Mark Armstrong, Richard Hall, Geoff Knott, Nicky Tones, Graeme Walton and Jack Watson must have been exhausted at the end of the run after the amount of energy and diversity required for their roles as Proteans. An excellent job men!
The roles of “Hero’s” parents Senex (a dirty old man) and Domina (his battle-axe wife) were well played by Paul Maddison and Delia McNally, their characterisations being very good, and Delia’s vocal skills were put to good use in her two numbers with her commanding the stage. Rebecca Turner, as Philia, played the stereotypical dumb blonde to perfection, and Steve Hill, as her temporary owner Lycus (a buyer and seller of courtesans), seemed to embrace his inner sleaziness.
The role of the self-loving Roman Gladiator Miles Gloriosus was portrayed with the necessary energy and strength by Guy Laws, and Rob Gair as befuddled old man Erronius had the audience laughing out loud with his short-sighted antics.
Steven Berry gave an excellent portrayal of Hysterium, the slave to Senex and Domina, and his antics were scene-stealing, especially the “Lovely” reprise where he was dressed as Philia!
Of course all of this mayhem and orchestration of madness has to be led by someone with skill and comedic timing, and Anthony Smith as Pseudolus did this with style, holding the audience in the palm of his hand from the opening number throughout. The energy and stamina for this role cannot be underestimated, and Anthony was completely as ease with it.
Put these excellent performances together with a good set, good technical support and perfect accompaniment, and you have the recipe for a very enjoyable production. Congratulations to the entire production team.
Gordon Richardson – Durham Times
SET in ancient Rome, the musical tells the story of three adjacent houses though the narration of slave Pseudolus as he attempts to gain his freedom by arranging the union of his master’s son Hero (Ed Turner) to the virgin Philia (Rebecca Turner) living next door in the house of Lycus (a procurer and seller of beautiful girls, played by
Steve Hill).
The whole evening was confused by mistaken identities, farce-like behaviour and ribald comment on the whole social class of the time – but all good family entertainment. From start to finish, the show had the wow factor with a chorus of courtesans from the house of Lycus, and Proteans who, as the name would suggest, played many roles from sailors and soldiers to eunuchs.
Choreography – in the safe hands of Kathleen Knox – was in keeping with the era. Music was under the watchful, and expert, baton of MD Steven Hood who mastered the complex score. The whole production was overseen by one of the finest directors in the area, Fred Wharton, whose finishing touches brought the creation to life.
The fixed set itself provided many white rabbit moments as you read the graffiti on the walls – each an in-joke about the plot, production or composer. . .
It is hard to single out any particular performer in such a blockbuster of a production but it would be churlish not to give special mention to the fine talents of Steven Berry as Hysterium, whose manic exploits and actions would have graced a Brian Rix farce, also to Anthony Smith as Pseudolus – opening and closing the production (and barely off stage in between) – he stole the hearts of the audience throughout with his great charisma. As in all good farces there was a happy ending for all – certainly for the audiences that went out uplifted at such a fine piece of theatre.