Coker College Musical Theater presents funny 'Forum'

By: | SCNow
Published: November 06, 2009

Coker College Musical Theater presents the Broadway hit comedy “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” for two weekends in November in the college’s Watson Theater. The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Performances the following weekend will be at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 15. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for children under 18 and students and free with Coker ID.

Set in ancient Rome, “Forum” is filled with comic situations, mistaken identity, witty dialog, funny songs and dancing girls. It tells the story of the slave Pseudolus and his attempts to help his young master, Hero, woo the girl next door, Philia. However, Philia is a courtesan already spoken for by Miles Gloriosus, a tough Roman soldier.

In exchange for his freedom, Pseudolus concocts a devious plan for Hero and Philia to be together. The plan goes haywire when Hero’s parents and a neighbor, whose empty home is part of the scheme, all return home unexpectedly.

The Coker College production of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” stars students Dustin Moree as Pseudolos, Kyle Berry as Hero, Tara Haynes as Philia, Adam Johnson as Senex, Paige ManWaring as Domina, and Ashley West as Erronia, and Avery Bateman as Hysterium. The courtesans are students Morgan Etheridge , Devin Jennings, Morgan Hairston, Paige ManWaring and Eimile Davis. The Proteans, actors with multiple roles, are played by students Jill Brantley and Jon Moree.

Two Hartsville High School students are also in the production. Patrick Doughty is the soldier Miles Gloriosus, and Colleen Kelly is one of The Proteans.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, based on a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” opened on Broadway in 1962 and ran for 964 performances. It starred Zero Mostel and garnered several Tony Awards, including best musical, best actor, best supporting actor, best book and best director.

“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is directed by Ken Stuart, assistant professor of theater, with musical direction by Graham Wood, associate professor of music. Set and lighting design is by David Dawson, assistant professor of theater, and choreography is by Erin Leigh, assistant professor of dance.