A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum – Show of the Week #73

Show of the week is a weekly(ish) segment where I babble about musical theatre. (…pretend you didn't see the first version of this with the wrong album in it…)

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Music& Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by Burt Shevelove & Larry Gelbart

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If you're reading THIS comment below with your favorite actor who's played Pseudolus - that's how I'll know you read this far. 😉 I find it SO HARD to decide! Between Zero, Whoopi and Nathan – they're just all so good!

Oh, and would you click that like button? Love you forever.

[MSTe]

I remember getting into this soundtrack, back this past January, while I was working on Sharknado! the Musical. I really liked the fact that everyone is named after a traditional role in Roman drama: Pseudolus = Liar, Senex = Old Man, Filia = Daughter, Miles Gloriousus = Boastful Solider, Hysterium and Hero = Well those kind of speak for themselves.

[FedericoTedeschi]

"Comedy Tonight" is easily the best, funniest and most clever opening number ever written. In perfect emulation of classical theatre's style, the Prologus, an actor from the company, tells you what the show will be about, sets the scene, and entertains you. He references classical themes and motifs because that's where the show draws its essence from. He promises that that night there will be comedy, and the show delivers that, keeping that promise every night. It's musical comedy, farce, and theatre at their pure essence. And all because one man, one genius man thought that the previous number, "Invocation and Instructions to the Audience" (later reworked into "The Frogs"), didn't work.

[marinalebowich]

Everybody's ought to have a maid is literally the best song in the entire world!

[Dramaqueenify]

oh this month is such a delight, a bit further down the line I would love to hear you explore 'Do I hear a waltz?

[ezdiar]

Omg I remember seeing Forum when I was like 8 or 9 cuz my big sis did it for I think her friends senior class project. At the time I knew I was into musical theatre (having been in a few shows), but had no clue who Sondheim was. Fast forward to a couple weeks ago (being in high school myself now) when I'm helping my school drama director and my school tech director clean out the theater. I came across an old copy of Forum and noticed that it was Sondheim
First thought: omg this is Sondheim
Second thought: well duh. XD

[paulinaenck]

Nathan Lane is my favorite Pseudolus. Definitely!

[battlegirldeb]

I 'm so loving this month before my birthday!!

[bradleygladley]

Fun Fact: Everyone who has opened in the role of Pseudolus on Broadway has won the Tony. There was Zero Mostel, Phil Silvers, and Nathan Lane. Funny enough, Phil Silvers was going to be the original but Zero Mostel was instead.

[shyridershyridershyrider]

Could you do a video on Assassins? I haven't really seen you do much on that show, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!

[moonshoespotter]

I surprisingly have never listened to Forum. I need to now!

[lilliedoubleyou]

LOVE IT! one of the first musical movies I ever saw.
I still highly recommend *BILLY ELLIOT*, although maybe it's better to watch the "LIVE" version than listen to the recording.

[PatrickSpeaking]

So I couldn't help but notice that Company has yet to be a show of the week....

[paulinaenck]

Please, in October, do a Show of the Week on Taboo by George O'Dowd (Boy George). The Broadway cast of 2004. It's fantastic and VERY "lesser known". Raul Esparza was nominated for a Tony, and it also starred Sarah Uriarte Berry, Euan Morton, and Boy George.

[roberthanlen]

I once saw a professionally made billboard advertising a production as "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the

[miawatson]

Tommy I would like to know your thoughts on phantom?? You have never talked about it before so I assume you just don't like it but if you have different thoughts I would like to know.

[alexbirger]

But hadnt west side story already been written