A funny thing happened at the Ramada Wagon Wheel Theatre this week and all I could do was laugh, laugh and laugh some more.

That "thing" was the WWT's production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."

Whether it was the madcap antics of the extremely multi-talented Rod Thomas as Prologus/Pseudolus or the flighty superb silliness of Jonathan Wagner as Hysterium, "A Funny Thing" is a zany musical comedy not to be missed. You will find yourself laughing out loud, just like I was, thanks to the entire cast under the direction of guest director Tony Humrichouser.

"Funny Thing" is a comedy of errors, shenanigans and slapstick humor, with a little Vaudeville and burlesque thrown in.

The story takes place about 200 B.C. in the streets of Rome, in front of the Houses of Erronius, Senex and Lycus. Lycus (Michael Yocum) is a dealer in courtesans while Erronius (Thadd Krueger) is a citizen of Rome whose children were stolen about 20 years ago and he's still looking for them. Most of the main characters come from within the household of Senex.

Pseudolus (Thomas) is the slave to the lovesick Hero (Matthew Dipasquale), son of Senex (Roy McCall) and Domina (Brianna Borger). While Pseudolus wants his freedom, Hero wants the beautiful Philia (Marie Weller), a virgin courtesan in Lycus' entourage. However, Philia has been sold to the warrior captain Miles Gloriosus (Jonathan Hickerson). If Pseudolus can successfully match up Hero with Philia, Hero promised Pseudolus he'll be a slave no longer. Pseudolus tries to do just that, along the way using whatever means necessary to make it happen.

What stands out most in this Looney Tune-esque mayhem are the performances. Each actor deserves some recognition.

This show belongs to WWT favorite Rod Thomas. Watch his facial expressions and gestures, they speak more than the words from the script. While there is often much happening on stage, whenever Thomas is there, the audience will be hard pressed to divert their attention away from him, from his first appearance as he comes up from the music pit to the final curtain call.

Dipasquale and Weller are beautifully cast as the lovelorn couple. Both look as stunning as characters ripped from the pages of a fairy tale and to hear them sing, especially in a duet, will melt butter. Cast these two into any roles as lovers and the story becomes enchanting, whether comedy, drama or a blend. Dipasquale is making his WWT debut this season; let's hope he comes back for a few more. Weller is returning to WWT after completing her freshman year at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts - proving that good talent returns to the WWT time and time again.

Adding a little burlesque to the Vaudeville of this production are the courtesans. Tintinabula (Sarah Weis) makes the sound of castanets alluring, while Panacea (the heart-warming Jennifer Dow in an unexpected role) makes Yoga look easy.

The Geminae (Erin Marie Horne and Andrea Skafish) are, of course, twins that will make men's minds wander.

"For the man who enjoys the wild life," according to Lycus, performed sleazily but still tastefully by Yocum, there is Vibrata (Angela Smith). Vibrata was my favorite of all the girls until Gymnasia (Amber Gainey Meade) stepped onto stage in her Madonna-circa Blonde Ambition attire. And she has a whip! Of course, by the end of the play, there's no doubt she's also Pseudolus' favorite, though he likes them all.

As each of the different courtesans takes her place on stage, it's a riot to watch Thomas react. He takes a typical man's reaction to sex appeal and magnifies it 100 fold, resulting in something like the Cowardly Lion, Bugs Bunny and Kramer ("Seinfeld") all rolled into one.

Then you have Wagner as Hysterium - Nathan Lane, watch out! Where Wagner really steals the show is when Pseudolus dresses him up as Philia. Watching Pseudolus sing "Lovely" to Hysterium to try to convince Hysterium he'll pass as Philia, and then to see Hysterium believe it and sing the song back to Pseudolus about being lovely - I had to contain my laughter so as not to disrupt the play. You'll love to laugh at Hysterium in "Funny Thing" and want to see it again and again.

Not to forget any of the talented cast, be sure to keep an eye out for Borger as the domineering Domina; McCall as Senex, who'll remind you of Andy Rooney with an actual sense of humor and timing; and Hickerson as the captain who resembles many of our favorite evil villains found in Disney movies - vain and muscular, but insecure and unsuccessful.

Last, but certainly not least as they kept the comedy flowing, were The Proteans - Ken Holda, Scott Michaels and Jeremy Rill. Whether playing Roman citizens, foot soldiers, pirates, women, slaves or a Roman ladder, these three gifted thespians have their parts polished.

Overall, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," was one of the best laughs I've had. Audiences will love each and every performance. If this show is any indication, this season of plays at the WWT may be one of its best ever.

Go see it!

Kudos to Humrichouser for his excellence in directing this production.

"Funny Thing" is based on the plays of Plautus and features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, with a book by Bert Shevelove and Larry Gelbart.

Season tickets still are available for the Summer 2003 season, which includes "Inherit the Wind," "Phantom," "South Pacific," "Promises, Promises" and "Always ... Patsy Cline."

To purchase season or single tickets, call the theater box office at 267-8041 or toll-free at 866-823-2618. [[In-content Ad]]