A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Synopsis

Bawdy musical based on the play of Plautus set in ancient Rome, with the hit Comedy Tonight! Pseudolus, the slave, is left in charge of his owner's young son who has fallen madly in live with a virgin in the house of Lycus, a slave dealer specializing in beautiful women. If he can rescue the girl he will be free! What can go wrong?

Our Review:

Petra Schofield - 10 November 2012

The students of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School burst onto stage in this farcical, bawdy musical tale of love, mistaken identity, happy endings and the essential door business without which it would fall at the first fence.

This is a superb production, it is hard to believe the cast are not fully fledged professionals. The only failing is using a backing track to replace live music, which is never fully effective and the dominance of the track determines and leads the performer through the music without the flexibility that a live band could offer. During the overture and entr’acte it is certainly too loud for comfort.

That aside, the quite exceptional Alec Fellows-Bennett as Pseudolus gains the favour of the audience as he romps through the show, creating the most ludicrous stories as if he really had just thought of them; great control and rapport, totally at ease underplaying situations to ensure the comedy reaches its optimum height.

The company are excellent, [D...

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Latest User Review

Ben Royston - 17 November 2012:

A quite brilliant production -I was laughing from start to finish. Wonderful acting from the whole cast, held together quite superbly by Alec Fellows- Bennett Every single member of the cast and the artistic director deserve the highest praise. I shall follow these fledgling actors and actresses' careers with great interest. Thank you!...

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