A Funny Thing Happened on the Way To the Forum film- Page 2

[CJRochester]

Posted: 7/9/24 at 9:17am

I love the idea of Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells. At first I assumed Rannells as Pseudolus and Gad as Hysterium, but I could see it working both ways.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/9/24 at 10:06am

Do yourself a favor and watch this fantastic regional production. Looks like it’s a replica of the 1996 Broadway revival staging. 

 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 7/11/24 at 6:01pm

Seth Rudetsky is saying Forum is going to be revived next year with James Corden.  I guess they’re picking up where they left off

Updated On: 7/11/24 at 06:01 PM

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 7/11/24 at 6:48pm

Broadway Flash said: "Seth Rudetsky is saying Forum is going to be revived next year with James Corden. I guess they’re picking up where they left off"

The movement to keep Corden out of the Wicked movie made international news. His reputation has taken a major thrashing, and after his Reddit AMA he is seen as a nearly cartoonish villain by many. There were rumblings that his work environment was comperable to Ellen's. If I were a Broadway investor or producer, I'm not sure I would see him as a particularly safe bet.

But, hey, others experiencing similar issues regarding their character have been welcomed back to the stage with open arms and have seen tremendous success, so who knows what might happen?

 

[Kad]

Posted: 7/11/24 at 6:51pm

It's a shame, because Corden gave one of the funniest performances I've ever seen in One Man, Two Guv'nors and absolutely deserved his Tony win. If he had done the Timbers-directed Forum back then, it would've been a big old hit. But now, he really has worn out his good will with a lot of audiences.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 7/11/24 at 6:51pm

The tide has already started to turn. He’s getting good reviews in the play he’s doing on London and it seems like people have softened on him 

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 7/11/24 at 10:58pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I have a general FORUM question

Was the "House of Marcus Lycus" that Ernie Sabella sings on the 90s cast album written for that revival? Or a trimmed song that was reinstated? It's not on the original cast album or in the film, butI don't remember if it was in a licensed stage production I saw a few years back."

If I’m not mistaken, the song has always been in the show, but all of the dance breaks for each courtesan were given new arrangements and orchestrations.

[MezzA101]

Posted: 7/12/24 at 10:00am

Ti

[MezzA101]

Posted: 7/12/24 at 10:01am

Non-Member tickets just went on sale for the Signature Theatre production.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum — Signature Theatre

https://www.sigtheatre.org/events/202425/a-funny-thing-happened-on-the-way-to-the-forum/
 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 8:54am

Washington Post review of the Signature Theater (DC) production.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 2:47pm

For what it's worth: I was at a party last night with industy people from all sectors and overheard that Forum & Follies are 2 shows Bart Sher is considering at LCT in a couple of years.

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 7:59pm

I’m seeing the DC production tonight (because Cameron Loyal could be onstage reading impotence ads from AARP Magazine and I’d buy a ticket).

Ill report back if anyone is interested 

[inception]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 9:23pm

Yes please Quizking101.  The reason I come here is to read people's show reports. Much more interesting than all the other stuff on here lately.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 12/17/24 at 11:40am

inception said: "Yes please Quizking101. The reason I come here is to read people's show reports. Much more interesting than all the other stuff on here lately."

I saw the Signature production on Sunday and I can heartily recommend it for anyone who's going to be in the DC area before January 12. My friend's detailed review is here, and I agree with everything he wrote. I thought all the elements came together splendidly.

It's the first time I've seen the show on stage, and I was surprised at how funny and engaging it was. I expected an old chestnut like this to seem a little creaky, but I probably should have known better given the show's provenance, both the source material and the 1962 book.

I'm very glad that no apparent attempt was made to "clean up" the show's sexual politics (as was done for this year's Once Upon A Mattress revival, which stupidly desexualized a character pointedly named Sextimus). Some things in the show are obviously dated, but I'd rather have parents discuss with their kids how things have changed over the decades than have anyone tinker with the very intricately tuned book.

On the other hand, I fully support casting a woman (at least one as funny and talented as this) for Pseudolus and including some men among Marcus Lycus' offerings (including the twins who ended up with Miles Gloriosus). These changes, in 2024, very much work with the book rather than against it.