How small can a cast be for "Forum"?

[MarkRascati]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 7:45pm

What's the least and greatest amount of people you can have to do a production of Funny Thing Happened...?

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 7:37am

The only real options for cast size are the Proteans and the "merchandise" from the House of Marcus Lycus. There's no way you can cut anyone else without affecting the construciton of the script.

[bwaymizfit2]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 8:05am

So I am a little biased because I'm currently playing a Protean in "Forum," but I don't think the proteans are as expendible as the courtesans. The show was written for three proteans. If you have more, it kind of ruins the impact of "three doing the work of thirty"--believe me though, the result is pretty hysterical. If you need more spots, I'm sure you could get away with four proteans, though (just a few minor dialogue changes).

With courtesans, there are normally six (and music for six). But you could always cut if you need to. The only problem with more courtesans is that there isn't music written for them, and Lycus ensures Pseudolus that he's shown him his entire "collection" (save Philia), so if other Courtesans randomly appear later, it would be weird.

So, yeah, cast size 18 plus or minus a few