“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is a bawdy, big musical, getting the royal treatment from a crew of community-theater pros at Yorktown Stage this weekend and next.
“Something familiar,
Something peculiar,
Something for everybody:
Comedy tonight!”
Just look at the lovably goofy mug of Putnam Valley’s Doug DeMarco (as Senex) as he cuddles close to Ossining’s Christine Gavin (as Philia). Doug has been in scores of productions of “Forum” across the Lower Hudson Valley.
This time around, Pseudolus is played by Yorktown Stage stalwart Barry Liebman, who is also producing and directing this “Forum.”
Liebman pulls no punches. This show, he says, is about laughter and sex. After all, one of the three houses we see on stage is a brothel.
In a news release, Liebman says: “Is the show bawdy? Absolutely! The writers, Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, could be considered the Trey Parker and Matt Stone of their time. In 1962, they were pushing comic limits, so now Forum is a show that families, especially those with older children and young adults, will enjoy.”
In addition to DeMarco and Gavin, local folks in the cast include August Abatecola (Pleasantville) as Hysterium, Marcia Cummings-Vinci (Pound Ridge) as Domina, Nathan Graf (Yorktown) as Miles Gloriosus, Jeff Hart (Croton) as Lycus, Bruce Apar (Yorktown) as Erronius. The three proteans, who shift among several roles are played by Spencer Cohen (Yorktown), James McAlvanah (Bedford) and Kurtis McManus (White Plains).
And, this being a show about, in part, a brothel, there are courtesans: Lauren Citraella (Mahopac); Mary Elizabeth Kimbark (Garnerville); Emma Mills (Hastings); Christina Tompkins (White Plains).
***
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” 7:30 p.m., April 14 and 21; 2 p.m., April 15 and 22. $26 adult; $24 adult Yorktown resident; $21 ages 62 and older, 12-22; $19 ages 11 and under. Yorktown Stage, 1974 Commerce St. Go to the Yorktown Stage website for details or call 914-962-0606.
4 Comments
What about the talented Todd Ritch from Dobbs Ferry???
I was so disappointed to see there was not mention of Todd Ritch from Dobbs Ferry who plays Hero in the Show.
Carole
you didn’t include “everybawdy”
Carole and Clyde: Thanks for pointing out that the much-heralded Todd Ritch (who plays Hero) is from Dobbs Ferry. The release from Yorktown Stage listed him as from a place called “New York City.” Did everybawdy hear that? Todd Ritch—Dobbs Ferry! Go, Todd! (Incidentally, Rebecca Frazier is of that same place (“New York City”) and Victoria Lauzun is from a place known as The Bronx. They both play courtesans.)