The SLU Theatre’s upcoming musical, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is fabulous and downright hilarious from beginning to end! The long hours and dedication put into the show by the cast are apparent while sitting in the audience. Managing classes and rehearsals must have been quite tasking for the actors, with a whole week of daily rehearsals from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and full day rehearsals this past weekend. Even though they are practicing while trying to balance classwork, the passion is apparent that all those involved are having a great time.
Before watching the preview, I could feel the excitement of the whole cast backstage. All of that energy was translated to their upbeat performances in a musical that was just about as entertaining as it gets. By the time intermission came it felt only as though a few minutes had passed!
Andy O’Brien is brilliant as Pseudolus. He is very dynamic and fills up the room with his humor and charisma. Danny Guttas, who plays Hysterium, works wonderfully with O’Brian, keeping the mood of the play light and fun. Guttas is terrific throughout the whole play, but he was particularly excellent in the scene where he attempts to keep himself calm.
The musical has all kinds of fun scenes, from courtesans to a fake funeral. Vince Grote also did a marvelous job as Senex. He nailed every song and was tremendous with both acting and narrating.
The costume designs  looked amazing. Joe Kercher, as the Captain Miles Gloriosus, is dressed up as a Roman soldier with an armored chest plate and a classic helmet. This is Kercher’s first musical with SLU, but it is clear that he’s been acting for a while. I was really surprised when he started singing and talking because he sounded very different from when I was speaking to him earlier. Kercher personifies his character perfectly. Overall, everyone on stage looked great, especially Katy Keating who was on stage as Marcus Lycus.
Keating did a wonderful job with her character being  one of the most dynamic in the musical. Her role required numerous transitions in personality, which was no easy feat, but Keating pulled it off seamlessly. Luke Siddens and Maddie Spruce were also great as Hero and Philia. Spruce spent a lot of time during the show tucked away on the “roof of the house.” As an audience member, it’s intriguing to know that she is constantly up there, but only pops out on occasion.
Jack Calk, as Erronius, did not have a big part in the production, but his short time on stage left a lasting impression. Jack consistently brought back that humor as he randomly walked through the stage, totally oblivious to all that was happening, while counting the times he rounded the hills of Rome.
After speaking with a few cast members, it was clear that Alec Wild not only did a great job as a skillful director, but also was a source of energy. The dedication of the directing team was evident as well, with the fruits of their labor being fully realized. The props, set and costumes were spot on, with everything having been designed and assembled on campus in the past few weeks. Ellen Isom also did a terrific job coordinating the choreography, which flowed effortlessly throughout the scenes and also added to the humor.
This weekend, make it a point to go see “Forum.” Not only will you be showing support for your fellow students, but you’ll be bound to  get a few laughs out of it  too. As the last song before the cast took their final bow so beautifully pointed out,  “The moral is comedy!”
“Forum” show dates are Nov. 15, 16, 22, 23 at 8 p.m. and again on Nov. 24 at 2 pm. All shows are held in the theater in Xavier Hall. Tickets are available for purchase at the box office and cost $10 for adults and $9 for senior citizens and SLU faculty or staff. Students get in the cheapest with tickets costing only $7.
For more information about the current show or any of the upcoming productions visit the SLU Theatre Facebook page or follow them on Twitter.