The Crown Theatre does not disappoint bringing top quality musical theatre to North Hollywood.
Comedy Tonight, the opening song, sets the stage, pun intended, for the merriment and good old fashioned madcap fun that follows. The Crown City Theatre takes you to a farcical place where; Courtesan are Virgins, a plague causes victims to smile, male slaves, young girls and matriarchs are mistaken for one another and happy endings still come true.
The story gets underway when an innocent Hero, that’s his name not his vocation, confides to his slave Pseudolus his love for a Courtesan, Philia. Pseudolus tries with great difficulty, to win his freedom and help his master, Hero, woo Philia. You’ve heard the phrase “….and hilarity ensues”. Well, that’s what happens; masterfully crafted choreography singing, dancing, high jinx along with marvelously incredible performances.
Pseudolus is played to perfection by Jason Peter Kennedy.
Every time Psuedolous entered, I knew magic was about to happen and it did. Jason is phenominous, to coin a word.
As Chief slave to Senex and Domina, Hysterium, Nick Ley, was, hysterical. (I know you saw that one coming). Nick’s countenances are as expressive as any written word could possibly portray. Curt Bonnem’s, Lycus the Courtesan merchant, ala Andrew Dice Clay Lycus was a hoot. The audience went wild each time he came out dressed in Roman garbs and sounding like he just walked out of a pizza parlor in Brooklyn.
The entire cast is outstanding.
Senex, Kurt Andrew Hansen and Dominia, Erica Hanrahn-Bell convincingly plays husband and wife. Hero, Joe Mendick is impeccable as the innocent star crossed lover. Katie DeShan, who has the voice of an angel, nails the portrayal of the confused ingénue, Philia. Miles Gloriosus, Michael Marchak, the warrior to whom Philia is promised is brilliant. His striking good looks, persona and campy rendition were spot on Miles Gloriosus. Gymnasium, Lindsey Schuberth, Courtesan, Rachel Osting, and Protean Nikos Siozos were funny, vibrant and an entertainment windfall to round out the show.
Behind the scenes are incredible magicians. Director/Choreographer Lisaun Whittingham, Musical Director/Arranger, William A. Reilly, Costume Designer Tanya Apuya, and the Production team are a team of impeccable excellence.
Full of singing, music, sight gags, pretty woman, handsome men and wit. “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is a great night of musical comedy theatre.
Let a Funny thing happen to you….
Excellent
