It’s that time of year again: the air is getting cooler, the leaves are changing and the fall musical is approaching once again.
This year’s fall musical, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” is a slapstick comedy centered around the events occurring in three adjacent houses in ancient Rome. Complete with romance, plot twists and cross-dressing, this is an event worth attending for all CHS students.
“It is a fantastic comedy,” director Naomi Ratz said. “Forum will fit the actors, yet challenge them.”
The protagonist of the musical is Pseudolus, played by senior Alex Scott, a slave who is pursuing his freedom. Pseudolus attempts to use tricks to obtain his freedom, resulting in mayhem for him and all the other characters in the musical. He works for Senex, played by junior Ethan Miller, Senex’s wife Domina, played by junior Josie Weinberg, and their son, Hero, played by junior Sam Nasar. The other two houses are occupied by Lycus, played by junior Areya Campbell-Rosen, and Erronius, played by senior Remington Steele.
“I like how [the musical] takes place in historical times but has modern comedy,” Miller said.
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is a well-loved musical, earning many awards such as Tony Award for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical while it was on Broadway from 1962 to 1964. It was also turned into a movie in 1966.
It is a comedy like last year’s musical, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” but is a different type of comedy called farce and challenges the actors in the show in new ways.
“We did a comedy last year,” Ratz said. “I wanted to continue on the comedic path and stretch the kids’ talents.”
The musical will open on Nov. 4th. The cast rehearses almost everyday after school and sometimes during lunch. Cast members work on character development while learning dances, scenes and songs.
The show is so funny that it is hard for cast members to stop from laughing while rehearsing. It is a musical that is a joy to perform in as well as watch.
“We have rehearsal every day, but it will be worth it when the show is great,” senior Madeline Statter said, who plays Philia, the love interest of Hero, in the show.
The musical is not only an exciting event for students during the school year, but is also a great way for students to spend time with their friends or make new ones. The constant rehearsals allow students to get to know each other and create a community by the end of the show.
“I like how I got to meet a lot of new people since I just moved here,” freshman Heather Kirschner said, who plays a courtesan in the show.
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” will be performed Nov. 4, 5, 11 and 12 at 7 p.m., as well as Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. If you enjoy loveable characters, crazy plots and lots of laughs, look no further than this year’s fall musical.