Theater Down South Presents: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum in all Saturdays and Sundays of October ~ My Opinion

It is fun and hilarious, this are the two objectives that described the Stephen Sondheim’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum that was a Broadway hit in 1962 and won the Tony Award for the Best Musical. The musical satire of Sondheim will be presented by Theater Down South the Insular Life Auditorium at the Insular Life Building in Alabang, Muntinlupa on October 8, 9 and 30 at 8PM and Oct. 24 at 3pm. The TDS presentation of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is directed by the veteran stage actor and director Michael Williams.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is set in ancient Rome where a Roman slave named Pseudolus (Chino Viguillas) who seeks for his freedom by helping his master Hero (Jacob Gayanelo) to win the heart of Philia (Carla Gonzalez) who is a virgin and a courtesan from the house of Marcus Lycus (Zig Hagamann). Philia was already sold to Captain Miles Gloriosus (Mikey Llorin) before Hero formally meets her. But in his strong conviction to have his freedom Pseudolus will fulfill his duty for his master even it may bring big disaster to the house of Senex (Gary Junsay) the senile father of Hero and husband of the dominating and manipulative Domina (Celine Beatrice Fable) and involve his fellow slave Hysterium (Benjor Catindig) on his pranks.

The TDS production was wonderful and fun and you’re not even aware that the whole presentation was almost two (2) hours. It was great to see how the company put efforts on the production materials like the costumes and the props which have variations of colors and types of clothing in each character. As for the actors and actresses aside from Chino, Mikey, Carla, Jacob, Celine Zig and Gary who really shows their talents in the stage, which it is really hard to do both acting particularly in a comedy and include singing and dancing, Kris Katalbas (Panacea) and Belle Arguelles (Tintinabula) in their breath-taking dance performance and of course who can never forget Marie Delgado in her out of this world exotic dance performance, I really enjoyed or should I say so much enjoyed her character. Lastly Daryl Zarraga and Nathan Zamesa who throws themselves on the stage, character doubling and their talents on fast changing costumes and the “dance” moves, those were the things the viewers of the TDS presentation of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum should be watching, and as I say it the presentation was “uber” entertaining!

The Theater Down South presentation of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will happen at the Insular Life Auditorium at the Insular Life Building in Alabang, Muntinlupa on October 8, 9 and 30 at 8PM and Oct. 24 at 3pm. For tickets visit www.theaterdownsouth.com and www.ticketworld.com.ph, call (02) 5056-380 and (+63) 916-643-6976 or email info@theaterdownsouth.com for more details about the show and sponsorship.