A relatively amusing thing happened inside the ATT

4/24/08

By Matt Vercillo
Critic Staff

The Twilight Players opened up their production of Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical comedy “A funny thing happened on the way to the forum” on Thursday, April 24. I decided that, since the show was free and located conveniently here at the school, that it would be a perfect opportunity to get an entertainment review done.

My expectations were not too high, I am very seldom impressed by many cultural or artistic events held on campus. So, I didn’t expect anything different this time.

From the start my experience with the production was surprisingly positive. The play was scheduled to start a 7 pm and when the lights dimmed at 6:58, I realized that the event might actually start on time. Things were looking up, the earlier this thing started the earlier I could get out of there.

The opening musical number set the tone for the play, assuring everyone that the following story would be a comedy, and not a tragedy. This was good news for me, since any sudden fits of laughter could be disguised as being with the cast and not at them.

One of the most refreshing things about the play was its lightheartedness. I thought it proved to be a wise choice for a college audience. Set in ancient Rome, the story centers around a bunch of slaves and hookers. The humor was very quick, witty, and laden with delicious sexual innuendo.

Any lack of vocal ability or acting experience was pleasantly disguised by the sheer enthusiasm displayed by the cast. Two members, Karen Rose Sague (Pseudolous) and Jim Gibbons (Senex) stood out as giving particularly memorable and spirited performances. The rest of the cast wasn’t too bad either, and nobody screwed up noticeably. This proved to be the greatest thing about the production, not necessarily how good it was but how much fun the cast appeared to having. It really showed, and they appeared surprisingly comfortable for an opening night show.

All in all, I wouldn’t be canceling any prior engagements to catch the play. However if you find yourself with nothing to do one night this weekend, it might be worth a look. If you have to attend it for a horizon event, for a class, or even if your significant other is simply dragging you there – don’t worry. This play is pretty accessible to those who don’t particularly enjoy theater, it isn’t hard to follow and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. When the lights came on I glanced at the time, 9 o’clock. The night was still young, and I didn’t regret going.