Local Performers in Racy 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' at Yorktown Stage
Next up at Yorktown Stage on April 14, 15, 21 and 22 is A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the Tony award-winning musical that, according to producer, director, and lead actor Barry Liebman, is about two things: laughter and sex.
Set in ancient Rome, the musical tells the story of Pseudolus, a slave who schemes to win freedom by helping his innocent, young master elope with the innocent, young courtesan living next door. When an arrogant, fierce Roman captain comes to claim the young woman, the fun begins.
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“Is the show bawdy? Absolutely!” says Mr. Liebman. “The writers, Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, could be considered the Trey Parker and Matt Stone [of South Park and The Book of Mormon] of their time. In 1962, they were pushing comic limits, so now Forum is a show that families, especially those with older children and young adults, will enjoy.”
The cast includes Pleasantville resident August Abatecola as Hysterium, the fawning slave blackmailed by Pseudolus to help bring together the young lovers, Philia, played by Christine Gavin of Ossining, and Hero, played Todd Ritch of New York City.
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Douglas DeMarco of Putnam Valley, who has appeared in Forum more than 20 times, plays Senex, Hero’s father and the henpecked husband of Domina, played by Marcia Cummings-Vinci of Pound Ridge.
The cast also features Nathan Graf of Yorktown as Miles Gloriosus, the vain Roman captain; Jeff Hart of Croton as Lycus, the “purveyor of flesh,” and Bruce Apar of Yorktown as Erronius, a doddering old man with failing sight who is searching for his long-lost children.
Spencer Cohen of Yorktown; James McAlvanah of Bedford; and Kurtis McManus of White Plains are the show’s versatile Proteans, who race from role to role to role.
Rounding out the cast are the courtesans: Lauren Citraella of Mahpac; Mary Elizabeth Kimbark of Garnerville; Emma Mills of Hastings; Christina Tompkins of White Plains; Rebecca Frazier of New York City; and Victoria Lauzun of the Bronx.
You can catch A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Saturday, April 14 at 7:30; Sunday, April 15 at 2:00 p.m.; Saturday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 22, at 2:00 p.m. For tickets visit www.yorktownstage.com/ or call (914) 962-0606.
