Hey, if you're anywhere near Philadelphia, grab a train, car, Uber, rickshaw, bus, skateboard, Segway or hovercraft and get thee to the Walnut Street Theater by October 22 to see the production of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum that's playing there. Yes, it was directed by and stars my friend Frank Ferrante but friendship can only go so far. If Frank mucked up my favorite musical, I would tell you so. I'd be gentle but firm and I certainly wouldn't be as enthusiastic as I am about it.
I have seen many, many productions of Forum. I'll go see it anywhere that isn't a great hardship of travel and sometimes even if it is. I have seen it ruined. I have seen it destroyed. But I've also seen some great interpretations and what Frank and his ensemble have pulled off here is easily in the top five. maybe the top three. (The best was when I saw it with Phil Silvers, Nancy Walker, Larry Blyden, Carl Ballantine, Lew Parker and others of that caliber. Ain't no way anyone's going to best that but Frank's effort is easily the best I've seen in twenty years.)
Forum is a show that can vary a lot depending on its star. The published text specifically states that performers are expected to bring a lot of themselves to the role instead of slavishly trying to replicate what others have done with the material. So it's open for a certain amount of ad-libs and no two productions ever do the exact same thing, at least with the physical comedy. This cast gets laughs I've never seen or heard before in this play.
Frank is not the only great talent in it. Ron Wisniski is hilariously clueless as Senex. Scott Greer hits every funny note as Hysterium just as Alanna J. Smith hits every musical one as Philia. No one is bad. Everyone is good. Here's a link to buy tickets. Here's a video. What more are you waiting for?