A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Study Guide for Musical Writers
Commentary by Noel Katz
The funny thing about A Funny Thing" is that the majority of the songs don't work; in essence, they get in the way of things. These "things" are the machinations of a densely written farce by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. It terms of pace, and quantity of jokes-per-minute, this may be the best musical comedy libretto ever written.
Their idea was to take certain characters and plot contrivances from the ancient comedies of Plautus and pack them into a Vaudevillian farce. At almost any given moment, the dialogue sizzles with the oversized desires of its greedy characters. The main character is a slave who will do anything to get his freedom. His owner is a young man who will do anything to get the girl. The girl is a courtesan, owned by a procurer who will do just about anything for money. And he's sold her to a strong and lustful soldier. And on and on. But the details aren't as important as how humor springs forth when characters who desperately want someone are put into conflict. The complications pile up on each other at a rocket pace.
And then, disappointingly, we stop for a Stephen Sondheim song. It's amazing, given the esteem Sondheim's earned over the years, that in this first show for which he was composer as well as lyricist, the songs are the weakest element. The movie, wisely, cut all but a few. "Love, I Hear" is a song in which the young man we've already been introduced to introduces himself to us. There's supposed to be charm to his naiveté but charm is not an element we're positioned to enjoy. "Forum is clearly a Low Comedy evening. The jokes are on the bawdy side, and this song, which concludes by admitting it didn't have much to say, is as unsexy as a song can get.
All members of the writing team must be on the same page. During the eight year gestation period, it seems the young Sondheim was unaware that low comedy was what the librettists were after. The show was in its pre-Broadway tryout, playing to very small audiences, when Jerome Robbins was brought in to have a look at it. He said nothing was wrong except the opening number, "Love Is in the Air." "Love Is in the Air" is cute and sprightly, but that's no way to introduce a down-and-dirty fast-paced comedy show. So, Sondheim was sent away to rewrite, and the new opener, "Comedy Tonight" set exactly the right tone. Once that was added, audiences loved what followed.
Recordings and DVD
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Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (DVD) from Amazon.com
A wily slave must unite a virgin courtesan and his young smitten master to earn his freedom.
Plot Synopsis: Pseudolus is the laziest slave in Rome and has but one wish, purchase his freedom. When his master and mistress leave for the day he finds out that the young master has fallen in love with a virgin in the house of Lycus, a slave dealer specializing in beautiful women. Pseudolus concocts a deal in which he will be freed if he can procure the girl for young Hero. Of course, it can't be that simple as everything begins to go wrong.
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Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1996 Broadway Revival
Cast) from Amazon.com
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Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum: Original MGM Motion Picture
Soundtrack [Enhanced CD] from Amazon.com
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Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (1962 Original Broadway
Cast) from Amazon.com
Sheet Music and Libretto
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Vocal Selections) from Musicnotes.com Songs include: That'll Show Him, Love, I Hear, Everybody Ought To Have a Maid, Impossible, Comedy Tonight, Pretty Little Picture, and Lovely. Instant digital download sheet music.
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Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Applause Musical Library)
from Amazon.com Complete script to the musical comedy.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Vocal Score) from Amazon.com
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