Auroraadvocate.com - 'Comedy Tonight' at Porthouse

Photo courtesy of Porthouse Theatre Miles Gloriosis (played by Brian Johnson) sings of his conquests in Porthouse Theatre’s “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.”

Photo courtesy of Porthouse Theatre Roman slave Pseudolus (Nick Koesters) finds himself strangely attracted to courtesan Gymnasea (Emily Larger) in Porthouse Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” running through June 27.

by April Helms

Special Products Editor

Porthouse Theatre's "year of comedy" delivers a lot of laughs with its first show, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," which opened June 11.

Terri Kent, artistic director of Porthouse, said "Forum" and the other two shows in the summer theater's lineup were chosen to give its patrons respite from a difficult year.

"I think after the year we've been through as a community, as a state and as a nation, we needed a chance to sit back and laugh," Kent said. "This is what the audience said they wanted, and this is what we've delivered."

Theater-goers looking for heavy, complicated plotlines will not find it in "Forum"; indeed, folks wouldn't be able to find one serious moment in this irreverent, slapstick play with a fine-tooth comb. The story centers around Roman slave Pseudolus (played by Nick Koesters), who belongs to the house of Senex. Pseudolus longs for nothing more than his freedom. When he finds out that Hero (played by Brian Duncan) has fallen head over heels in love with Philia (played by Melissa Owens), a courtesan in the house of Marcus Lycus (played by Benjamin Czarnota), Pseudolus agrees to get the girl for his young master. Of course, this is easier said than done. For one, Philia has been sold to be the bride of Miles Gloriosus (played by Brian Keith Johnson), the conquering war hero. Pseudolus enlists the help of a very reluctant Hysterium (played by J.P. Makowski), the high-strung and loyal slave to Senex (played by Marc Moritz) and Senex's shrill, suspicious wife Domina (played by Alyssa Bruno.)

Also in the cast is Mark Monday, who makes brief but comic appearances as Erronius, the long-absent neighbor of Senex. Grace Bennett, Miriam Henkel-Moellmann, Emily Catherine Larger, Felicia Angel and Linda Mementowski play the courtesans from the house of Macus Lycus. Dane Castle, Josh Hughes, Jason Leupold, Danny Lindenberger, Pete Podolski and Aaron Schoonover are the Proteans.

The high-energy play seemed to be a hit with the June 12 audience.

"I thought it was fantastic," said Raymond Durkee, a Stow fireman and former Stow resident. "It was entertaining, funny and the vocalists were great."

Emily Engman of Wooster said she enjoyed the play, adding that "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid" was her favorite number.

"I thought it was a great show," Engman said.

Actor Johnson, who lives in Cuyahoga Falls, said "it's thrilling to be a part of such a great cast and crew."

"There was a lot of great energy tonight," Johnson said of the June 12 show.

Ticket and show information

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" will run through June 27. Curtain times are 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. The picnic grounds open 90 minutes prior to curtain time.

Box office hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the Main Kent State University campus box office; an hour and a half prior to performance at the theater. Call 330-929-4416 or 800-304-2363 for details or reservations.

Prices range from $13 to $33 depending on day of the week. Discounts are available for students and seniors. Discount tickets are available for groups of 10 or more.

Porthouse Theatre is off of Streets Corners Road in Cuyahoga Falls, next to Blossom Music Center.

Community partnership

Each season, Porthouse Theatre partners with a non-profit organization. This year, the theater is working with Project GRAD in Akron.

Ten percent of all concession sales, which include specialty items, will be donated to Project GRAD.

This program seeks to increase the high school and graduation rates of the students in the Akron Public School's Buchtel cluster.

Next on stage

Porthouse Theatre will next produce "The Odd Couple," which will open July 2 and run through July 18.

E-mail: ahelms@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3153