WHAT: “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”

WHERE: Norway Grange on Whitman Street in Norway

WHEN: at 8 p.m. May 10, 11, 12; at 2 p.m. May 13

TICKETS: $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and children under 12. Tickets are available at Books N Things, 430 Main St., Norway. Call 739-6200.

OHMPAA makes way for laughter

NORWAY – It’s a tough call. Who’s the funniest? Pseudolus? Senex? Hysterius? Erronius?

Fortunately, it’s easy to decide who comes out on top – audience members who see the current production of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” continuing Thursday through Sunday at the Norway Grange.

The Oxford Hills Music and Performing Arts Association is staging a solid crowd-pleaser with a cast that pulls out all the comedic stops.

Under Kenn Sawyer’s direction, every character from leads to nonspeaking players turn in some side-splitting moments. One after another, the laughs pile up.

Scott Maddix, in his second OHMPAA show, has the role of Pseudolus, the slave in the house of Senex who continually connives to gain his freedom. It’s a role for which some bigger-than-life actors are known – Zero Mostel, Nathan Lane and Phil Silvers. Maddix gives it a gentler interpretation that’s very effective.

Chris Alberi stands out in an exceptional performance as Hysterius, another slave in the Senex house. Pseudolous’ schemes multiply, and Hysterius is swept along at a dizzying pace. He is delightful as he sings “I’m Calm,” in which he is anything but.

Eventually, Hysterius finds himself as a corpse in drag.

Alberi’s comic timing is perfect and his vocal talents are very good. He is an eighth-grader, and this is his second OHMPAA appearance, although he has plenty of stage experience with Lake Region Community Theater. Future shows with Alberi will be well worth seeing.

Steve Sessions and Cindy Reedy play henpecked Senex and bossy Domina. Each of them has been in a dozen or more OHMPAA shows, and they are well-paired in “Forum.”

Brandon Sukeforth plays Hero, their son, who falls for Philia, a next-door virgin courtesan played by Erin Houle. As the young lovers, they give credibility to a totally farcical courtship. Sukeforth is ably advancing to a lead role following some minor parts.

Houle, who is also the show’s choreographer for the courtesans, is making her on-stage debut. She reveals a very pleasant voice that could benefit from more projection.

Tommy McFarlane’s first OHMPAA appearance was in 1986. It has taken more than 20 years for him to return, and it’s a memorable occasion. In both physical size and voice, he delivers full measure to the part of pompous Miles Gloriosus, a military captain who has come to claim the bride he purchased from the local brothel owner. That bride-to-be is Philia.

Pseudolus strikes a bargain with Hero. Pseudolus says he will get Philia for Hero in return for his freedom.

OHMPAA veteran Elton Cole plays Marcus Lycus, the owner of the brothel. Cole, who boasts an ample physique, is capable of steamrolling through the most frenetic on-stage situations, and he does so with gusto in “Forum.”

Tom Littlefield, another OHMPAA veteran, appears as befuddled old Erronius. It’s a characterization that leaves the audience wishing for more. Littlefield gives it a spin that’s reminiscent of Howie Morris bits on the old Sid Caesar and Andy Griffith shows.

The courtesans are played by Kathryn Gardner, Stephanie Woodworth, Jessica Sawyer Church and Jennifer Church Mason (the Geminae twins), Robin Lee Priest and Leah Haney. Eunuchs and Roman foot soldiers are played by David Sanborn, Jon Potter, Dennis Twitchell and Kyle Martin.

When “Forum” debuted on Broadway in 1962, it ran for nearly 1,000 performances. It was Stephen Sondheim’s first show for which he did both music and lyrics. Although that makes it a stage musical, most of the songs take a back seat to the nonstop comic action in “Forum.” Most of this cast delivered the comedy better than the music.

On the musical plus side, Cynthia Reedy as Domina belts out “That Dirty Old Man” in traditional musical comedy fashion. Steve Sessions (Senex) and Brandon Sukeforth (Hero) do a fine job with the delightfully derisive father-son duet called “Impossible.”

The male leads do some vaudeville-style hoofing to “Everybody Ought To Have a Maid,” a number filled with innocent double-entendre. This number is a lot of fun, but it could stand a bit more kick.

“Comedy Tonight” is the show’s signature number. It’s not done very well here, but it’s a minor drawback given the high-grade hilarity in this production of “Forum.”

Music director Karen Chapman gets entertaining, though sometimes imperfect, musical performances from everyone, and there is a capable small orchestra of keyboard, trumpets, trombone and percussion.

Right from its dress rehearsal, OHMPAA’s “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” has been delighting Oxford Hills audiences. The final four performances should place it among the group’s most popular presentations.