She started on the stages of Broadway and now, 61 years later, she is making us laugh like it's the first day, on the stage of a freshly refurbished Lido. From December 1st until February 4th, 2024, the legendary musical "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" (or "Le Forum en Folie" in French) transports its Parisian audience to Rome, in the year 254 BC, for a few hours of pure joy.
Written by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart and featuring the brilliant Stephen Sondheim's music, this spectacle brings a touch of modernity to the original version with French subtitles. It has been honored with an impressive 9 Tony Awards.
You may be curious why the years between 1963 and 1996 are mentioned in the first place! Well, let me explain. In this story, Senex and Domina, the masters, go to the countryside to visit the mother of Domina. Meanwhile, Pseudolus, a slave of the family, dreams of finally being free. He sings, "I often thought, I often dreamed of how it would be, and yet I never believed that I would be... free." Pseudolus makes a deal with his young master, Hero: if he manages to help Hero win the heart of the beautiful Philia, Pseudolus will finally gain the freedom he desires. Sounds easy, right? Except Philia, the young courtesan, is already promised to the narcissistic captain Miles Gloriosus. Pseudolus and Hero must show their ingenuity and come up with the most absurd schemes to achieve their goal. Here's an image to give you a visual of the story. Enjoy!
« Tragedy tomorrow, comedy tonight »
A chaotic and absurd story in which we are immediately captivated from the first notes. With three minutes of purely musical opening, the show offers us an entrance that is both progressive and grandiose, which successfully conveys that we are about to witness one of the greatest spectacles ever written, and makes us eagerly anticipate what comes next. While in the theater the mystery might linger about the genre of the upcoming play, at the Forum, the tone is immediately set: « Tragedy tomorrow, comedy tonight», sings Pseudolus, quickly followed by the entire company.
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And what a comedy! For 2 and a half hours, a smile takes over our face and never leaves us, even once we've left the Lido, as the catchy melodies continue to play in our head. 2 and a half hours that we would love to see prolong, as they seem incredibly short. In front of us, simple and colorful sets and costumes, efficient and well thought out. But it is to the humor and excellence of its actors, both amazing actors and divine singers, that the show owes all of its success. The puns come at the most opportune moments, the jokes are delivered with finesse, the situational comedy makes us laugh out loud. We play with exaggeration, raised voices, slightly exaggerated melodrama, and big gestures for a result that is simply hilarious from beginning to end.
Hero and Pseudolus ©Julien Benhamou
The perfect balance between music and theater
If musical comedy manages to conquer hearts, it's because it has found the unbeatable recipe to never lose its audience's attention. In contrast to the show Notre-Dame de Paris where the music took an almost excessive place, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum carefully balances songs and spoken dialogue to achieve the perfect balance.
Miles Gloriosus in the middle of the stage ©Julien Benhamou
At several points, the actors don't hesitate to break the fourth wall, allowing the audience to become part of the story. The musical numbers are catchy and memorable, making the audience tap their feet and sing along. The spoken dialogue is clever and witty, keeping the audience engaged and entertained. It's truly the perfect blend of music and theater.
Laughing wall to interact with the public. A daring and yet impeccably successful staging challenge, as it allows the creation of a true alchemy between the actors, the audience, and the orchestra, located on both sides of the stage. All the ingredients are gathered to have the best of evenings, so don't hesitate anymore: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is the show not to be missed under any circumstances.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Lido 2 Paris
116, avenue des Champs-Élysées – 8th
Until February 4, 2024
More info