Boy loves the girl-next-door. Girl is promised to another man. Boy offers his slave freedom if he can convince the girl to marry said boy. With that propitious beginning, the tale of, “A Funny thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” begins. Keeping with their Greek and Roman theme, the Hillsdale College theatre and music department chose this musical romantic comedy, set in Ancient Rome, to perform March 6 to 9 at 8 p.m. with an extra 2 p.m. performance on Sunday.
Performed on Broadway for the first time in 1962, this comedy is an adaptation of earlier Roman comedies, said Karl Schmidt, the musical’s music director. The director, Dave Griffiths, said Hillsdale last performed “A Funny Thing” sometime in the 90s.
He confessed that he finds musicals, in general, to be more challenging than typical plays. Not only must actors learn their lines and act them out accordingly, but they have to sing and dance as well. Coordinating a music director, director, choreographer and busy Hillsdale students who may already be juggling 18 credit hours and a job, is both challenging and time consuming.
“This play is a true collaboration between the music and theatre departments,” Schmidt said. “It takes a lot of resources, time and energy.”
Schmidt said the musical is a great opportunity for theatre majors and music majors to rub shoulders, noting that it is neat to watch them grow and learn from each other.
“I love working with Dave, he loves musical theater,” Schmidt said, then added, “as do I.”
Junior Max Kleber, who plays Pseudolus, the boy’s slave and the musical’s main character, complemented Griffith’s and Schmidt’s ability to make a cohesive transition between the two departments.
“They have to figure stuff out,” Kleber said, “Some things work well musically and other things work well on stage. The two don’t necessarily work well together.”
Kleber said they want to include the music and theater and dance, finding, “the single best way to present it all.”
Dan Thelen, the musical’s student choreographer, said that because the play is based off of ancient scripts, it is peppered with puns formed out of Latin words and situational comedy.
“Even for comedies,” Kleber said, “few have been this outlandish. It is very silly.”
Kleber said he was involved in musical theater all throughout high school, but this is his first theatrical production at Hillsdale. This production has been an opportunity for Kleber to rediscover his passion for musical theater.
Senior Scott Rode, who plays the lovesick “Hero,” also did musical theater in high school but has not been involved since coming to Hillsdale.
For him, the comedic genre is what he finds most challenging about the production.
“I’m not used to being crazy and doing really grandiose movements,” Rode said.
Rode did admit, however, that his character, what he calls “a naïve romantic,” is not entirely unlike him. Rode is excited to show people a different side of his personality through the comedy.
Becky Schoon, a fifth-year senior, shares Kleber and Rode’s theatrical background, having been away from theatre since leaving high school. Her status as a part-time student has given her time to devote to this passion.
Griffiths said it was not entirely rare to have non-theatre majors cast in such significant roles.
“We only have people for at most, four years,” Griffiths said. “Few musicals can be done with only theatre majors.
Schoon plays the part of Domina, Hero’s mother. She said she does not mind the humor or craziness or running around.
“I’m a Presbyterian so I have to sit still at church,” Schoon said. “My character is who I would be in a pagan culture at age 50ish.”
Schoon said she loves Domina’s yelling and intense solo. Her Roman-style costume with golden cuffs and two different wigs complete the role.
The actors are not only running around and singing –– depicting what Griffeths called a finely crafted farce –– but they are also dancing. Thelen’s choreography is one of the most unique aspects of this production.
Griffiths said it is very rare to have a student choreographer; He said that has happened before, “maybe never.”
“Dan is an excellent dancer,” Griffiths said. “He is very good and works well with his peers which can be hard to do.”
Thelen is choreographing the musical for his senior project.
“I was thrilled –– this merges my love of dance with my love of theater,” Thelen said.
He said he was very honored to be allowed to choreograph the musical and it has been going very well, despite the challenges of comedic dance.
“We want to keep the play comedic on all fronts,” Thelen said. “I need to think of movements that can be quirky and funny but not look overly slap-sticky.”
Schmidt complimented the student’s collaboration and hard work. Despite illness and fatigued voices, there is no friction between cast members.
“This is very demanding,” Shmidt said, “They are doing a great job pulling it together.”
ndemacedo@hillsdale.edu
