Friday, July 22
July 22, 2011L.A. Himel Jr.
July 26, 2011A funny musical with a love story intertwined, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” plays at the Thibodaux Playhouse this month.
In addition to directing his first major show, and first musical, at the Thibodaux Playhouse, 24-year-old Joey Pierce plays the role of brash Roman military Captain Miles Gloriosus. Pierce is also tasked with keeping tabs on 15 additional actors.
“It’s a little complicated, to be honest, to see what’s going on and still being on the stage, but I started off acting and then sort of worked my way toward directing, so it’s something I’m comfortable with as well,” Pierce said.
The plot stems from the characters’ desire of Philia (Chelsea Maielli), a virgin slave who represents something unique to several characters. To Hero (James Dillon Hughes), it’s love; to Hero’s slave Pseudolus (Doug DeGirobmo), it’s freedom; and to Miles Gloriosus, it’s a virgin slave.
Pseudolus drives the action. Through a deal with Hero for his liberty, he promises to help the young master win the love of Philia, which leads the protagonist down a winding road of deception, double-dealing and disguise as he attempts to triumph obstacles, the chief one being that Philia was already promised to, and paid for by, Miles Gloriosus.
“It is based in ancient Rome, but it doesn’t have that feeling of being an ancient show,” Pierce said. “It doesn’t have classic language. It has modern language. It has modern comedy. Even though it is set in ancient Rome, it’s not something that [audiences are] going to have to work to understand.”
The comedic styling plays off its title, the statement of which could pre-empt any unexpected tale, boundless in amount or depth.
When the witty Pseudolus becomes a victim of his craftiness and finds himself in a precarious situation with Miles Gloriosus, lead actor DeGirobmo is there to guide the seamless wordsmith through the danger and keep the audience laughing through exaggerated body language and a range of tone.
“He’s the central character, and he has to work off of everybody else, so it’s him dealing with what everyone else brings to the table,” DeGirobmo, 23, said of his role. “It can be a little challenging at times trying to find the balance between funny and getting the point across, moving the plot forward.”
But this month’s performance won’t be DeGirobmo’s first in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” The actor interned with the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival last summer and played a role in their depiction of the musical.
Pierce has made a few changes to the production, including increasing the tempo of a few of the songs and giving the cast the freedom to express their humor via unscripted vehicles.
“Joey’s great,” DeGirobmo said. “He gives me ideas, little fun quips to do, helps maybe understand a couple of the jokes I don’t understand. The rest of the cast is really supportive. We just have a great time together. We just mesh together so well.”
“I got really, really lucky because this cast is just so talented that I hardly have to do anything with them,” Pierce said. “I just let them go and give them a few directions here and there. They’re doing great and I can’t wait for people to see it.”
‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’
Where: Thibodaux Playhouse at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Theatre
(Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve), 314 St. Mary St., Thibodaux
When: July 28-30 at 7:30 p.m., and July 31 at 2 p.m.
Cost: $20 adults; $15 students and children
For More Info: (985) 446-1896 or thibodauxplayhouse.wordpress.com
