Young actors bring a Broadway play to life

Lights ... camera ... action will be the directives as actors and actresses shuffle onto the stage to perform in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.”

The show, the third musical by Hoffmann Brothers Productions, is based on classical Greek comedies, and is about a group of neighbors in ancient Rome and their interactions with each other. While there are side stories, the musical’s focus is on Pseudolus, a slave who is trying to earn his freedom by hooking up his master’s son with a daughter of a man who owns highly paid prostitutes.

“It has that ‘Romeo and Juliet’ feel of forbidden love,” said Erin Ashe, the costume coordinator, who plays Philia in the musical. “It is not necessarily the idea that they are from different social classes, but the idea that a high-class boy is in love with a whore and that there are parents holding them back. There is a lot of chaos throughout.”

The music and lyrics for this original Broadway production were written by Stephen Sondheim and the book was written by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. However, the Hoffmann brothers, Trevor and Curtis, have made a few slight adaptations to the play.

“We put a twist on the traditional version of (the song) ‘Everybody Ought to have a Maid,’” said Trevor Hoffmann, co-producer and artistic and stage director. “It’s kind of fun to put a twist of modern flavor into it without changing the script, (while) trying to keep it light and entertaining.”

As the third year of putting on summer productions approaches, the Hoffmann brothers are particularly hopeful that their show is a success.

“This is our make-or-break year: If the show is not successful this year, we will probably not do another one next year. On the other hand, if it is a success, we will be here to stay,” said Hoffmann.

He believes that, so far, the show is shaping up to be a success, partly thanks to the extra years of experience now tucked under their belts.

“We have a much larger cast than in years past, and we have been able to refine the rehearsal schedule much better this year,” said Hoffmann. “The orchestra is also more prepared, and we have lights and a sound system to rehearse with so we don’t have to ‘MacGyver’ them.”

The production provides participants not only with a great opportunity to act and put on a show during the summer, but also provides time for socializing.

“It’s a social event for us, since we’re all friends and everyone here loves performing,” said Ashe. “The cast ranges from 14- to 21-year-olds, and some are away at college or can’t perform during the school year, so it’s a great way (for them) to get a theater fix.”

Hoffmann also agrees that the rush he gets from putting on a production is incomparable.

“The first time the curtain went down on the first show I produced was the biggest adrenaline rush ever: I was on cloud 9,” he said.

The musical features love duets, hard comedy, beautiful music and hilarious dialogue, and Ashe and Hoffmann agree that the ending is the most phenomenal part of the production.

“The ending is very ‘Scooby-Doo,’ with a lot of mistaken identities,” said Hoffmann. “It is ridiculously energetic and the epitome of controlled chaos.”

“A Funny This Happened on the Way to the Forum” will be performed on July 31 and on Aug. 1, 2 at Penn-grove Elementary School, 365 Adobe Road in Penngrove. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday performances begin at 5 p.m. For more information about the comedic musical, visit www.hoffmannbrotherspro ductions.com.

(Contact Kylie Buck at argus@arguscourier.com)