A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum – BROADWAY CAST****

Overture/Comedy Tonight/Love I Hear/Free/Lovely/Pretty Little Picture/Everybody Ought To Have A Maid/I’m Calm/Impossible/Bring Me My Bride/That Dirty Old Man/That’ll Show Him/Lovely (Reprise)/Funeral Sequence/ Finale

The Broadway musical comedy A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum starred Zero Mostel. It opened in May 1962 at the Alvin Theatre and ran for 964 performances. Set in Ancient Rome, the plot involves a slave attempting to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door. Lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim. (US:60)

“The first musical in which Stephen Sondheim was responsible for both music and lyrics, was not expected to be a hit. Many of the critics were proven wrong when this smashing musical endeared itself to the theatre going public. The recording is quite a masterpiece - it really captures every bit of the emotions exhibited on stage.”

“The cast are so superbly suited to the piece that it is little wonder that it became an immediate hit. The whole thing is wonderful, there is not one song in it that does not grow on, or appeal instantly, to the listener.”

“I have very little doubt that this original cast album will always be the best recording of this show. Who else but Zero Mostel could make this show so memorable? While Sondheim’s craft would grow considerably in the years following this effort, the work here is solid and enjoyable. Comedy Tonight is a classic and Pretty Little Picture gives us our first glance into Sondheim's future. While the comedy of the script may overshadow the comedy of the songs, they are funny in their own right. Lovely and Everybody Ought To Have A Maid are both very funny."

“Sondheim comes up with lilting melodies as settings for his word barrages. Forum has hellzapoppin humour, full of jokes and slapstick, and Sondheim's songs provide audiences the chance to catch their breath, even if they are likely to chuckle at his clever juxtapositions of words and unfettered talent for alliteration. The star of Forum is the show itself; the music makes for a worthy accompaniment. Some numbers will amuse you more than others because you may not know the context in which they were performed; but many of these fine songs will entertain you anyway.”