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Reviewed from a preview performance, London, June 28, 2004
Stephen Sondheim's 1962 musical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, breezes into the Olivier Theatre for the summer season. Edward Hall's highly entertaining and outrageous new production explodes with comic invention and is performed by a dynamic ensemble led by Desmond Barrit as Pseudolus, the crafty Roman slave. Barrit delivers a performance to treasure: his manipulation of the other characters is laser sharp as is his comic timing. His rapport with the audience is magical.
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Also impressive are the hilariously mega-macho entry of Miles Gloriosus (an impressively pompous Philip Quast) and the burlesque send-up 'House of Lycos' where Lycos’ ladies demonstrate their talents, reminiscent of the 'You’ve Gotta Have a Gimmick' number from the earlier Jules Styne musical Gypsy, for which Sondheim wrote the lyrics.