They’re worn by my children and me!
HYSTERIUM: I don’t follow . . .
ERRONIUS:
The family crest, the gaggle of geese,
The ring with the galloping gaggle of geese!
The Gods above
Have answered my call!
Release every dove
From Carthage to Gaul!
Light welcoming fires, let trumpets and lyres
Proclaim it to one and to all:
THIS IS MY SON!
The gaggle of geese, the gaggle of geese,
It is the gaggle of geese,
For years I’ve sought the gaggle of geese,
And here is the gaggle of geese
At last, the gaggle of geese!
The gaggle of geese, the gaggle of geese!
It’s not a covey of quails,
It’s not a flight of nightingales,
It isn’t a school of whales,
It must be a gaggle of geese!
Sing paeans of jubilation
In celebration!
Send runners with torches burning
To mark my son’s returning!
The gaggle of geese, the gaggle of geese!
Ring out . . . the gaggle . . . the bells . . .
The geese . . . My son . . . the gaggle . . . is home ...
Again . . . with the gaggle . . . he wears . . .
To stay . . . with the gaggle . . .
My heart has joy,
My mind has peace,
I’ve found my boy
With the gaggle of — look! The gaggle of — see! The
gaggle of — yes!
The gaggle of — this! The gaggle of — there!
(Speaking, music under)
Hysterium, why are you sitting around?
It isn’t enough that my son has been found!
My daughter, my daughter, yes, where is my daughter?
And why is my boy lying down on the ground?
Do something at once! He’s obviously
Completely exhausted from searching for me.
Go get a physician!
No, stay with him here and I’ll get a physician —
No, first I will seek that sayer of sooth —
He’ll certainly know where my daughter must be!
My son being here, she ought to be near ...
Not here . . . but where? ... Nearby, but where? ...
He’ll know . . . I go ...
Goodbye . . .
Hello,
My beautiful boy!
(Covers the prostrate PSEUDOLUS with kisses; a great smile spreads over PSEUDOLUS’s face)
The family crest
Was put to the test
And half of my quest
Is done!
I have at long last found my long-lost son!
(He starts offstage, bumps into the sundial, pats it affec tionately)
Forgive me, my child . . . Go back to your game ...
(Continues off, bumps into proscenium, calls into wings)
Wait for me, daughter, wherever you are! ...
(Exits)
MAJOR PRODUCTIONS
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was first presented by Harold Prince at the Alvin Theatre, New York City, on May 8, 1962, with the following cast:
(In order of appearance)
PROLOGUS Zero Mostel
THE PROTEANS Eddie Phillips, George Reeder, David Evans
SENEX, a citizen of Rome David Burns
DOMINA, his wife Ruth Kobart
HERO, his son Brian Davies
HYSTERIUM, slave to Senex and Domina Jack Gilford
LYCUS, a dealer in courtesans John Carradine
PSEUDOLUS, slave to Hero Zero Mostel
TINTINABULA Roberta Keith
PANACEA Lucienne Bridou
THE GEMINAE Lisa James, Judy Alexander
VIBRATA Myrna White
GYMNASIA Gloria Kristy
PHILIA Preshy Marker
ERRONIUS, a citizen of Rome Raymond Walburn
MILES GLORIOSUS, a warrior Ronald Holgate
Production Directed by George Abbott
Choreography and Musical Staging by Jack Cole
Settings and Costumes by Tony Walton
Lighting by Jean Rosenthal
Orchestrations by Irwin Kostal and Sid Ramin
Musical Direction by Harold Hastings
Dance Music Arranged by Hal Schaefer
The following songs were cut prior to the New York opening: “Invocation,” “Love Is in the Air,” “The House of Marcus Lycus” (the complete version), “Your Eyes Are Blue,” “I Do Like You,” “There’s Something About a War,” “Echo Song,” and “The Gaggle of Geese.”
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum gave its first performance at the Shubert Theatre, New Haven, Connecticut, opening on March 31, 1962 and closing on April 7th after 8 performances and 1 preview. The show then moved to the National Theatre, Washington, D.C., opening on April 11th and closing on April 28th after 22 performances. Previews began in New York City on May 2, 1962, and the show opened on May 8th and closed on August 29, 1964 after 964 performances and 7 previews.
AWARDS
Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Producer of a Musical
(Harold Prince), Best Book of a Musical (Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart), Best Direction of a Musical (George Abbott), Best Actor in a Musical (Zero Mostel), Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a Musical (David Burns). Also received Tony nominations for Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a Musical (Jack Gilford) and Best Supporting or Featured Actress in a Musical (Ruth Kobart).
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was first presented in London by Harold Prince, Tony Walton and Richard Pilbrow, by arrangement with Send Manor Trust Ltd., at the Strand Theatre on October 3, 1963 for 762 performances, with the following cast:
(In order of appearance)
PROLOGUS Frankie Howerd
THE PROTEANS Ben Aris, George Giles, Malcolm Macdonald
SENEX, a citizen of Rome “Monsewer” Eddie Gray
DOMINA, his wife Linda Gray
HERO, his son John Rye
HYSTERIUM, slave to Senex and Domina Kenneth Connor
PSEUDOLUS, slave to Hero Frankie Howerd
LYCUS, a dealer in courtesans Jon Pertwee
TINTINABULA Norma Dunbar
PANACEA Christine Child
THE GEMINAE Marion Horton, Vyvyan Dunbar
VIBRATA Faye Craig
GYMNASIA Sula Freeman
PHILIA Isla Blair
ERRONIUS, a citizen of Rome Robertson Hare
MILES GLORIOSUS, a warrior Leon Greene
Production Directed by George Abbott
Musical Numbers originally staged by Jack Cole re-staged by
George Martin
Settings and Costumes by Tony Walton
Lighting by Jean Rosenthal
Orchestrations by Irwin Kostal and Sid Ramin
Musical Direction by Alyn Ainsworth
Dance Arrangements by Hal Schaefer
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was revived by the Center Theatre Group of Los Angeles (Robert Fryer, Managing Director) at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, California, October 13–November 20, 1971 for 47 performances, with the following cast:
PROLOGUS Phil Silvers
SENEX, a Roman citizen Lew Parker
DOMINA, his wife Nancy Walker
HERO, his son, in love with Philia John Hansen
HYSTERIUM, slave to Senex and Domina Larry Blyden
PSEUDOLUS, slave to Hero Phil Silvers
LYCUS, a buyer and seller of courtesans Carl Ballantine
ERRONIUS, an old man Reginald Owen
MILES GLORIOSUS, a warrior Carl Lindstrom
TINTINABULA, a courtesan Ann Jillian
PANACEA, a courtesan Gloria Mills
THE GEMINAE, courtesans Trish Mahoney, Sonja Haney
VIBRATA, a courtesan Keita Keita
&n
bsp; GYMNASIA, a courtesan Charlene Ryan
PHILIA, a virgin Pamela Hall
THE PROTEANS Marc Breaux, Marc Wilder, Joe Ross
Directed by Burt Shevelove
Choreography by Ralph Beaumont
Settings by James Trittipo
Costumes by Noel Taylor
Lighting by H. R. Poindexter
Orchestrations by Irwin Kostal and Sid Ramin
Musical and Vocal Direction by Jack Lee
Dance Music Arranged by Hal Schaefer
Additional Dance Music by Richard De Benedictis
Production Associate, Robert Linden
For this revival a new song, “Farewell,” was written for Nancy Walker (DOMINA); “That’ll Show Him” was dropped; “Echo Song” was added for PHILIA and HERO.
This production was subsequently presented in New York City by David Black, in association with Seymour Vail and Henry Honeckman, and produced by Larry Blyden at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Prior to its Broadway engagement, the revival played at the McVickers Theatre, Chicago, February 28–March 25, 1972, and opened in New York on March 30, 1972 and closed August 12, 1972 after 156 performances and 3 previews.
Lizabeth Pritchett replaced Nancy Walker as DOMINA; Lauren Lucas replaced Ann Jillian as TINTINABULA; Bill Starr and Chad Block replaced Marc Breaux and Marc Wilder as two of the PROTEANS; musical and vocal direction was by Milton Rosenstock. The song “Pretty Little Picture” was dropped.
AWARDS
Tony Awards: Best Actor in a Musical (Phil Silvers) and Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a Musical (Larry Blyden). Also received a Tony nomination for Best Direction of a Musical (Burt Shevelove).
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was revived in London by Richard Pilbrow, Pamela Hay and Norman Rothstein for Theatre Projects Associates, in association with David Bulasky and Geoffrey Young, at the Piccadilly Theatre, November 14, 1986 for 49 performances, with the following cast:
PSEUDOLUS, slave to Hero Frankie Howerd
SENEX, a citizen of Rome Patrick Cargill
DOMINA, his wife Betty Benfield
HERO, his son Graeme Smith
HYSTERIUM, slave to Senex and Domina Ronnie Stevens
LYCUS, a buyer and seller of courtesans Fred Evans
ERRONIUS, an old man Derek Royle
MILES GLORIOSUS, a warrior Leon Greene
PHILIA, a virgin Lydia Watson
THE PROTEANS Max Cane, Richard Drabble, Chris Eyden
THE GEMINAE Julie and Tracy Collins
GYMNASIA Elizabeth Elvin
TINTINABULA Claire Lutter
VIBRATA Sharon Stephens
PANACEA Billi Wylde
Directed by Larry Gelbart
Choreography and Musical Staging by George Martin
Settings and Costumes by Tony Walton
Lighting by Robert Ornbo
Musical Direction by Godfrey Salmon
The motion picture of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was produced by Melvin Frank Productions and released through United Artists in October of 1966, with the following cast:
PSEUDOLUS Zero Mostel
LYCUS Phil Silvers
HYSTERIUM Jack Gilford
ERRONTUS Buster Keaton
HERO Michael Crawford
PHILIA Annette Andre
DOMINA Patricia Jessel
SENEX Michael Hordern
MILES GLORIOSUS Leon Greene
GYMNASIA Inga Neilsen
VIBRATA Myrna White
PANACEA Lucienne Bridou
TINTINABULA Helen Funai
THE GEMINAE Jennifer and Susan Baker
FERTILLA Janet Webb
HIGH PRIESTESS Pamela Brown
GUARD Alfie Bass
Others: John Bennett, John Bluthal, Ronny Brody, Peter Butterworth, Frank Elliott, Andrew Faulds, Bill Kerr, Roy Kinnear, Beatrix Lehmann, Jack Max, Jon Pertwee, Frank Thornton
Directed by Richard Lester
Screenplay by Melvin Frank and Michael Pertwee
Musical Direction and Incidental Music by Ken Thorne
Production and Costumes Designed by Tony Walton
Director of Photography, Nicolas Roeg, B.S.C.
Dances by George and Ethel Martin
MUSICAL NUMBERS
Tibia Solo (Ken Thorne) Instrumental
“Comedy Tonight” Zero Mostel, Company
Search for Mare’s Sweat (Thorne) Instrumental
“Lovely” Annette Andre, Michael Crawford
Tintinabula’s Dance (Thorne) Instrumental
Vibrata’s Dance (Thorne) Instrumental
Roman Emissary (Thorne) Instrumental
“Everybody Ought to Have a Maid” Michael Hordern,
Zero Mostel, Jack Gilford, Phil Silvers
Riot at the Funeral (Sondheim) Instrumental
Domina Returns/Fanfare (Thorne) Instrumental
“Bring Me My Bride” Leon Greene, Company
Erronius Returns (Thorne) Instrumental
Orgy Music . . . Roman Style (Thorne) Instrumental
“Lovely” (Reprise) Zero Mostel, Jack Gilford
In the Arena (Thorne) Instrumental
The Dirge and Funeral Sequence Leon Greene, Company
The Rescue of Philia (Thorne) Instrumental
The Chase (Sondheim) Instrumental
“Comedy Tonight”/Playout (Sondheim) Instrumental
The motion picture is available on video cassette: CBS Fox 4618
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was revived by Jujamcyn Theatres, Scott Rudin/Paramount Pictures, Viertel-Baruch-Frankel Group, Roger Berlind, and Dodger Productions at the St. James Theatre, April 18, 1996 (previews from March 18) - January 4, 1998 for 715 peformances and 35 previews, with the following cast:
(In order of appearance)
PROLOGUS (an actor) /PSEUDOLUS Nathan Lane
PROTEANS Brad Aspel, Cory English, Ray Roderick
HERO Jim Stanek
PHILIA Jessica Boevers
SENEX Lewis J. Stadlen
DOMINA Mary Testa
HYSTERIUM Mark Linn-Baker
LYCUS Ernie Sabella
TINTINABULA Pamela Everett
PANACEA Leigh Zimmerman
THE GEMINAE Susan Misner, Lori Werner
VIBRATA Mary Ann Lamb
GYMNASIA Stephanie Pope
ERRONIUS William Duell
MILES GLORIOSUS Cris Groenendaal
SWINGS: Michael Arnold, Kevin Kraft, Kristin Willits
Directed by Jerry Zaks
Choreography by Rob Marshall;
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
Musical Supervision by Edward Strauss
Set/Costumes by Tony Walton;
Dance Arrangements by David Chase
Whoopi Goldberg replaced Nathan Lane as PSEUDOLUS, and was subsequently replaced by David Alan Grier; Dick Latessa replaced Lewis J. Stadlen as SENEX and was subsequently replaced by Robert Fitch; Ross Lehman replaced Mark Linn-Baker as HYSTERIUM; Bob Amaral replaced Ernie Sabella as LYCUS; Holly Cruikshank replaced Leigh Zimmerman as PANACEA; Tara Nicole replaced Susan Misner as one of the GEMINAE; Pascale Faye replaced Mary Ann Lamb as VIBRATA and was subsequently replaced by Carol Lee Meadows; Kena Tangi Dorsey replaced Stephanie Pope as GYMNASIA. The song “Pretty Little Picture” was dropped.
AWARDS
Tony Award: Best Actor in a Musical (Nathan Lane)
SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY
1 Original Broadway Cast Recording (1962)
Capitol Records
LP WAO (M)/SWAO (S)-1717; reissue W (M)/SW (S)-1717
Bay Cities Music (1990, reissue)
(Also included in Time-Life Records “American Musicals”
Series: Stephen Sondheim. LP STL-AM12, Cassette 4TL-AM12)
Original London Cast Album (1963)
His Master’s Voice/EMI Records (England)
LP CLP 1685 (M)/CSD 1518 (S)
DRG Records (reissue)
LP Stet DS-15028 (S)
Cassett
e Stet DSC-15028
First Night Records (England; reissue)
LP OCR 3
Cassette OCR C3
Motion Picture Soundtrack Recording (1966)
United Artists Records
LP UAL-4144 (M)/UAS-5144 (S); reissue UA-LA284-G (S)
Cassette UA-EA284-H
Sondheim: A Musical Tribute (1973)
Warner Bros. Records
LP 2WS 2705 (S); 2 record set
RCA Records (1990, reissue)
Cassette 60515-4-RC
Includes: “Love Is in the Air”—Larry Blyden, Susan Browning;
“Your Eyes Are Blue”—Pamela Hall, Harvey Evans
Side by Side by Sondheim/Millicent Martin, Julia McKenzie and David Kernan (1976)
RCA Records
LP CBL2-1851 (S); 2 record set
Cassette CBK2-1851
Includes: “Comedy Tonight” /“Love Is in the Air”—MillicentMartin, Julia McKenzie, David Kernan
Songs of Sondheim (original Irish cast recording of Side by Side by Sondheim, 1977)
RAM Records
LP RMLP 1026
Includes: “Comedy Tonight” /“Love Is in the Air”—Tony Kenny,
Loreto O’Connor, Gay Byrne, Denis O’Sullivan, Gemma Craven, Jim Doherty
Side by Side by Sondheim (original Australian cast recording, 1977)
RCA Red Seal (Australia)
LP VRL2-0156; 2 record set
Cassette VRK2-0156; 2 tape set
Includes: “Comedy Tonight” / “Love Is in the Air” Jill Perryman, Bartholomew John, Geraldine Morrow; “Everybody Ought to Have a Maid”—John Laws, Bartholomew John, Geraldine Morrow, Jill Perryman
A Different Side of Sondheim/Richard Rodney Bennett (1979)
DRG Records
LP SL 5182
Cassette SLC-5182
Includes: “I Do Like You”
Marry Me a Little/Craig Lucas and Suzanne Henry (1981)
RCA Records
Four by Sondheim Page 11