<bt>
The flowers are beginning to spring up, birds are chirping, and you can now go outside without having to don that ugly blue sweater your grandmother knitted you last Christmas. No, it's not spring; time is fast approaching for the performance of South Lakes' latest musical. This year's selection is "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."
The show boasts a score by Stephen Sondheim and book by Burt Shrevelove and Larry Gelbart. It follows the crafty slave Pseudolus on his quest for freedom. In typical early Roman comedy fashion, this seemingly simple task is given twists and turns as identities are mistaken, love is found, and an old man repeatedly runs around a mountain.
The play was selected by the theatre arts director and the theatre arts 3/4 IB class at the beginning of the year. As is the tradition, the higher level theatre class chooses the plays that will be performed that year. (Performances so far this year have included "Deathtrap," "Disney Spectacular," and the VHSL one-act "Audience.")
"Forum" is being put together by more than 75 actors, singers, technical crew members, and musicians. Among the members of the cast are Arthur Maddalena as Pseudolus, John-Currie Hester as Hero, Shani McCrea as Philia, Ross Oklewicz as Hysterium, Daniel Katz as Senex, Chloe Badaway as Domina, Warren Byers as Marcus Lycus, Daniel Collier as Miles Gloriousus, and DJ Cashmere as Erronious.
The South Lakes High School Theatre Arts Department will present "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," April 25 and May 2, at 7 p.m., April 26 and May 3, at 7:30 p.m., and April 27 and May 4, at 8 p.m. in the Little Theatre. Tickets are $7 presale and $8 at the door. For more information or tickets, call 703-715-4589.