Putting It Together (Podcast)

Federico Tedeschi returns to the podcast to discuss Plautus, Roman drama, and a little farce. The new season is here! A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is the first Broadway musical that Stephen Sondheim was (finally) able to write both lyrics and music. Comedy Tonight is the most famous song from the show. On this episode Federico and Kyle discuss whether it holds up, if it's actually funny, and the differences between the original and the revivals.

Love is a theme in many songs. For Hero this might just be the first time. Karen Unland returns to discuss young love and whether Sondheim is able to capture it effectively. Especially considering that he didn't find love until he turned 60.

Is freedom the necessary essence of democracy? Maybe or maybe not. Erik Stadnik returns to discuss how Pseudolus not only desires freedom but also desires to be looked at as a man. Pseudolus wants to be a real person. Perhaps Sondheim was trying to give characterization to caricatures.

The song Lovely appears twice in the show. The first is between two lovers, and the second is between two liars. Gus Gowland, UK-based musical theatre composer, joins the show to discuss which works better. Gus and Kyle try their best to be winsome while also making reference to the 1980s sitcom Perfect Strangers.

Pretty Little Picture is certainly a witty song, but is it funny? William C. White returns to offer his opinions on a song that Sondheim considers one of his best. They also debate whether Zero Mostel or Nathan Lane sing it better.

Is Forum sexist or does it just feature sexist characters? Matt Sampson return to try and answer that questions, while also playing his piano to show how clever Sondheim can be, even with a generic list song.

There are no gibbering fools on this week's podcast. At least no more than usual. Elizabeth Keep joins the show for the first time to discuss the two songs I'm Calm and Impossible. Are they funny? Do you need to see the staging for them to work? Those and other fraughter things are to be expected this week.

Miles Gloriosus is a brutish man who would be called "problematic" in our modern times. However, is there more to him than meets the eye? Christine Chen joins Kyle in discussing whether Miles is more bluster than barbarian. Also, at the end, there's a conversation about their favourite Sondheim show of all time.

The character of Domina is usually considered a shrewish old woman who wrecks the fun for all the other characters. But perhaps there is more to her than that two dimensional depiction. Zina Lee joins Kyle to discuss her song, the treatment of women in the show, and whether gender swapping should be encouraged in the modern theatre.

Philia's only solo song is one that shows how clueless she is about her whole situation. It might be a song that Sondheim fans disregard, but there are a few things worthy of consideration. Paul Matwychuk also discusses with Kyle about whether there might be a way for Philia to be portrayed differently, and whether the show should ever be revived.

Federico Tedeschi returns to wrap up our season on A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. We discuss the weirdness of the Funeral Sequence, the appropriate way the Finale ends, and then have the return of the game How Many Tonys Was This Show Nominated For?

Kyle invites on Janet and Lucia of Repodcasting to discuss the film version of Forum, and figure out who would star in it if it were remade today.

The trailer for the upcoming season on the troubled Broadway show Anyone Can Whistle.