The second Mexican revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum has been postponed to unspecified dates due to the resignation of midget comedian Maria Elena Saldana from the cast. Saldana, a very popular Mexican comedian, was cast for the role of Pseudolus.
Funny . . . Forum was scheduled to open in Mexico City early 1998, but according to Ruben Lara, who holds the rights for the Sondheim/Shevelove/Gelbart musical comedy, the opening will be delayed at least until April or May 1998 since he is in the search of a new star for the show. The idea to cast a female lead in a part originated by Zero Mostel was born when the recent Broadway revival featured Whoopi Goldberg as Pseudolus. Lara told Playbill On-Line that Saldana was very interested in playing Pseudolus, but unfortunately some personal problems will not allow the actress to continue in the project.
Leads confirmed in the Forum cast are Amparito Arozamena (Moon Over Buffalo, Cabaret) and Miguel Pizarro (The Most Happy Fella, The Woman of the Year). The theatre where Forum will play has not been chosen yet, although producer Lara has expressed his interest in opening the show at the Teatro de los Insurgentes, current home of the Mexican production of Fame, which has been announced to close April 1998 in order to begin its Latin American tour.
Funny. . . Forum's previous Mexican productions played with the title of Amor al Reves Es Roma, which means Love Spelled Backwards is Rome (this title only works in Spanish), but this time the hilarious "ancient Roman" musical will be back with a new Spanish title: Camino al Forum which literally means "On the Way to the Forum".
Directing Forum will be Raul Zermeno, former director of the Centro Universitario de Teatro (CUT) of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM). The set designer will be Enrique Reyes, while the always-busy Mitzy (Fame, the up-coming Crazy for You) will be the costume designer. Willy Gutierrez will be the musical director. More information on this revival of Forum will be available early 1998.
