Showtime

What: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

Where: Drayton Festival Theatre

When: Now through Aug. 9 (then moving to Huron Country Playhouse, Grand Bend (Aug. 13 through 30)

Tickets: 1-888-449-4463 (for both venues)

Boisterous, big and bawdy, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum is perfect summer entertainment. Well, let's be fair, in the hands of Drayton Festival Theatre and a crack cast of farceurs it's terrific anytime.

With book by Larry Gelbart (M*A*S*H) and Burt Shevelove (Hallelujah Baby) this is a fabulous burlesque concoction that kids the heck out of all those comedies by Plautus. Better yet, the show has a sensational score from Broadway's most sophisticated composer-lyricist, Stephen Sondheim, that includes such witty treasures as Comedy Tonight, Everybody Ought To Have A Maid and Lovely.

All this, of course, would go for naught if it wasn't for Drayton's terrific cast who sing the socks off the songs and find pretty much every ounce of comedy in this madcap musical.

Led by Steve Ross, reinventing Pseudolis, Forum's comic slave, this is a cast to die for. Ross gives his lecherous laugh-maker a more innocent heart than Zero Mostel did on Broadway, making him a likable shyster, forging warm connections with his audience. His co-conspirator in comic mayhem is the always funny Keith Savage who rings so much salty wit out of hysteric slave Hysterium he threatens to steal the show.

Fat chance of that though with the delirious, delightful and totally wonderful Karen K. Edissi storming the stage as that wicked old trout of a wife, Domina.

When Edissi tears into That Dirty Old Man of Mine, she makes you forget anyone else who's ever sung this ribald ballad of shameful surrender.

It helps of course that Edissi's partnered with ebullient laugh master Dougie Chamberlain, classy veteran of the musical comedy stage. Chamberlain, who's played 20 seasons at Stratford and 14 at the Charlottetown Festival, is royalty as far as Canadian musical theatre is concerned.

The young guys get their chance to shine, too. Kyle Blair makes Hero youthful, handsome and sweet as a lollipop. He's matched nicely by Elena Juatco who is a fetching Philia and perfect mate for Blair's Roman innocent.

A special bravo for Kenneth Wickes, 80 and still feisty as Erronius trotting round those seven hills of Rome, getting more applause on each entrance.

David Boechler's Art Deco, cum Odeon, cum Roman style set is superb. So are Rachel Berchtold's costumes and Rona Waddington's inventive direction.

If you're looking for a great night out, Forum's worth the drive to Drayton.

Watch out. They're gonna get yah.

If wonderful satire and comic invention are your idea of musical theatre nirvana get thee to Little Shop Of Horrors.

This Howard Ashman-Alan Menken concoction is an affectionate spoof of the 1950s sci-fi movie.

It's not so much a cartoon as it is a glorious send-up of shlock.

At Stage West, director Matt White connects the dots beautifully creating a dark, acerbic mood that is perfect at establishing this musical's cynical heartbeat.

Using The Ronettes -- the girl group that functions here as a sort of Greek Chorus -- White gives the show a fast-paced, hard-edged rhythm that sweeps you up in a scary little story.

White is aided and abetted by choreographer Mike Jackson and set designer Samantha Burson whose central turntable keeps this Little Shop in perpetual motion.

Performances are mostly good with Sarah Cornell's long-limbed, stiletto-heeled Audrey leading the pack. Cornell sings well, acts with comic invention and dances like a dream.

She's not quite matched by Matt Murray's likable Seymour. But Murray sings with passion and gives the character an opportunistic edge that is very important.

Kyle Dadd is a big disappointment as Orin, the masochistic dentist who equates a root canal with sex. He's loud most of the time and really hasn't the sexy moves and sly style that would make Dr. Scrivelli a likable louse.

Similarly, Sweeney MacArthur's Mushnik hasn't the ethnic spirit and sweep of some latter-day Zero Mostel.

The Ronettes, Saccha Dennis, Cara Leslie and Lori Nuic, are sensational, punctuating everything they do with sass and swish.

Hamilton designer Ivan Brozic's costumes are perfect. The snappy sparkle dresses and gold high heels he gives The Ronettes are fun. And the green plant motif gowns they trot out later are inspired.

Sound balance isn't always perfect and Burson's revolving set tends to get spinning too much. Never mind, I had a great time at Little Shop. It's a sophisticated comic romp with dark things to say about how we succumb to greed.

Gary Smith has written on theatre and dance for The Hamilton Spectator for more than 25 years.

Showtime

What: Little Shop of Horrors

Where: Stage West, 5400 Dixie Rd., Mississauga

When: Now through Sept. 13

Tickets: 1-800-263-0684