When I mentioned to people that I was going to interview the Gilbert & Sullivan Society the same few words kept cropping up: ‘bonkers’; ‘eccentric’; ‘hilarious’.  What do the Society themselves make of that?  Gareth Mattey, directing their new production, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, is new to the group, but he’s inclined to agree: “that seems pretty fitting.”  The society certainly seems to take a pretty laid-back approach: rehearsals are extremely casual affairs, and I don’t think there was ever a minute that passed without a crack of laughter rippling through one part of the room or another.  “We all really love what we do,” says Musical Director Michael Atkins.  “That’s why people keep coming back.” 

This approach is reflected in their place in the Cambridge theatre scene: away from the typical ADC and Corpus circuit, productions tend to be held in more adventurous settings.  Funny Thing, for instance, is being performed in Anglia Ruskin’s expansive Mumford Theatre.  The ADC, says Michael, is too small and too restrictive for the kinds of productions they want to put on.  Size is not the only limiting factor at the ADC; apparently artistic egos tend to be smaller in the Gilbert and Sullivan Society.  While the ADC main show, according to Michael, is “sometimes dominated” by people primarily concerned with their own careers, here, he says, you get a “different feel that’s slightly more collaborative.” 

It’s hard to disagree.  They spoke with real enthusiasm about the show: “It’s absolutely bonkers,” says Gareth, “brilliant and hilarious.”  They’ve gone for something a bit off-piste in Funny Thing – though it’s generally seen as merely part of the “Sondheim back catalogue”, it’s still worth watching.  “He lets himself write these ridiculous melodies,” enthuses Michael, and has a “totally crazy plot script to work with.”

Watching them rehearse a short scene and then the song ‘Bring Me My Bride’, it was hard not to get caught up with their enthusiasm.  The script is full of wit and repartee, so much so that Gareth expressed some concern that audience members might not keep track of it all.  Still, from what I could see it worked pretty well even in its current unpolished state.  The singing’s good too.  Dylan Morris made for a genuinely amusing Miles Gloriosus and everyone taking part was clearly really enjoying what they were doing. 

If there are any worries, it’s about the ambitious choreography.  A number of people mentioned nervously that their choreographer had gone “a bit crazy with it”.  That said, if they approach the dancing with the same exuberance and keenness they show in everything else, I’m sure they’ll pull it off—or, if nothing else, watching them trying to pull it off will probably be just as amusing.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum runs 6th-9th March at The Mumford Theatre.