Retired Skaneateles teacher to star in Auburn Theatre musical

Skaneateles actor Ted Davenport, at right, will play the part of Senex in the Auburn Theatre’s upcoming production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." Sharon Dec of Auburn, at left, plays Domina. Credit: Eagle Newspaper staff
Originally printed and published by The Skaneateless Press – January 2012

Auburn — When the curtain opens on the Auburn Players Community Theatre’s winter musical, Skaneateles residents will see a familiar face in one of the leading roles.

Former Skaneateles High School English and drama teacher Ted Davenport will be featured in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” as Senex, the long-suffering husband who becomes infatuated with the courtesan whom he thinks is his new maid.

“I’ve been in this show but never played this part before,” Davenport said. “I’m 74 and going to be singing and dancing on the stage. When I told a friend of mine that she said, ‘You?’”

The musical was the first attempt at a Broadway score by composer Stephen Sondheim, but although most other aspects of the show garnered Tony nominations (and won seven, including Best Musical), Sondheim was mostly ignored. Since its opening in 1962 with Zero Mostel in the role of Pseudolus, the slave who will do anything to win his freedom, the show has enjoyed numerous revivals as well as a 1966 movie starring Mostel, Phil Silvers and Buster Keaton.

Director Barbara Murphy says this is one of her favorite musicals and she is thrilled to have the opportunity to direct the comedy, which is loosely based on the style of the ancient playwright Plautus.

“It’s very rarely done, and hasn’t been done around here in a long, long time. That’s why I chose it,” Murphy said. “I think it will be popular with older people who remember the movie.”

“Forum” is a fast-paced physical comedy that includes outrageous puns, mistaken identities and exhausting chases with actors disguised as one other. While most musicals are written with many individual scenes, “Forum” is a physical test for the cast, with continuous action from start to finish, no scene changes, and the entire cast onstage for the majority of the show.

“It’s a great cast: they get along, they love each other, they work well together — it’s really fun,” Murphy said.

She said that Davenport, who has been with the Auburn Players since the 1970s, bring to the role of Senex a great comedic sense. “His comic timing and facial expressions are great. You’ve got to have the right timing for this production, and my leads all do,” Murphy said.

“It’s a wonderfully exciting, funny, funny, funny show,” Davenport said. “We do have a very good cast.”

Davenport retired in 1995 from Skaneateles High School. He started the drama club there, and directed his first musical, “Dinny and the Witches,” which was followed the next year by “West Side Story.”

He was helped create and was the project manager of the Dickens Christmas for five years, and strolled the streets as Mr. Dickens. However, Davenport is probably best known as the voice of the Friday Night Concerts in the gazebo at which the Skaneateles Community Band performs.

“The last time I played in [Forum] it was at the Skaneateles Playhouse in the late 60s, early 70s,” Davenport said. “

Davenport has been involved in all aspects of theatre for more than 60 years, having done productions in three colleges, four high schools, and 15 community groups, including “Appleseed,” “Theatre ’90,” and “Syracuse Morning Musicals.”

He performed as Horace Vandergelder in “Hello, Dolly,” and as Bert in “42nd Street” at Turning Stone Casino, where he was adjudicated by Louis Gosset, Jr., who remarked, “I’d like to come study with you.”

A native of Texas, Davenport portrayed the Governor of Texas in The Auburn Players’ 1985 production of “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” which was also directed by Murphy.

In addition to the play’s acting intricacies, Sondheim’s score is a challenge as well; Lori Rhodes Pettit, who is also well-known to Skaneateles-area musicians, will be a familiar face at the keyboard, and is up to the task of executing Sondheim’s multiple key changes and complex harmonies.

The Players’ production will include actors from across the CNY area, such as Ithaca, Red Creek , Syracuse, Elbridge and Skaneateles.

Auburn attorney Simon Moody in the role of Pseudolus, along with Sharon Dec as Senex’s wife Domina, Jack Sherman as Hysterium, Thad Striffler as Hero, Sarah Bradstreet as Philia, Jeff Rowe as Captain Miles Gloriosus, and Stan Gutelius as Erronius. Players’ veteran Tony Saurini will be featured in his first musical role as Marcus Lycus, a buyer and seller of beautiful women.

“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is choreographed by Anna Post, with musical direction by Stephen Stomps. Tom Hoey produced with Scenic Design by Novroz Dabu.

The show will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3 and 4, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, in the Irene A. Bisgrove Theatre at Cayuga Community College. Tickets are $14/General Admission and $12/Student/Senior Citizen, and are available at www.auburnplayers.net, or by calling 702-7832.

Comments

OldTimeLaker 1 week, 1 day ago

Mr. Davenport was bigger than life when I was a student there. He is a Skaneateles treasure! God Bless you Mr. Davenport for your passion for the arts. You have touched us all in a wonderful way! The last time I ran into you, I didn’t think you remembered me. Much to my surprise, you gave me a huge hug. You, Coach B. Miss Wickes, Mr. D and Mr. H., and all the wonderful teachers I had at SCS made me the person I am today. Thanks!