A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Musical) Plot & Characters

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Overview

Synopsis

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a fast-paced farce that promises to have audiences rolling on the floor. Taking straight from the roots of comedy, Forum combines the ancient comedies of Plautus with a vaudevillian delivery. Pseudolus schemes to win the heart of the beautiful virgin, Phelia, for his young master, Hero. In exchange, Hero will grant Pseudolus his freedom once and for all. However, things are never as easy as they seem. Chaos ensues with hair-brained schemes, cases of mistaken identity, slamming doors and convoluted plot twists. One of the funniest musicals ever written, Forum promises: “Something for everyone: a comedy tonight!”

Show Information

Book: Larry Gelbart , Burt Shevelove

Music: Stephen Sondheim

Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim

Category: Musical

Age Guidance: Thirteen Plus (PG-13)

Number of Acts: 2

First Produced: 1962

Genres: Comedy, Farce, Romance

Settings: Unit/Single Set

Time & Place: 8th century bc

Cast Size: large

Orchestra Size: Medium

Dancing: Musical Staging

Licensor: Music Theatre International

Ideal For: College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, High School, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Late Teen, Elderly Characters

Lead Characters

Hero

Lead, Male, Tenor

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Pseudolus (Also Prologus)

Lead, Male, Baritone

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Philia

Lead, Female, Soprano

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

View all characters in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Context

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum opened on Broadway on May 8, 1962, at the Alvin Theatre. It transferred to the Mark Hellinger Theatre and subsequently the Majestic Theatre, where it closed on August 29, 1964. The original cast featured Zero Mostel (Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof; Max Bialystock in the original film, The Producers) as Pseudolus, David Burns (original Horace Vandergelder in Hello Dolly on Broadway) as Senex, and John Carradine (Casy in the film _The Grapes of

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Plot

PROLOGUE

Prologus enters, welcoming the audience to the theatre: a temple to worship the gods of comedy and tragedy. He assured the audience that tonight's presentation will be a comedy, and then goes on to explain the specifics of what is about to ensue (“Comedy Tonight”). Prologus and the Proteans perform bits of pantomime, until the curtains open to reveal the set. Prologus introduces the characters and the setting. On a street in Rome sits three homes in a row: the houses of

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Characters

Name	Part Size	Gender	Vocal Part
Hero	Lead	Male	Tenor
Pseudolus (Also Prologus)	Lead	Male	Baritone
Philia	Lead	Female	Soprano
Hysterium	Supporting	Male	Baritone
Senex	Supporting	Male	Baritone
Domina	Supporting	Female	Mezzo-Soprano
Marcus Lycus	Supporting	Male	Baritone
Miles Gloriosus	Supporting	Male	Bass
Erronius	Featured	Male	Spoken
Gymnasia	Featured	Female	Silent
Tintinabula	Featured	Female	Silent
Vibrata	Featured	Female	Silent
The Geminae	Featured	Female	Silent
Panacea	Featured	Female	Silent
The Proteans	Ensemble	Either Gender	Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.