A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum
Imperial Opera presents Stephen Sondheim's
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
29 Oct - 1 Nov 2003
London Oratory School Theatre, West Brompton, London
6 December 2003
The Public Hall, Budleigh Salterton, Devon
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim | Book by Burt Shevelove & Larry Gelbart | Based on the plays of Plautus
Sondheim's hilarious farce set in ancient rome tells a story of love, freedom and mistaken identities.
Tragedy tomorrow, Comedy tonight!
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is best known for being the inspiration of Up Pompeii with Frankie Howerd. It is Sondheim’s first musical but one of the least performed. Set in classical Rome, it is a musical comedy based on the comedies by the Roman playwright Plautus.
The Production Team | |
| Director | Georgina King |
| Musical Director | Anthony Davie |
Synopsis
Act One: Pseudolus, a slave, is promised his freedom by his master’s son (Hero), if he acquires the courtesan (Philia) whom Hero is in love with. Unfortunately, Philia has already been sold to a Captain (Miles Gloriosus) who will collect her later that day. Pseudolus tells Philia’s owner (Lycus), that she has the plague, and offers to look after her until the Captain comes. Hero’s father (Senex) finds Philia in his house and is told by Pseudolus that she is the new maid. Miles Gloriosus arrives and demands his bride and threatens to kill Pseudolus if he cannot produce her.
Act Two starts with Miles in Senex’s house waiting for Pseudolus to produce his bride. Pseudolus pretends that Philia has died of the plague, and persuades his fellow slave (Hysterium) to act as her body. Miles demands a funeral, during which he discovers that the body is not dead. After a chase scene and many mistaken identities, it is uncovered that Miles and Philia are brother and sister, so they cannot marry and Hero can therefore have his love, and Pseudolus his freedom.
Musical Numbers
Act One
- Overture - Orchestra
- Comedy Tonight – Prologus, the Proteans and Company
- Love, I Hear - Hero
- Free - Pseudolus and Hero
- At the House of Marcus Lycus – Lycus with Tintinabula, Panacea, The Geminae, Vibrata, Gymnasia
- Lovely - Hero and Philia
- Pretty Little Picture - Pseudolus, Hero, Philia and Company
- Everybody Ought to Have a Maid - Senex, Pseudolus, Hysterium, Lycus
- I'm Calm - Hysterium
- Impossible - Senex and Hero
- Bring Me My Bride - Miles Gloriosus, Pseudolus, and Company
Act Two
- That Dirty Old Man - Domina
- That'll Show Him - Philia
- Lovely (reprise) - Pseudolus and Hysterium
- Funeral Sequence - Pseudolus, Miles Gloriosus, and Company
- Comedy Tonight (finale) – Company