Title: A funny thing happened on the way to the forum; a musical comedy based on the plays of Plautus.
Authors: Sondheim, Stephen; Shevelove, Burt.; Shevelove, Burt.
Publisher: Dodd, Mead,
Year: 1963
Subjects: Musicals Librettos
Abstract: "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a comedy set in ancient Rome, where slaves were fashionable, virgins were regarded as objects to be conquered, and eunuchs were in abundance. The basic plot consists of a slave (Pseudolus) trying to buy his freedom from his owner, Hero, who is the son of Senex (a dirty old man) and Domina (a battle axe). Luckily for Pseudolus, Hero has fallen in love with Philia, a virgin who is waiting for Captain Miles Gloriosus to come and claim her, for she has been sold to him by the proprietor of the House of Pleasure, Marcus Lycus. Hero would give anything for Philia--anything including Pseudolus' freedom. The majority of the play revolves around Pseudolus trying to arrange for Hero and Philia to be together forever. He runs into numerous obstacles, including a hysterical Hysterium, the slave-in-chief, and a bumbling old man, Erronius, who arrives home after being abroad for 20 years searching for his children who were stolen in infancy by pirates. The ending is not entirely predictable, and it would be a shame to give it away."