A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Difference between revisions

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[[Stephen Sondheim]] wrote a [[Farce]] [[Musical]] based on the plays of [[Plautus|Titus Maccius Plautus]]. Set in [[Ancient Rome]], it's about a slave, Pseudolus (Greek, "false liar"), helping his master's son woo The [[Girl Next Door]] in exchange for his freedom. Along the way they get involved with the affairs of the houses on either side of them: one is a "house of ill repute" run by Marcus Lycus; the other the home of an old near-sighted man named Erronius (Latin ''errare'', "to wander" or "to make a mistake").
[[Stephen Sondheim]] wrote a [[Farce]] [[Musical]] based on the plays of [[Plautus|Titus Maccius Plautus]]. Set in [[Ancient Rome]], it's about a slave, Pseudolus (Greek, "false liar"), helping his master's son woo The [[Girl Next Door]] in exchange for his freedom. Along the way they get involved with the affairs of the houses on either side of them: one is a "house of ill repute" run by Marcus Lycus; the other the home of an old near-sighted man named Erronius (Latin ''errare'', "to wander" or "to make a mistake").


Many [[Incredibly Lame Pun|Incredibly Lame Puns]] appear in the names of the neighbors alone: Domina (Latin, "Lady," "female master"), the [[My Beloved Smother|Beloved Smother]], [[Henpecked Husband]] Senex (Latin, "old man"), the son named Hero, panic-prone slave Hysterium, aforementioned error-prone old man Erronius, love interest Philia (Greek, "love, friendship"), and [[Miles Gloriosus]] (Latin, "boastful soldier" and the title of a play by [[Plautus]]) the general. He provides the main romantic competition, since Philia is a [[High Class Call Girl|Bride for Sale]] and he has just bought her. Meanwhile, Erronius trots around trying to find his lost children, who were stolen in infancy (by pirates!) but are recognizeable by an [[Orphan's Plot Trinket]]. And the only reason any of this can happen is because Senex and Domina are off visiting her mother, thus giving Pseudolus and Hero the run of the neighborhood... but Senex finds an excuse to come home and, err, ogle the merchandise, with his wife in hot pursuit (that's for those of you who have no interest in pirates). Of course, [[Hilarity Ensues]].
Many [[Incredibly Lame Pun|Incredibly Lame Puns]] appear in the names of the neighbors alone: Domina (Latin, "Lady," "female master"), the [[My Beloved Smother|Beloved Smother]], [[Henpecked Husband]] Senex (Latin, "old man"), the son named Hero, panic-prone slave Hysterium, aforementioned error-prone old man Erronius, love interest Philia (Greek, "love, friendship"), and [[Miles Gloriosus]] (Latin, "boastful soldier" and the title of a play by [[Plautus]]) the general. He provides the main romantic competition, since Philia is a [[High-Class Call Girl|Bride for Sale]] and he has just bought her. Meanwhile, Erronius trots around trying to find his lost children, who were stolen in infancy (by pirates!) but are recognizeable by an [[Orphan's Plot Trinket]]. And the only reason any of this can happen is because Senex and Domina are off visiting her mother, thus giving Pseudolus and Hero the run of the neighborhood... but Senex finds an excuse to come home and, err, ogle the merchandise, with his wife in hot pursuit (that's for those of you who have no interest in pirates). Of course, [[Hilarity Ensues]].


The play opened in 1962, and did well enough to spawn a film (1966) and many revivals. The film was directed by Richard Lester and starred Zero Mostel as Pseudolus (reprising his part from the Broadway production), Phil Silvers as Marcus Lycus (the proprietor of the whorehouse), and [[Buster Keaton]] as Erronius in his final film role. The stage version has featured, among others, Zero Mostel, Nathan Lane, Whoopi Goldberg and [[Gary Chalk]].
The play opened in 1962, and did well enough to spawn a film (1966) and many revivals. The film was directed by Richard Lester and starred Zero Mostel as Pseudolus (reprising his part from the Broadway production), Phil Silvers as Marcus Lycus (the proprietor of the whorehouse), and [[Buster Keaton]] as Erronius in his final film role. The stage version has featured, among others, Zero Mostel, Nathan Lane, Whoopi Goldberg and [[Gary Chalk]].
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* [[Brainless Beauty]]: Philia, being an [[Affectionate Parody]] of [[The Ingenue]] and [[Purity Personified]].
* [[Brainless Beauty]]: Philia, being an [[Affectionate Parody]] of [[The Ingenue]] and [[Purity Personified]].
** And to a lesser extent, Hero. He's usually portrayed as a quite handsome young man who's rather lacking in the brains department.
** And to a lesser extent, Hero. He's usually portrayed as a quite handsome young man who's rather lacking in the brains department.
* [[Breaking the Fourth Wall]]: Pseudolus does this a few times.
* [[Breaking the Fourth Wall]]: Pseudolus does this a few times.
** The song "Comedy Tonight" is addressed directly to the audience, and is about the show itself.
** The song "Comedy Tonight" is addressed directly to the audience, and is about the show itself.
* [[Brick Joke]]: At one point, Pseudolus disguises himself as a soothsayer and tells Erronius he is under a curse and must run seven times around the seven hills of Rome to end it, so that they can hide someone in his house. He's seen running in the background of several scenes. Eventually, he runs into the rest of the cast, and it is revealed that {{spoiler|Miles Gloriosus and Philia are his son and daughter, so they can't marry}}. Then in the last scene Eronnius counts on his fingers, shrugs, and keeps running. Fade to black.
* [[Brick Joke]]: At one point, Pseudolus disguises himself as a soothsayer and tells Erronius he is under a curse and must run seven times around the seven hills of Rome to end it, so that they can hide someone in his house. He's seen running in the background of several scenes. Eventually, he runs into the rest of the cast, and it is revealed that {{spoiler|Miles Gloriosus and Philia are his son and daughter, so they can't marry}}. Then in the last scene Eronnius counts on his fingers, shrugs, and keeps running. Fade to black.
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* [[Covert Pervert]]: Hysterium and his [[Porn Stash|pottery collection]].
* [[Covert Pervert]]: Hysterium and his [[Porn Stash|pottery collection]].
* [[Cute Mute]]: Gymnasia, mostly with Pseudolus. If you overlook the fact she's actually a tall [[Hot Amazon]] more physically fit and proficient with weapons than the entire cast...
* [[Cute Mute]]: Gymnasia, mostly with Pseudolus. If you overlook the fact she's actually a tall [[Hot Amazon]] more physically fit and proficient with weapons than the entire cast...
* [[Cut Song]]: "Love is in the Air", "Invocation", and "The House of Marcus Lycus", amongst others -- some are included as underscoring, or added to revivals.
* [[Cut Song]]: "Love is in the Air", "Invocation", and "The House of Marcus Lycus", amongst others -- some are included as underscoring, or added to revivals.
* [[Deus Ex Machina]]: Not in the literal sense (sadly), but Erronius just shows up at the end and solves everyone's problems (including his own) completely by accident. Legendary comedian [[Buster Keaton]] played him in the movie so that they could have bits of physical comedy with him throughout.
* [[Deus Ex Machina]]: Not in the literal sense (sadly), but Erronius just shows up at the end and solves everyone's problems (including his own) completely by accident. Legendary comedian [[Buster Keaton]] played him in the movie so that they could have bits of physical comedy with him throughout.
* [[Dirty Old Man]]: Senex. Domina even sings a song about him with that exact title.
* [[Dirty Old Man]]: Senex. Domina even sings a song about him with that exact title.
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* [[Henpecked Husband]]: Senex.
* [[Henpecked Husband]]: Senex.
* [[Heterosexual Life Partners]]: Pseudolus and Hysterium.
* [[Heterosexual Life Partners]]: Pseudolus and Hysterium.
* [[High Class Call Girl]]: The courtesans.
* [[High-Class Call Girl]]: The courtesans.
* [[Hot Amazon]]: In many productions, Gymnasia is a scary dominatrix with a whip who towers over the rest of the cast — and that's exactly why Pseudolus wants her so bad.
* [[Hot Amazon]]: In many productions, Gymnasia is a scary dominatrix with a whip who towers over the rest of the cast — and that's exactly why Pseudolus wants her so bad.
** While in the movie version Gymnasia's [[Fetish Fuel Station Attendant]] tendencies are toned down, she's still a towering blonde amazon (as Inga Neilsen, her actress [http://www.fanpix.net/gallery/inga-neilsen-pictures.htm stands 5'9'' tall, almost 190 cm, more than the entire cast]), shows an uncanny proficience with weapon and a strong personality to boot. Her skimpy Amazon dress helps too.
** While in the movie version Gymnasia's [[Fetish Fuel Station Attendant]] tendencies are toned down, she's still a towering blonde amazon (as Inga Neilsen, her actress [http://www.fanpix.net/gallery/inga-neilsen-pictures.htm stands 5'9'' tall, almost 190 cm, more than the entire cast]), shows an uncanny proficience with weapon and a strong personality to boot. Her skimpy Amazon dress helps too.
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