Fun Filled ‘Forum’

With A Romantic Spin

DANBURY — The communications and theatre arts department at Western Connecticut State University will present A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum in November in the Berkshire Hall Theatre located on the university’s midtown campus.

Set in ancient Rome, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a comedy depicting the lifestyle of the times when slaves were fashionable, virgins were regarded as objects to be conquered and eunuchs were in abundance.

The musical, which was the first Broadway production to boast music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, drew most of its comical situations directly from the plays of Titus Maccius Plautus (254 BC-184 BC). Hoping to give Broadway a feel of what once tickled ancient Roman audiences, writers carefully studied all 21 of Plautus’ surviving comedies and than created their own original story, drawing characters and situations freely from many of the old scripts.

The comical yet philosophical musical, being directed by Frank Petrilli will be staged at WestConn weekends, November 2-18. Curtain is Thursday through Saturday evenings; call for specific time.

$15 and non-WestConn student tickets are $12.

As an added bonus, the CTA department will welcome to the stage two Danbury High School alumni, Roy and Ginny Young, who, forty years ago, shared a kiss on stage in the high school’s production of Our Town that blossomed into a wonderful marriage. The Youngs will relive that passion in the debut performance of the WestConn production on November 3.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call the theatre box office at 837-8732.