top of page

1969 - 1970

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

The plot of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum concerns the efforts of a wily slave, Pseudolus, to win his freedom by procuring the beautiful but vapid courtesan Philia (a virgin) for his master, Hero (also a virgin). Only these two walking anachronisms could sing "Lovely" and actually mean it. Pseudolus' plans are hindered somewhat by Hero's father, Senex, who is himself smitten by Philia, but Senex has to admit that with love, at his age, sometimes it's just "Impossible". This sentiment is echoed by his wife Domina in the haunting lovesong "That Dirty Old Man".


As if that weren't enough, Philia is betrothed to Miles Gloriosus, a macho warrior, whose ode to love is "Bring Me My Bride". By the way, Philia was purchased sight unseen from the local dealer in courtesans, Marcus Lycus, who guarantees that she is untouched by human hands (and that includes the eunuchs). Infinitely more accessible are his other courtesans Panacea, Vibrata, Gymnasia, Tintinabula and the Geminae. These lovely ladies are real crowd pleasers and nobody is more pleased than Pseudolus, who dreams of buying one when he is finally "Free". Poor faithful Hero only wants Philia and so the plot continues.


To put Philia out of the running, Pseudolus concocts a plot that she is suffering from the plague, and blackmails Hysterium into aiding and abetting. Macho Miles arrives to claim his bride. Panic, chases and life-threatening situations ensue. The entire fiasco is finally saved by Erronius, a doddering old man who has just walked around the seven hills of Rome seven times, and the evening ends with "something for everyone - a comedy tonight".


Dramatic Director: Bob Gardiner

Musical Director: Rod Holmes

Choregrapher: Denise Smith

Cast

Adrian Sly

Marcus Lycus

Ann Challen

Domina

Barry Stewart

Pseudolus

Bob Machacek

Soldier

Carol Hill

Tintinabula

Cathy Patton

Philia

Ed Yeatman

Soldier

Eleanor Kulin

Gymnasia

Ian Fellows

Erronius

Jack Wallace

The Protean

Janice Fraser

Panacea

Len Morin

Miles Gloriosus

Lorri Winges

A Gemini

Mary Ellen McAdam

Vibrata

Norman Osborne

Senex

Richard Elichuk

Hysterium

Suzanne Fuchs

A Gemini

Tom Kemeny

Soldier

Vern Fraser

The Protean

York Davis

Hero

Production

Bernie Smith

Workshop Chairman, Programme

Beryl Elliot

Hair Stylist

Bill Steen

Stage Manager

David Goddard

Audio and Sound Effects

Ed Yeatman

Cover Design

Faye Lavell

Ticket Manager

Gordon Kennedy

Lighting Designer

Jacques Labelle

Assistant Stage Manager

Jean Haynes

Production Assistant

John Powell

Social Chairman

Ken Woolley

Audio and Sound Effects

Liliane Winter

Canteen

Lorna Rice

Accompanist

Marcel Carriere

Production Co-ordinator

Marian Jackson Wylie

Costume Designer

Marion Lemmon

Properties

Mark Brooks

Ticket Assistant

Marylin Day

Assistant to the Director, Prompter

Nancy Turner

Programme

Peter Cooper

Set Designer

Ray Amey

House Manager

Rick Matheson

Publicity

Sis Bower

Wardrobe Mistress

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
bottom of page