New Review of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"

Have you ever laughed so hard that you pee your tunica? I had that happen when I saw, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum". I walked over early in the morning and had Grumio cook me some food, because the play lasted all day. I noticed that a sign said Plautus’ play was in the open-aired theatre, not the Odeon (the roofed theatre). I saw that Priscus was the editor and thought he wanted to gain political popularity, and I was right. I filed in and sat in the ema cavea not the orchestra. Priscus said two famous actors, Actius and Sorex, were on the scaena, stage. He sat down and the play began. The House of Senex, the House of Marcus Lycus, and the Ancient House of Erronius were the setting. The House of Senex holds Senex, Domina, Hero, Hysterium and Pseudolus. The House of Marcus Lycus has a couple…well more than a couple of women. The Ancient House of Erronius doesn’t have anyone living there because he is abroad looking for his children who were captured. Senex and Domina are going on a trip, leaving Hero, Pseudolus, and Hysterium. Hero confronted Pseudolus and told him he loves a girl in the House of Marcus Lycus. Pseudolus, having nothing to do, helps Hero get love, and his reward for helping is freedom. They go to Marcus Lycus’ in search for the young maiden. Unfortunately, she was sold. Pseudolus told Marcus Lycus there was a plague on Crete. Marcus Lycus agrees that Pseudolus should isolate Philia. About right here, it was mid afternoon and it was hot! Thank the Gods though, they had sailors pull the awning and the attendents sprinkled us with water. Hero and Philia fell in love, but she’s got to honor her contract with the general. Pseudolus thinks they should make a potion to knock her out, so Hero can stow away on a ship with her. Pseudolus told Philia to wait until she heard three knocks. Senex comes back and knocks three times. Philia unknowingly goes down and offers herself to Senex. Senex accepted, but first had to bath. Then Erronius returned from his journey and wanted to go inside his house. Hysterium warned Erronius there was a ghost inside. Erronius wanted a Soothsayer to banish it and give him wisdom. Pseudolus acted like a Soothsayer and told him to run the Seven Hills of Rome. Senex wanted to please Philia, the general is coming, and Hero wants to run away with Philia. Pseudolus then tricked Hysterium to dress like a dead Philia. When the general heard of her “death” he wanted to have a funeral but found out that it was not a she. The general’s and Marcus Lycus’ men started fighting. Erronius comes during the fight and sees the general and Philia with the same, “Gaggle of Geese”, which means the general and Philia are his. Philia married Hero and Pseudolus got his freedom. It was a great play.

Your Friend in Latin,
Quintus (Aulus)

Bibliography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Funny_Thing_Happened_on_the_Way_to_the_Forum