The Lion's Roar/Tamara Alexander
Recent music student graduate Allison Joiner (left) will appear as Gymnasia with
Benjamin Vollentine (right) as Pseudolus. The two rehearsed alongside
the  rest of the cast in preparation for the laugh-inducing production.

People that do not see “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” will miss a slave in his comic quest to acquire a virgin to help him gain his freedom. Yeah, you read that correctly. 

A closed mouth does not get fed, nothing comes to a sleeper but a dream and…a slave that’s not a good match maker doesn’t get freed. No, that’s not right. It’s…a virgin that doesn’t help slaves never prospers. That doesn’t sound right either. Take three.  

“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is a Broadway musical written in 1962. Though written years ago, the characters, plot and humor are timeless. The play is centered around the experience of Pseudolus, a slave whose only hope to be freed is by setting up his young master, Hero, with the beautiful virgin who lives next door. 

As funny as that may sound, even on paper, “reading the plot synopsis is no substitute for seeing a play” said musical director Charles Effler. 

Effler, who has been a part of Southeastern’s family for over 15 years, is now working on this particular musical for the third time now.

“I decided to mount it again because the show is so funny,” said Effler. 

This production, presented by Southeastern’s Opera/Music Theatre Workshop, a program focused on giving student performers functional training and on-stage experience, will be as much fun for the audience as it has been for the university’s student stars.

Rob Roy, the Southeastern student acting out the role of Miles Gloriosus, believes just deciding what will go into each scene has already made it one of the most fun experiences when being able to act. 

“I cannot think of a show I have been in where I’ve had nearly as much fun just figuring out how we are going to do scenes than this one,” said Roy.

Roy describes his character as a sort of antagonist as he adds to Pseudolus’ hardships in earning his freedom by making Hero’s eye-candy his fiancé. For those that love sly innuendos and maybe some not so sly, this show may really steal your heart. 

“It gets pretty raunchy, definitely the most risqué show I’ve been in,” says Roy.      

“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1963. Since then, the script has been done and done again, winning more awards along the way. But nothing beats the charm of Southern acting.

“What makes this show different from any other are the interpretations the cast has for their individual characters and also, how those characters interact with each other on stage,” said Nicholas Smith, who played in Southeastern’s production of Sweeney Todd last year. 

This year he plays Hysterium, who according to Smith “always seems to be caught in Pseudolus’ mischief.” 

This Broadway musical is being brought to the Columbia Theatre, September 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase.

Effler says there is a happy ending for all. 

“Come see the show to laugh out loud for about two hours, because everybody needs that now and then,” says Effler.