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Beginning on Thursday, the Lafayette Theatre Company (LTC) is taking LaGrange back to 200 B.C. to show just how comedy musicals are done. “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”, kicks off Lafayette Theatre Company’s 22nd season with goofy slapstick, jokey songs and bawdy humor.

“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” marks the first musical LTC has put on in three years. This fast-paced production is perfect to mark the return of musicals in the LSPA Black Box Theatre.

Valerie Longshore-Sargent, director, promises a night you won’t forget.

“When in Rome, do as Romans do … laugh and have fun,” Sargent said. “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum has timeless humor and enduring jokes, accompanied by a memorable score, it has remained a cherished favorite among theatre enthusiasts for generations.”

Despite being over 60 years old, the humor remains relevant, with punny dialogue, cases of mistaken identity, and satirical comments on everything, from social class to sex. Accompanied by the works of Stephen Sondheim, the musical numbers have a blend of Broadway pizzazz with smooth melodies and hilarious innuendo. The musical’s cast follows the tradition of classical theatre but finds a way to keep it from feeling outdated.

The tale, inspired by 2000-year-old farces of ancient Roman playwright, Plautus, and written by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, follows a crafty slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to con his way to freedom by helping Hero, his master and a lovesick juvenile, win over the beautiful Philia. Issues arise when learning that Philia has been sold to Miles Gloriosus, a soldier momentarily absent from Rome. Chaos ensues as Pseudolus, desperate for a taste of freedom, plots hair-brained schemes and milks every opportunity to cheat, steal, or connive.

The show will run through Aug. 17 to Aug. 20 at the LSPA Black Box Theatre located at 214 Bull Street. Shows on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights will begin at 7:30 p.m. The Sunday show will begin at 3 p.m.

Tickets for “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and additional Lafayette Society for Performing Arts productions can be purchased by visiting their website at www.LSPArts.org or by calling the box office at (706) 882-9909 during business hours. General seating is $20 for adults and $15 for students.