Thank Plautus For Comedy

Titus Maccius Plautus was the most influential of Roman Comedy writers and the foundation that he invented is still very much an influence in today's comic world. From Broadway plays to television sitcoms, some of the comic conventions that he created are accepted today as stock comic characters.

The intent of the writers, Burt Shevelove, Larry Gelbart and Stephen Sondheim, was to mine the riches of the ancient writer's plays and create a new musical based on them. The result was of 'A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum' , which opened on Broadway in 1962 and ran for 964 performances.

From the programme from this 'Alan Borthwick and Friends' production.

I love Forum and I really enjoy the Borthwick productions so this one is a belter. The audience last night may not have been large but they were certainly enjoying the show. Belly laughs all over the auditorium. Joy!