Ever searching for fun things to do, we purchased tickets to the show, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”. This musical comedy play is put on by the Reston Community Players at the Leila Gordon Theatre at the Reston Community Center in Reston. We attended the May 24, 2026, performance.
There were several songs during the production accompanied by the Forum Orchestra.
The music and lyrics were by Stephen Sondheim. A film with the same name was released in 1966. Initially, the storyline was inspired by the ancient playwright Plautus, (251-183 BC).
Reviewing the Play
Although I heard of the movie, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”, I never saw the movie or the play.
The play opens with a singing of the song, “Comedy Tonight” which is a lively number.
The plot begins in the city of ancient Rome. I liked the set designs of the homes. The homes had doors which opened and shut. There was also an area where the actors could enter and say their lines from the “second story balcony”.
It is the tale of a boy who falls in love with the girl next door. However, this girl is owned by a slave trader who has already sold her to a Roman warrior. The story goes on, that the boy’s slave offers to get him the gal he wants if he gets his freedom. The boy is too young to make his own deal with the slave trader.
This is where misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and comedy errors begin. The powerful assume they will get what they want, but this play has odd twists with the discovery of an unexpected brother and sister.
Ending Notes on To The Forum
All in all, I enjoyed and songs and the play,” It Happened on the Way to the Forum”. Now and then, the character Erronius would tread across the stage with a cane which brought the theater to laughter as he did laps and sought out his long-lost daughter and son.
I also enjoyed the singing, dancing and comedy antics of the courtesans mostly clad in green fabric. Of note is that in ancient Rome the color green symbolized growth, fertility and nature. Online research shows, this color is, also, associated with Venus, goddess of love.
During the play’s intermission a snack bar is set up near the theater for donations. So, it was announced that any money collected is used towards theater scholarships.
As usual, any audio or video recording of this production is strictly prohibited. Tickets are reasonably priced and they even have a senior citizen discount.
Thanks everyone for a job well done and for the laughs. I hope to see Once Upon a Mattress in October of 2026.
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