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Presented on May 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, and 20, 2006 at the
Civic Center Little Theater.
All shows begin at 8:00 PM.
Looking for photos from the show? Click here!
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Overview
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This musical farce successfully adapts
the traditions of Roman low comedy to the 20th century
conventions of American musical theater. The raucous show has
been described as the funniest musical...ever. It originated on Broadway in
1962 with Zero Mostel as Pseudolus. A movie followed in 1966.
The latest Broadway reincarnation was in 1996 and featured Nathan Lane in
the leading role. The exuberant music and witty lyrics by Stephen
Sondheim contain such comedic lines as "bring on the lovers, liars and
clown...tragedy tomorrow, comedy tonight."
The plot follows Roman comic playright
Titus
Maccius Plautus’ modus operandi: while the Master and Mistress are away, sons and slaves will
play. This results in a farcical series of increasingly intricate
cover-ups when they return. Senex and Domina go to the countryside to visit Domina’s mother.
After their departure, their
slave Pseudolus decides to help their son Hero elope with Philia, a
virgin from Crete living in Lycas’ ‘House of Women’ next door. Meanwhile,
Pseudolus has to outsmart Hero’s parents, the slave master, Lycus, and Miles
Gloriosus, the
warrior who has already paid for Philia. Also, an old man Erronious is
desperately searching for his lost children (who by the end of
the show turn out to be Philia and Miles). Pseudolus’ continual attempts to
bring Hero and Philia together and then hide the plot result in a series of comical misadventures,
cover-ups, and twists.
The show was last produced by the Guild in
1989.
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Characters
| Character |
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Description |
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Played By |
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Pseudolus |
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A sneaky slave & prankster who
desperately wants his freedom. |
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Alan Pennington |
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Hysterium |
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The fervent leader of the slaves. |
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Bryan Archer |
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Hero
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Pseudolus’s handsome, innocent,
and kind master who is in love with Philia. |
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Jamie Olah |
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Philia |
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A lovely but air-headed courtesan from
Crete who belongs to the house of Lycus. |
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Allison Plants |
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Senex |
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An old man who is married to Domina
and father to Hero. |
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Louis Husson |
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Domina |
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Dominating wife of Senex and ruler of
the house. |
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Mary Ellen Logsdon |
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Marcus Lycus |
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The gullible buyer and seller of
courtesans. |
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Rick Fleenor |
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Miles Gloriosus |
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An arrogant but strong warrior. |
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Bill Rainey |
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Erronius |
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A feeble old man searching for his
missing son and daughter. |
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Mark Felton |
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Tintinabula |
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Dancing courtesan. |
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Brianna Olian |
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Panacea |
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Dancing courtesan. |
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Jennifer Arnold |
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Vibrata |
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Dancing courtesan. |
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Kristie Affolter |
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Geminae |
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Dancing courtesan. |
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Julie McKinney |
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Geminae |
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Dancing courtesan. |
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Olivia Morris |
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Gymnasia |
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Dancing courtesan. |
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Anna Reed |
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Protean |
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Dancing, tumbling, juggling, and generally entertaining performer. |
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Caroline Chamness |
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Protean |
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Dancing, tumbling, juggling, and generally entertaining performer. |
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Tim Whitener |
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Protean |
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Dancing, tumbling, juggling, and generally entertaining performer. |
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L. Shawn Coleman |
Production
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For the Guild:
Direction by Nina Denton Pasinetti; Musical Direction by Bobby Hodges.
Original Broadway Production: Book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart; Music
and lyrics by Stephen
Sondheim (1962).
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