A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart.

Characters

• Pseudolus – A Roman slave, owned by Hero, who seeks to win his freedom by helping his young master win the heart of a virgin in the house of Marcus Lycus.
• Hero – Young son of Senex who falls in love with the virgin, Philia.
• Philia – A virgin in the house of Marcus Lycus, and Hero's love interest.
• Senex – A Roman Senator living in a less fashionable suburb of Rome.
• Marcus Lycus – A purveyor of courtesans, who operates from the house to the left of Senex.
• Domina – The wife of Senex.
• Erronius – The elderly neighbor to the right of Senex who is searching for his two children, kidnapped in infancy by pirates.
• Gymnasia – A mute courtesan from the house of Senex.
• Miles Gloriosus – A conceited captain in the Roman army.
• Hysterium – The chief slave in the house of Senex.
• Fertilla the Populator – A female "Breeding Slave".
• Crassus – A merchant at the docks.
• Tintinabula – A courtesan in the house of Lycus.
• Vibratta – A courtesan in the house of Lycus.
• Gemini – Twin courtesans in the house of Lycus.
• Panacea – A courtesan in the house of Lycus.
• Domina's Mother – Senex's whip-wielding mother-in-law.