Category Archives: The Romans

We’ll talk about tragedy tomorrow and comedy tonight. Okay, we’ll really talk about tragedy next week and comedy today. Yes, this is the source for Sondheim’s Pseudolus, and if you already know A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, this play should have a familiar feel to you. I also found thisContinue reading “Roman Comedy IV: Plautus’s Pseudolus, or Is “Comedy Tonight” Stuck In Your Head, Too?”

You may know Miles Gloriosus as the braggart soldier in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. This play is the source material for that character. Discussion Prompts What other plays does this remind you of? Why? If you were directing this play, where/when would you set it? Why? Who would beContinue reading “Roman Comedy II: Plautus’s Miles Gloriosus, or That Soldier from Funny Thing… Forum’s Backstory”

Welcome to Roman Comedy! We don’t know much about Plautus, including the dates of many of his plays. Cistellaria, or the Casket Play, might be the oldest. Or it might not. But it’s as good of a place to start as any, so that’s where we’ll start. Discussion Prompts How would you update this playContinue reading “Roman Comedy I: Plautus’s Cistellaria, or Maybe Plautus’s Oldest Play?”