Music & Lyrics By Stephen Sondheim

Book by Burt Shevelove & Larry Gelbart

Originally Produced on Broadway by Harold Prince

 
Pseudolus Nigel Holloway
Senex Mike Gaccon
Domina Janet Holloway
Hero Adam Pitt
Hysterium Ruairidh MacLeod-Lyon
Philia Emma-Jane Goodwin
Marcus Lycus John Tomala
Erronius David Wakeford
Miles Gloriousus Neil Davies
Proteans & Soldiers Tony Hill, James Osbourne & Emrys Jones
Female Slaves Sara Viney, Elizabeth Tomala, Angie Dymott, Rachael Jones & Pippa Hopkins
Eunuch Emrys Jones
Tintinabula Kindre Morgan
Panacea Laura Woods
Gemini 1 Ceri Hawkins
Gemini 2 Rhiannon Rose
Vibrata Catherine Harris
Gymnasia Rhonwen Buckland
   

 

Pseudolus and Hysterium backstage

 

Synopsis

Pseudolus, a slave, is promised his freedom by his master's son Hero, if he acquires the courtesan Philia whom Hero is in love with. Unfortunately, Philia has already been sold to a Captain, Miles Gloriosus, who will collect her later that day. Pseudolus tells Philia's owner, Lycus, that she has the plague and offers to look after her until Miles comes. Miles arrives and demands his bride and threatens to kill Pseudolus if he cannot produce her. But Pseudolus pretends that Philia has died of the plague and persuades his fellow slave Hysterium to act as her body. During Philia's funeral Miles discovers that the body is not dead. After a chase scene and many mistaken identities, it is uncovered that Miles and Philia are brother and sister, so they cannot marry. Hero can therefore have his love, and Pseudolus his freedom.