The Farmingdale High School Playcrafters will present the musical comedy A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21 and 22, at 8 p.m. The 110th show directed and designed by Mr. Ken Ulric at FHS, Forum has a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, and its music and lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim. The plot is twisted enough to appeal to anyone's sense of humor, young, old, male, female, alive or dead. Yes, it might make your dead relatives turn over in their graves with laughter!

The story takes place on a street in Rome, around three houses. The first house is the house of Erronius (Gonzalo Monroy), a befuddled old man abroad in search of his children who were stolen in infancy by pirates.

The second house is the house of Marcus Lycus (Evan Loewenstein), a man whose stock in trade is beautiful women, for "those ... with no interest in pirates."

Finally, the third house is the house of Senex (Alex MacDonald), who lives with his overbearing wife, Domina (Alyson Gordon), his dim-witted son, Hero (Greg Padden), and his two slaves, Hysterium (Ed Cress) and Pseudolus (Alex Costello).

Pseudolus, the slave who cannot stand to be a slave, finally finds a way to free himself when his master, Hero, falls in love with a woman from the House of Lycus. Pseudolus strikes a deal with Hero in which he will be set free if he gets Hero his love, Philia (Jessica Carvo). This is easier said than done, for it is not a simple case of boyish nervousness that is keeping Hero and Philia apart, but the great Captain Miles Gloriosus (Paul Bergerson), to whom Philia has been promised. All Pluto breaks loose when Miles Gloriosus comes for Philia, and every classic comic trick ever written is used to move the plot along: chases, mistaken identities, songs, dances, and even a mock funeral.

The cast has been working diligently since mid-September perfecting the madcap and lightning quick timing necessary to make a farce-like "Forum" work. The set, with three fully-functional two story houses, was built by the hard-working stage crew, and the pit orchestra, under the direction of Ms. Michelle Lindsley, plays music that supports the antics on stage. If one element doesn't appeal to you (the acting, the music, or the set), then one of the other three is bound to excite and entertain you.

The first musical to be performed in the newly refurbished Kenneth M. Ulric Theater (dedicated this past spring to Mr. Ulric) is sure to be a hit. There is a little of something for everyone in this show: pantaloons, tunics, funerals, chases, baritones, and basses.

Tickets are available now by calling the high school at 752-6600 and cost $4 for adults and $3 for students. Additionally, the Breakfast Rotary Club will be sponsoring a dinner theater presentation of Forum on Friday evening, which will cost $20 for both dinner and admission to the show. These tickets may be reserved by calling 752-6665.

So reinforce your sides and come see "a comedy tonight" at Farmingdale High School on Nov. 21 and 22 at 8 p.m. - and be prepared to laugh at one of the funniest musicals ever written!