WHAT: “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”

WHEN: at 8 p.m. May 3, 4, 5 and 10, 11, 12; at 2 p.m. May 6 & 13

WHERE: Norway Grange on Whitman Street

TICKETS: $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and children under 12. Tickets available at Books N Things, 430 Main St., Norway

CALL: 739-6200.

Courtesans. Slaves. Uproarious antics. Must be ‘Forum.’

NORWAY – Once is not enough. A good show brings people back time after time, and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is one of those shows.

Full of outrageous and uproarious situations, “Forum” is a wild and bawdy musical comedy about ancient (but somehow quite familiar) Rome.

Oxford Hill Music and Performing Arts Association will stage this delightful Stephen Sondheim farce at the Norway Grange Hall May 3-13.

The convoluted storyline revolves around the antics of Pseudolus, a slave who will do absolutely anything to obtain his freedom from his owners, hen-pecked Senex and wife Domina. Hero, their son, says he will secretly help if Pseudolus will introduce him to Philia, the beautiful virgin courtesan next door.

Scott Maddix plays Pseudolous while Steve Sessions and Cindy Reedy assume the husband and wife roles. Brandon Sukeforth and Erin Houle portray the young lovers.

Houle, who is also the show’s choreographer, is making her on-stage debut. Both Maddix and Sukeforth are also undertaking their first major roles for OHMPAA.

Although Pseudolus arranges a meeting between the two lovers, brothel owner Marcus Lycus, played by Elton Cole, has already promised Philia to Miles Gloriosus, a military captain portrayed by newcomer Tom McFarlane.

When Miles comes to collect the girl, even more complications arise.

Pseudolus hoodwinks Hysterium, another slave who is played by Chris Alberi, to help with further schemes involving an abduction, an imaginary plague, a corpse in drag and plots that also involve Erroneous, a befuddled old man played by Tom Littlefield.

“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is filled with side-splitting humor, excruciating puns and a riotous chase scene at the end.

Also in the cast are Jessica Church, Robin Priest, Jennifer Mason, Kathryn Gardner, Leah Haney and Stephanie Woodworth, who play the courtesans. David Sanborn, Jon Potter, Dennis Twitchell, and Kyle Martin are Roman Proteans.

Judy Foster is credited with producing some remarkable costumes for the show.

A huge success on Broadway, “Forum” has become a favorite among community theaters. The role of huckster-extraordinaire Pseudolus has been played on Broadway and in film by Zero Mostel, Nathan Lane and Phil Silvers, all of whom earned a Best Actor Tony Award. Whoopi Goldberg and Jason Alexander have also played the role.

OHMPAA’s cast of 19 has been rehearsing under the direction of Kenn Sawyer since late January.

“Forum” is one of his favorite musical comedies, said Sawyer. “I like it. I like the music. It’s my kind of show with its fast pace, mistaken identities, comings and goings. It is so funny that what is supposed to be sexy turns out to be just plain ridiculous.”

Probably the best known of the songs in “Forum” is the opening number, “Comedy Tonight.”

One of the funniest numbers is “Everybody Ought to Have a Maid,” with its tongue-in-cheek political incorrectness and its series of encore choruses.

“Forum” is proving to be excellent training for some of the area’s younger performers, said co-producer Jeff Orwig, noting that Chris Alberi, who plays Hysterius, is an eighth-grader.

“He has wonderful instincts,” Orwig said. “He has no fear. He’s willing to try anything.”

Another eighth-grader is playing trombone in the orchestra, Orwig added.

According to him, 38 young people auditioned for the 20 parts in OHMPAA’s all-under-18 production of “Cinderella’s Glass Slipper” coming in late June.