Shameless, that’s what I am, shameless.

A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to The Forum opens on Tuesday 13 June at The Citizens’ Theatre, Glasgow. It’s spectacularly funny and you should buy a ticket this instant.

Think of it as a proto-Carry-on-Up-Pompeii… It literally was the prototype for Up Pompeii, and starred Frankie Howerd in the London stage version. Ooh Missus.

It’s wall-to-wall with high-camp and low comedy. Features a script by M*A*S*H writer Larry Gelbart (and Bert Shevlove, who didn’t write for M*A*S*H but evidently was still very funny), and some surprisingly catchy songs by the generally-dissonant Stephen Sondheim.

And, well missus, you don’t get many of them to the pound.

There’s a frankly ridiculous plot: the slave, Pseudolus who wants his freedom; the lovers, Hero and Philia, who want each other; the great general, Miles Gloriosus, who wants Philia too; Domina, Hero’s mother, who likes the look of Miles; Senex, Hero’s father, who is generally trying to escape from Domina. Missing virgins, confused potions, cunning disguises, mistakes, fakes, rhymes, crimes… Comedy ensues, generally.

In case that doesn’t ding your dong: the cast is very talented and I’m assistant directing (which generally involves trying to sneak as many cheap gags past the proper director as possible).

You’ll titter, I promise. Ooh, yes madam, titter you will!

Alright, please yourselves.