Bigfork Playhouse Children's Theatre presents a musical comedy ‘When in Rome ...’
Actors rehearse for Bigfork Playhouse Children's Theatre's production of "When in Rome." (Courtesy photo)
The Bigfork Playhouse Children's Theatre travels back to ancient Rome in its latest production of the musical comedy “When in Rome ...”
The play opens Jan. 31 and features young talents in grades second through sixth.
“When in Rome ...” follows the antics of three mischievous peasant thieves Gladius (played by Renzo Spencer), Minimus (Lincoln Melzer), and Julia (Lucy Ford), who sneak into the royal palace disguised as handmaidens.
Gladius is smitten with the beautiful princess (Sawyer Osterday) and simply must catch another glimpse of her. They are promptly caught in a hilarious scene, almost becoming lion food until the princess gets an idea. She must marry soon, but almost all the senators and other men of the city, except the repulsive Senator Altilis (Everett Feliciano), are away at war. If she can’t find a suitable match, her father has decreed she must marry the last gladiator standing in the upcoming games.
That’s the last thing this intelligent but headstrong feminist leader wants. Meanwhile, Senator Altilis is deviously plotting to get her out of the empire’s affairs by moving the date of the gladiator games up, burdening the princess with having to plan her dreaded wedding. This is where Gladius comes in.
The princess schemes to train Gladius to compete in the games so she can avoid marrying Brudis (Noble Lancaster), the brainless brute favored to win. The only hitch? Gladius has to win, which the princess realizes is easier said than done once the training begins.
This eclectic musical will knock your togas off with songs like the peasants’ comical “I Could Be Royalty," the Broadway-style "Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day," the muses’ rousing "Last Gladiator Standing" and Gladius’s hysterical “I’m Gonna Die."
Performances start at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31, Feb. 1, Feb. 7 and Feb. 8. A 2 p.m. matinee is scheduled Feb. 2. Performances will be held at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts, 526 Electric Ave.
Ticket prices are $15.25 for adults, $13.25 for seniors, $11.25 for students and $11.25 for children, which includes ticket service fees. Tickets may be purchased at the box office before the show or online at bigforksummerplayhouse.com.