The Rest is striking back

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a 1962 Stephen Sondheim Broadway musical based on a

- ANDREW SHENG

 

Roman farce by Plautus (254–184 BC), that became a 1966 musical movie by Richard Lester. The story is about a Roman slave named Pseudolus, who tried to win his freedom by persuading his owner Hero to win the heart of Philia (the girl next door), who is promised to Roman soldier Miles Gloriosus. The show became a great success when Stephen Sondheim changed the opening song, “Love is in the Air” to “Comedy Tonight”, showing how romance is better sold as comedy.

The musical enjoyed various reruns, including a Cantonese version that was staged in Hong Kong in 2009.

I was reminded of this raunchy farce when watching the latest G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on YouTube. Indian Prime Minister Modi set the tone by reminding all the G20 Foreign Ministers that India’s G20 theme this year is “One Earth, One Family, One Future”. He noted that “no group can claim global leadership without listening to those most affected by its decisions.” The NATO G20 members were clearly not listening, because there was no agreement on a joint communique that demanded a condemnation of the Russian invasion. The Western G20 members were so indignant about their righteous stance that they broke the first rule of all gracious hosts. Guests do not go to parties with an open condemnation of other guests, and hosts want their party to be a great success of unity and harmony. The Rest came to realize that after the West disposes of their identified existential threats, they will be next.