A zany ensemble cast has transformed Whidbey Playhouse to a place and time when wacky slaves schemed elaborately, eunuchs and courtesans walked hand-in-hand, warriors bullied plebeians, people brewed potions, pirates stole babies and men were men — except when they were women.

“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is a comedy by Larry Gelbart and Burt Shevelove turned into a musical by Stephen Sondheim. It takes comedy back to its roots — 2000 years ago when Roman playwright Plautus made audiences giggle at the absurdities of common people. The play opened this weekend at Whidbey Playhouse.

Steve Curran, who works at the Oak Harbor Navy Hospital, plays Pseudolus, a crafty slave who will do just about anything to win his freedom, and nearly gets killed in the process. There’s no subtlety in the part and Curran acts with abandon. He performs for the audience, mugging and hamming it up, with thick slices.

In the fast-paced story, Pseudolus tries to win his freedom from his young owner, Hero, the son of lecherous Senex and crabby Domina. Hero has fallen in love with a virgin courtesan, Philia, who he watches in the neighboring brothel, owned by the greedy Marcus Lycus.

With help from a reluctant fellow slave, Hysterium, Pseudolus schemes to get Hero and Philia together. His plans are complicated by Senex, who wants to “get” with the virgin; Domina, who’s trying to catch her husband in the act; and the barbaric warrior, Miles Gloriosus, who bought Philia.

Curran’s Pseudolus is such a strong, hilarious character that he would be at risk of overshadowing other players if they weren’t for the comedic talent of the entire cast.

Jim Riney reprises the role of the nervous and quivering Hysterium, which he played at the Playhouse 21 years ago. He’s sort of Pseudolus’ sidekick, and their comic timing together is perfect.

Riney plays the part with obvious relish, especially near the end when Hysterium transforms into a rather unattractive drag queen. At least this time he shaved his mustache for the part.

Allen Young and Kyle Northcutt play the feuding couple, Senex and Domina. They’re funny together and apart. Young has fun with the part of the dirty old man. He’s, perhaps, a little too good.

Fernando Duran, another Playhouse regular, takes on the part of Hero while Caitlin Lewis plays the lovely, winsome, but dumb Philia. Incredibly, Lewis is just a freshman at Coupeville High School, but she holds her own within the talented cast.

Bob Hendrix plays Marcus Lycus as a good-natured pimp, complete with a pimpin’ outfit that combines Ancient Rome with Mac Daddy style.

Of course, the courtesans are hilarious and rely on physical comedy, ranging from the ferocious to a big-bodied courtesan who guarantees Pseudolus a good time. There are also the proteans, who transform from squeaky eunuchs to manly soldiers.

Rusty Hendrix, an experienced director, said she took on “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” because it’s known to be a tremendously fun play to put on.

“Everybody wants to be in it,” she said.

Over the last three months or so, she’s led the cast in rehearsals four days a week. Beyond the singing and dancing, she said one of the keys to the comedy is getting the timing right.

True to form, the merriment and camaraderie of cast members comes through on the stage.

“Our cast is one big family,” Hendrix said. “This is truly community theater.”