Show Synopsis:
In Ancient Rome, Senex and his wife Domina leave their slave Pseudolus in charge of their son Hero while they travel, and Pseudolus offers Hero help at winning Philia's heart in exchange for his freedom. Philia is one of Lycus's prostitutes, and engaged to be married to the warrior Miles Gloriosus. Pseudolus tricks Lycus into letting Philia stay at Senex's house for awhile, and although she falls in love with Hero, she wants to honor her engagement. As Pseudolus and Hero concoct a plan to steal Philia away, Senex comes home early and Philia mistakes him for the Captain, who she has never met. Pseudolus convinces Senex that Philia is a new maid and hides her from Miles, then impersonates Lycus and offers to find her for Miles. Domina arrives back at her house in disguise, convinced that Senex is being unfaithful to her, and a massive chase ensues when Pseudolus tells Miles that Philia is dead from a plague in Crete that he knew did not exist. Miles's soldiers sort everything out, and Senex and Lycus's neighbor Erronius, who has been looking for his longlost children, realizes that Miles and Philia are in fact his song and daughter. Because they cannot be married, Philia marries Hero, Pseudolus gets his freedom, and Senex is stuck with Domina.
Character:
Domina, a manipulative woman hated by most people around her.
Song Context:
Domina is convinced that Senex is up to something strange and wants to find out what he could be doing to deceive her, so she tries to coerce Hysterium into revealing anything he might know.
Fun Facts:
1) This musical is loosely based on a few of Plautus's farces: Pseudolus, Miles Gloriosus, and Mostellaria.
2) Composer Stephen Sondheim wrote in his book Finishing the Hat that he did not consider this song a particular creative success for him because it simply became alliterative and repetitive, so ?what laughs it gets come from the physical comedy of Domina?s manhandling Hysterium, whom she alternately embraces and shakes as a stand-in for her husband.?
3) Ruth Kobart originated the role of Domina on Broadway and received a Tony Award nomination for her performance.
"For over thirty years? I've cried myself to sleep, ?Assailed by doubts and fears?
So great the gods themselves would weep.?
The moment I am gone, ?I wonder where he'll go. ?
In all your simple hon-?Esty,
you can't begin to know.??
Ohhhhh, ohhhhh, ahhhhh?
I want him, ?I need him,? Where is he??
That dirty old man, he's here somewhere,?
Cavorting with someone young and fair,?
Disporting in every shameless whim.
?Just wait till I get my hands on him!
?I'll hold him,? Enfold him,? Where is he??
That dirty old man, where can he be,?
Profaning my house for all to see,?
Complaining that he's misunderstood,?
Abusing me--if he only would!
?Oh love, sweet love, why hide?
?You vermin, you worm, you villain!?
Confess and press your bride.?
Wherever he is, I know he's still an ?Angel,?
My angel,? Where is he??
That dirty old man divine!?
I loathe him, ?I love him,?
That lecherous, lewd, lascivious, loathsome,
lying, lazy ?Dirty old man of mine!"