A funny thing happened with auditions for Katrina Wilkerson and her daughter, Laura.

Two, who both earned roles in the Theatre 7 production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," talked their husband/father, Rich, into trying out for the musical comedy that begins tonight at the Decatur Civic Center Theater.

The play was in need of males, and Katrina thought Rich would be ideal for a small part, since plays aren't really his nature.

"I told him, 'We just need men to stand there and be soldiers,' " she said. Funny thing is, Rich ended up getting a part that included four different roles on the stage.

"He's on the stage more than the two of us, and we're the ones who auditioned," Katrina said with a laugh.

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" was written by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, who wrote for the long-running TV series "M*A*S*H," with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

It is the story of a slave, Pseudolus, willing to do anything for his freedom. Pseudolus is left in charge of his owner's young son, who has fallen in love with Philia, a beautiful courtesan. The young boy promises Pseudolus' freedom if he can arrange for her to marry him, but complications ensue.

The production runs through Nov. 11.

Andrew Curry, who plays jittery, over-eager slave Hysterium, said that from beginning to end, the audience will be entertained by the production's slapstick humor.

"It's so funny," Curry said. "Even if it's not the lines, it's the characters and what we're doing.

"There are no morals. We just plow through and see how much we can hurt your sides."

Doug Bishop, who plays Pseudolus, said they are doing the Tony Award-winning musical in a cartoon style.

"This is not Shakespeare," he said, despite the play's language. "There is a lot of energy and physical movements, and each one of the characters is a little quirky."

Katrina and Laura agree that people should come to the play and enjoy a night of laughter. Some of the laughs come with their staged catfight, choreographed by Laura.

"Sometimes I get kicked a little hard," Laura said with a laugh as she rubbed her leg.

The mother-daughter duo is excited to be sharing the stage as a family, but Rich is unsure if he will do another play.

"The part was a lot longer than I thought it would be," he said. "We'll have to see how this goes. At least we can carpool."

WHAT: "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," Theatre 7 musical by Stephen Sondheim.

WHEN: today through Sunday, Nov. 4, and Nov. 9 to 11; 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday.

WHERE: Decatur Civic Center Theater.

TICKETS: $15 at the Civic Center box office, 422-6161.

CAST: Doug Bishop (Pseudolus); Eric Burgett (Hero); Leah Brown (Philia); Tim Haworth (Senex); Bert Gray (Marcus Lycus); Nancy Sullivan (Domina); John Dunn (Erronius); Mark Muschal (Miles Gloriosus); Andrew Curry (Hysterium); Bob Weidrich (Eunich); Courtesans: Melissa Cunningham, Andrea DeCamp, Amy Gordon, Aimee Haynes, Emily Baer (Gymnasia), Abby Foley (Gemini 1), Samantha Gambaccini (Gemini 2), Angelia Hilligoss (Vibrata), Katrina Wilkerson (Panacea) and Laura Wilkerson (Tintinabula); Proteans: Craig Culp, Jeff Hall, Justin Triezenberg and Rich Wilkerson. The director is Anne Thompson.

Alicia Spates can be reached at aspates@herald-review.com or 421-6986.