Start with a wily Roman slave itching for his freedom. Toss in a henpecked master craving tenderness. Add in the master’s son, smitten by the chaste girl next door — living in a house of ill-repute. But why stop there? Throw in a greedy whoremaster, a sexy parade of his pulchritudinous merchandise, a pompous military hero, a doddering old man, and a termagant wife to augment the mayhem.

As that conniving slave Pseudolus tells us, it’s “Comedy Tonight!” Theatre Charlotte launches its 85th season with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the brilliant plundering of the ancient comedies of Plautus by Burt Shrevelove and Larry Gelbart, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Robbie Jaeger as Pseudolus delivers the choicest old jokes, but there are plenty succulent leftovers for John Pope as the ardent Hero, Kelly Kapur as the airhead Philia, Ted Delorme as the lecherous Senex, Christian Muller as the mighty Miles Gloriosus, Betsey Dalzell as the intimidating Domina, and Bobby Faucette as the clueless old Erronius. Directed by Vito Abate. $25. Sept. 8, 8 p.m.; Sept. 9, 2:30 p.m.; Sept. 12-13, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 14, 8 p.m.; Sept. 15, 2:30 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sept. 16, 2:30 p.m.; Sept. 19-20, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 21-22, 8 p.m.; Sept. 23, 2:30 p.m. Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Road. 704-376-3777. www.theatrecharlotte.org.