Mostellaria

Mostellaria is a play by Roman author, Plautus. Its name translates from Latin as [The] Ghost, and often appears in translations as The Haunted House. It is a comedy with a very linear plot. It is set in the city of Athens, on a street in front of the houses of Theopropides and Simo. A young man called Philolaches is having a great time while his father is away on business. Philolaches has also borrowed a lot of money to buy the freedom of the sl... more

Mostellaria is a play by Roman author, Plautus. Its name translates from Latin as [The] Ghost, and often appears in translations as The Haunted House. It is a comedy with a very linear plot. It is set in the city of Athens, on a street in front of the houses of Theopropides and Simo. A young man called Philolaches is having a great time while his father is away on business. Philolaches has also borrowed a lot of money to buy the freedom of the slave-girl he loves. One day he is having a house party with many friends, when his slave Tranio interrupts the merry-making to announce that Philolaches' father has returned unexpectedly and will arrive from the harbour at any minute. Amid the general panic, Tranio has an idea. He hustles Philolaches and his friends into the house and locks the door. The father now arrives. Tranio greets him respectfully but pretends that it is dangerous to enter the house because it is haunted. Unfortunately, at this moment a money-lender turns up to claim the... less