Toga or not toga?

Tim Nelson has a sure thing on his hands. He has directed the musical, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” four times now, in four different theaters throughout Orange County, and every time it was a hit.

His fifth time directing the 1962 musical should be no different, and the cast composed of Academy of the Performing Arts high school students gives him an even greater confidence for the turnout of the show.

For the next two weekends the bawdy musical written by Steve Sondheim will hit the stage at the Huntington Beach High School Theater.

The cast has been in rehearsals for the last four weeks, and they have just finished pounding out the technical details — like togas and set design.

Nelson and his cast are confident that their antics will bring people to tears — of laughter — since even they have trouble making it through some scenes without breaking character and chuckling a bit.

In one such scene, Pseudolus a Roman slave, played by Neil Starkenberg, sings to another male slave dressed as a woman, played by Brian Wessels, as part of a scheme to help his owner win the heart a woman already promised to another man.

“It’s something that you’ll just die watching,” 17-year-old Neil said. It may be a 2000-year-old play, but mixed with the humor of the Vaudeville theater you can’t help but laugh, he said.

What makes it so successful?

“It’s all in the timing, and they all just get it,” Nelson said of his cast. They took to the musical numbers quickly, learning everything in record time.

The script was easy to learn because it was so fun to perform, cast members said.

“I knew this would be great to do because it is a very exciting script,” said Sarah Sack who plays a courtesan, Tintinabula. Unfortunately for Sack, she may have to share her stage time.

One difficulty with the play for Nelson was the ratio of male to female roles. There are more than double the roles for the boys, Nelson said.

“I double cast almost all the female roles,” Nelson said. “There are so many great female actresses I wanted to give them all a chance.”

The entire cast has pleased Nelson, as each brings something special to the mix. Plus, Forum is a one set show, and the designers used that to create a detailed background.

The set consists of three two-story homes and the detail put into each is outstanding, Nelson said.

“It’s like walking onto a movie set,” he said.

“Everything seems to be falling into place for the group. Now they only need an audience to fill the seats and enjoy. I’ve done the show four times and I’m still laughing.”

Tickets are available at the school. For more information go to the academy’s website www.hbapa.org.