Pseudolus was first shown in 191 BC during the Megalesian Festival,[1] which was a celebration for the Greek Goddess Cybele.
He adds: "For the special qualities of Plautus – vigour, wit, invention, the charm of low class humanity – this play is supreme.
"[7] Simo - An Athenian gentleman Calidorus - Simo's son Pseudolus - Simo's chief slave Callipho - a neighbor and friend of Simo Charinus - a friend of Calidorus Ballio - a pimp Phoenicium - (mute) a girl in the possession of Ballio and loved by Calidorus Harpax - a soldier's slave Slave boy, belonging to Ballio A cook, hired by Ballio Simia - a cunning slave belonging to Charinus The play starts with a two-line prologue (incomplete and probably not by Plautus),[8] which is a warning to the audience that the play is long and now is the time to stretch their legs because they are about to be sitting for a long time.
After Pseudolus pushes his master's son to tell him what is wrong, Calidorus shows him a letter he received.
Pseudolus doesn't have the money they require to buy her, but thinks he can improvise a plan to get it and to save Phoenicium.
At this time, Calidorus tells Pseudolus to be quiet, saying he hears the pimp Ballio, Phoenicium's master, leaving his house.
Ballio begins organizing his slaves and making preparations for his own birthday celebration, and says he will be off to the market to strike a deal with the fishmonger.
He orders them to make themselves the most desirable companions for the day, and to earn him supplies based on their status with men in different markets—specifically, grain, meat, oil, and farm produce.
Calidorus is deeply concerned about the future of Phoenicium and asks Pseudolus what he should do in order to keep Ballio from putting her on the streets.
Pseudolus tells Calidorus not to worry about it, and that he will take care of it by delivering Ballio "a nice fat packet of trouble."
He hints that there must be a promise of money in order for him to open his ears to Pseudolus and Calidorus' pleas.
Pseudolus begs him to give them more time to find the money when Ballio informs them that Phoenicium has already been sold for 20 minae (2000 drachmae) to the Macedonian officer, Polymachaeroplagides.
Uncertain as to how to get the girl, Pseudolus hatches a plan to obtain the 20 minae by stealing it from Simo, the father of Calidorus.
Pseudolus sees Simo coming with his neighbor Callipho, and hides and listens to their conversation.
The two are discussing Simo's son, Calidorus, and the rumor that he wants to buy his true love's freedom.
Callipho promises Pseudolus that if he gets the girl and if Simo does not give him the money, he will himself because he does not want to see his plan fail.
Realising that this is the messenger sent by the Macedonian soldier to pay the balance for Phoenicium, Pseudolus tricks Harpax into thinking he is Surus (Syrus), a slave of Ballio, and tries to get the 5 minae from Harpax by telling him that his master Ballio is working on a court case and can't meet with him at this time.
Pseudolus is describing how he has pulled the wool over the Macedonian soldier's eyes, and boasts that the girl Calidorus loves will be in his arms today.
The only problem is that Pseudolus requires a few things: a clever young man, a soldier's cloak, sword, and hat, and 5 minae.
As they exit the house, Simia consoles Phoenicium, who thinks she is being led to the Macedonian general, Polymachaeroplagides, by telling her that he is in fact taking her to her boyfriend Calidorus.
Ballio is also triumphant, boasting to Simo that they have won the bet because he has finally and successfully sold Phoenicium to the Macedonian general and placed her safely in the hands of his soldier Harpax.
Ballio indecently suggests that the soldier rapes him at night; and he asks how much it cost to hire his cloak and hat.
In Plautus's plays the usual pattern is to begin each section with iambic senarii (which were spoken without music), then a scene of music in various metres, and finally a scene in trochaic septenarii, which were apparently recited to the accompaniment of tibiae (a pair of reed pipes).
This is evident not only from Ballio's behaviour towards his slaves but also from the insults which Pseudolus and Calidorus pile on his head ("shameless!
Pseudolus is able to prove just how clever he is by fooling multiple others in order to help his owner's son, Calidorus.
This play, a part of Roman popular culture, would have wide appeal in a society where there was much discrepancy of wealth.
Throughout this play, Pseudolus does everything he can to rescue his master's son's true love, the prostitute Phoenicium, so that they can be together.
His treatment of her and of his other slave prostitutes whom he threatens to whip and send to a brothel if they do not provide enough goods show the abuse of his power and authority over them.
An example of his far-reaching greed makes its appearance at the beginning of the play when he agrees to sell Phoenicium to the Macedonian officer, Polymachaeroplagides.
Pseudolus uses his cunning and crafty brains to not only get the money from Simo, where Calidorus had failed, but furthermore to trick Ballio into freeing Phoenicium.