11th plague of Egypt

Frank Scheck

THEATER REVIEW

THE SPHINX WINX Beckett Theatre, 410 W. 42nd St.; 212-239-6200. Through July 24.

“Prepare yourself for a modern classic,” says a soothsayer at the start of “The Sphinx Winx,” before adding: “Eat your heart out, Shakespeare.”

The Bard has nothing to worry about. Neither does “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” which this burlesque-style musical — about the romantic triangle between Cleopatra, Mark Antony and Julius Caesar — superficially resembles.

This lame-brained show is no “Forum,” and its opening number, “Prologue,” is definitely not “Comedy Tonight.”

A distinct aroma of flop sweat hovers over the proceedings, in which a six-member ensemble tries desperately to wring laughs from the witless book and lyrics, for which no fewer than four writers are — and I use the term loosely — credited.

Peter James Zielinski

As an act of mercy, the cast of this dreadful show will go unnamed here.