BERNE — When in Rome, performed by the Hilltowns Players this weekend, makes the bizarre world of Ancient Rome even moreso with modern references and musical numbers.

Following its title, the musical comedy dresses its actors in togas and sandals, and is centered around the brutal concept of a gladiator fight determining a marriage, but the characters take the liberty of breaking from the trappings of their historical setting.

Peasants Minimus and Gladius, played by Berne-Knox-Westerlo juniors John and Jared Lussier, find ways to enter the Princess’s inner circle and end up becoming part of her struggle to determine her own future. Senator Altilis is meanwhile attempting to seal the Princess’s fate by fixing the gladiator games, the victor of which she is supposed to marry if she can’t find a proper husband on her own.

“It’s the fish-out-of-water love story,” said Richard Bartley, the stage director.

Jared Lussier’s character, Gladius, is attracted to the Princess, despite being born to very different circumstances.

“Don’t ever underestimate the power of love, and don’t ever underestimate the underdog,” he said of the story.

The Lussier twins have clean and relaxed singing voices, which they have rehearsed over years as an Everly Brothers tribute vocal duo. They have also sung the national anthem at school assemblies and sports games.

Since they were kids, the Lussiers have performed in several musicals — Beulah-by-the-Sea, The King and I, Hankerin’ Hillbillies, and Bah Humbug! — produced by the Hilltowns Players, which is putting on When in Rome with more than 30 actors. This is their first time as lead characters, having appeared in walk-on roles or with just a few lines.

As brothers, they say their transactions on stage, both physically and conversationally, are smoother.

“We know how to bicker,” said John.

“Yea, twins are prone to do that,” Jared added.

With invariable comparisons to family, the Hilltowns Players has a custom of accepting people who want to perform and the cast members of different skillsets and levels try to lift each other up.

“They have opportunities that they do not get elsewhere,” said Bartley. “We have had a policy of guaranteed auditions. If you come and audition, you’re in the play.”

All seven of the Lefkaditises — most of them acting for the first time in last year’s production — have parts in When in Rome. The youngest, 4-year-old Anna Mattia, runs and dances with the other peasant children. And she follows a cha-cha train led by BKW sophomore Alyssa Gaige, whose powered wheelchair is transformed into a chariot as she takes on the part of a Roman citizen. In another scene, Gaige sells Princess bobbleheads as a vendor.

“We sing the songs together in the car, we rehearse together,” said Anna Maria Lefkaditis. She spoke of the pleasure in watching her children flower as actors, developing their characters’ personalities. She said acting wasn’t a natural path for her, but she executes vocal and physical demands of her character, the Princess’s maid, with energy.

Mrs. Lefkaditis sings alongside sophomore Kristen Norray, who says donning her golden toga helps to put her into character as the Princess.

“She doesn’t want to be like everyone else,” Norray said of the Princess. Like the Lussiers, this is Norray’s first lead role, having performed with her family members in past productions.

“Not everyone’s good in sports…” she said, “but there’re so many different aspects of the musical you could be good at that, when it all comes together, it’s for this one production.”

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The Hilltowns Players will perform When in Rome in the Berne-Knox-Westerlo secondary-school auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 21 and 22, and at 3 p.m. on Nov. 23. Tickets are $10 for adults; $7 for elders; veterans, and teens; and $6 for children aged 12 and under. When in Rome was written by Martin A. Follose, with music and lyrics by Bill Francoeur.