"Once Upon A Mattress" Turns Familiar Story On Its Ear

Remember the story of  “The Princess and the Pea?”

The tale, by Hans Christian Anderson, involves a prince in need of a princess. There’s a shortage of suitable wives in the kingdom and those who do try to capture his heart either fail to win him over or cannot actually prove they are real princesses.

One night, a young lady seeks shelter in the prince’s castle, claiming to be a princess, but the prince’s mother wants to be sure about her future daughter-in-law, so devises a test.

She places a pea in the bed the so-called princess will be sleeping in, and covers the pea with 20 mattresses and 20 featherbeds.

The next morning, the guest tells her royal hosts that she barely slept a wink, something in the bed kept her awake.

At this, the prince rejoices, sure that only a true princess would have the sensitivity to feel a pea through so many mattresses.

I’m not sure what legumes have to do with legitimate claims to thrones, but the prince doesn’t care either and weds the Princess, and they all live happily ever after.

Simple story, right?

Wrong.

“Once Upon A Mattress,” the new production from the Easley Foothills Playhouse, aims to give audience members the real scoop about the classic fairy tale.  

The musical comedy, directed by Steve Schultz, opens 8pm Friday, August 24 and runs until September 9.

Friday and Saturday shows begin at 8pm while Sunday matinees start at 3pm.

Make reservations by calling the Playhouse Box Office at 864-855-1817 or by visiting showtix4u.com.

So just what did ole Hans leave out of his telling of the tale? Well, it turns out the pea was framed – it didn’t cause the princess a sleepness night at all.

And the prince of the tale isn’t exactly Prince Charming, he’s Prince Dauntless the Drab, played by Chuck Chapman. As the musical opens, Dauntless is the very definition of a Mama’s Boy. 

Dauntless wants to find a princess, but all the contenders keep failing tests devised by Dauntless’ mother, played by Donna Duffie, and her wizard, by Scott Cureton.

It seems no one is good enough in the Queen’s eyes to wed the Prince, and Dauntless is beginning to suspect his mother might not have his best interests at heart.  

Each time a hopeful princess-to-be takes the test, the whole kingdom watches with baited breath, for the queen has decreed that no one may marry until her son does.

That leads Sir Harry (Trey Lundquist) and Lady Larkin (Adina Richardson) to launch a search for a princess. The couple has a rather pressing need to get married themselves, you see.

The search leads to Princess Winnifred, played by Erin Hensley Schultz, who makes a splashy entrance at court.

Although Winnifred and Dauntless seem to hit it off, Queen Aggravain and Winnifred definitely do not. The queen begins to scheme, trying her best to keep the daffy prince and princess apart.

Will the queen succeed? Will Winnifred survive the queen’s scheming? Will Dauntless stand up for himself? Will Sir Harry and Lady Larken, or anybody else in the kingdom, ever be able to get married?

The production promises to deliver those answers, along with great song full of great songs and rapid-fire comedy.

Don’t miss your chance to see “Once Upon A Mattress.”