Rooting for the underdog creates a rainbow of emotions. In Paul Kane High’s winter musical, Once Upon a Mattress, opening Thursday at the Arden Theatre, there are two very unusual underdogs that generate cheers.
Adapted from Hans Christian Andersen’s legendary fairytale The Princess and the Pea, the two-day run is a spoof originally written by Mary Rodgers (daughter of Richard Rodgers) and Marshall Barer.
In 1959 it catapulted a brash redhead named Carol Burnett to stardom, but when Sarah Jessica Parker later starred in a 1997 revival, it bombed. Critics dubbed Parker too fragile and completely lacking the comedic flare of her predecessor.
Ironically, Parker’s unmitigated success on Sex and the City has given her role of Princess Winnifred a certain hot vibe that adolescents connect with.
And for artistic director Angee Lockhart, the setting of this 15th century musical is the perfect vehicle for high school students. Not only is it different from last year’s rock and roll flavoured Bye Bye Birdie, “It has the best of both worlds. It’s a love story, there’s an evil queen and the costumes are cool.”
The tale centres around Prince Dauntless the Drab (Dylan Rosychuk) whose mother Queen Agravina (Lauren Boyd), the Oedipal mother from hell, has declared that only a true princess of royal blood will marry him. So far, 12 princesses tried to pass impossible tests and failed. To make matters worse, no one in the kingdom is allowed to marry until the prince finds a suitable mate.
When the tomboyish Princess Winnifred (Samantha De Champlain) arrives dripping wet after swimming the moat, Prince Dauntless falls in love with her, much to his mother’s annoyance. In a side plot, the marital crisis escalates when a leading knight of the realm, Sir Harry (Andrew Boyd), discovers that his love, Lady Larken (Kate Black) is “in the family way.”
Throw in a randy, mute king (Malcolm McCutcheon), a wicked wizard (Tyler Lazar) and a clever minstrel (Keegan Goertz) and jester (David McIntyre) out to foil the Queen’s plot, and there are the makings of a bawdy vaudeville show that adolescents love to play up.
Helping the 62 cast members navigate the 17 frothy tongue-in-cheek numbers is music director Daryl Price with such memorables as An Opening for a Princess, Spanish Attack and Shy.
One of the hallmarks of Once Upon a Mattress is an innovative set 23 Com Tech students started building back in August, says Lockhart. “It includes the inside of a castle, a balcony, ledges, walkways, an area for a courtyard, a throne dais and a big bed with 20 mattresses.”
For more information visit www.pkhs.spschools.org.
Preview
Once Upon a Mattress<br />Paul Kane Musical Theatre<br />January 7-8 at 6:30 p.m.<br />Arden Theatre<br />Tickets: $14 general seating. Call 780-459-4405
