Looking For a Princess

Somerset Valley Players wishes ‘Once Upon a Mattress.’

By: Stuart Duncan
   When Once Upon A Mattress opened in New York, it was judged to be just another in a long line of George Abbott hits. In just the decade of 1950-60 the writer/director brought to Broadway Call Me Madam, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Wonderful Town, The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, Fiorello and Once Upon A Mattress.
   The last named brought a new star to Broadway — Carol Burnett. She had been staked to a full year by a Manhattan businessman while she attempted to establish herself. Once she got her name in lights on the marquee (the sign of a star), under the agreement she had to stake another newcomer to a year (and she did so).
   Once Upon a Mattress was also the show that introduced Mary Rodgers, the daughter of Richard Rodgers, writing her own music (it took three writers to solve the problems of the book, even though the main theme had been taken directly from a popular fairy tale). The show is being revived at Somerset Valley Playhouse with an enthusiastic, energetic company.
   The plot, such as it is, is based on the story of "The Princess and the Pea." You remember it — the rather wimpy Prince Dauntless, whose mom, the queen, is determined to find fault with any girl who threatens to catch his eye, is forever dreaming up impossible tests for the aspiring princesses. When a particularly vigorous one, Winnifred (nickname Fred), swims the moat and enters, she recognizes real trouble and with the help of her Wizard (a gender-bending female this time) places a single pea under 20 soft mattresses to see if it disturbs her sleep.
   The SVP cast is led by newcomer Lluana Jones as Winnifred, who uses her fine mime talents when her singing voice weakens. A mobile face and strong comic instincts keep her performance exciting. Laurie Hardy is also making her local debut as the queen and threatens to steal every scene she is in with a delicious blend of pomp and piety. Joe Zedeny is a fine Dauntless and Dorothy Calkin is the Wizard.
   David Palmer and Donna Lewin play the obligatory lovers, waiting with considerable desperation for the Princess to marry so that they can get to the altar before the expected little one. Justin Cimino is an appealing court jester and Arnold Aromando is the court minstrel who acts as a sort of narrator and guide. Special notice must be given Michael Muller who plays King Sextimus the Silent. As his title implies, he is laboring under a curse of silence which doesn’t stop him from girl-chasing, nor for that matter in miming his lyrics when needed to fill out a trio.
   Co-directors Dianna Barkman and Karen Abbatiello have neatly divided the chores into musical and acting and apparently handled it seamlessly. There are also co-musical directors, Cindy Campbell and Emily Bengels, both of whom are at keyboards (along with percussionist Rob Stewart) in the on-stage orchestra. Nothing earth-shattering, you understand, just plain good clean fun — even the kids will enjoy it.
Once Upon A Mattress continues at Somerset Valley Playhouse, 689 Amwell Road (Route 514), Hillsborough, through Sept. 30. Performances: Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. Tickets cost $18; $16 seniors/students (no discount for Sat. shows); (908) 369-7469; www.svptheatre.org