Talented cast to stage ‘Once Upon a Mattress’

BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer

MARLBORO — The story of Princess Winnifred and Prince Dauntless will be brought to the stage at Marlboro High School, Route 79, as the school’s Drama Club presents the musical comedy “Once Upon a Mattress.”

The show will run Feb. 27-28 at 7:30 p.m. and at 3 p.m. March 1 in the high school’s auditorium. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door.

The musical is a revamped version of the fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea.” “Once Upon a Mattress” opened off-Broadway in 1959. The music was written by Mary Rodgers with lyrics by Marshall Barer and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer.

The story introduces the audience to King Sextimus, who because of a curse is unable to speak. Without the ability to converse, the king’s wife, Queen Aggravain, has taken control of the kingdom.

In an attempt to keep her son, Prince Dauntless, single, the queen decrees that only a princess who can pass the queen’s sensitivity test may marry him. In addition, she declares that no one else in the kingdom may marry until Prince Dauntless does so.

This poses a problem for Lady Larken, who is pregnant with Sir Harry’s baby. Sir Harry is able to find the perfect princess, Winifred the Woebegone, who instantly catches the attention of Prince Dauntless.

When Winifred eventually passes the queen’s sensitivity test, Queen Aggravain still tries to prevent Prince Dauntless from marrying her. When Prince Dauntless finally gains the courage to tell his mother to “shut up,” he breaks the spell that has kept his father quiet.

Now that he is able to speak, King Sextimus regains his throne and all ends well in the kingdom.

Drama director Alison Bender said the choice for this year’s musical was made because “Once Upon a Mattress” is as much fun to perform as it is to watch.

“The songs and scenes are lighthearted and playful,” she said.

The show also allows a large cast which was precisely what Bender was looking for since the school has many talented students who want to showcase their skills.

The cast includes Rachel Kaufman (Princess Winnifred), Connor Hadley (Prince Dauntless), Katie Levine (Minstrel narrator), Deepa Kumarjiguda (Queen Aggravain), Alex Shweky (King Sextimus), Marissa Rubenstein (Lady Larken), Tim Gilbert (Sir Harry), Michael Harris (the Wizard) and Kelsey Mackler (the Jester).

The show’s ensemble includes students Anika Amin, Elif Anda, Lucas Argila, Jackie Bauwens, Patrick Buelow, Kayla Carney, Lauren Colletti, Nicholas Colletti, Joshua Cooper, Lexi Farber, Linda Farley, Dana Froome, Danielle Galante, Matt Gilbert, Rachel Goldstein, Arya Govil, Asha Habib, Andrea Jacinto, Cassie Kronenfeld.

And, Stephen Lieboff, Megan Loftus, Lenore Luca, Ariel Mandell, Rachel Mc- Goldrick, Aimin Mitwally, Matt Morin, Christie Panfile, C.J. Rarela, Siera Rosen, Eve Rosenfeld, Bethany Sandelman, Tiffany Sigona, Alison Silverman, Tiffany Sun, Sara Tobias, I.J. Unachukwu, Nicole Vosk and Leah Voysey.