his is the musical retelling of the classic fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea" with a few humorous twists. It takes place in a fictional kingdom ruled by the devious Queen Aggravaine and the mute King Sextimus the Silent. King Sextimus suffers from a curse that can only be reversed "when the mouse devours the hawk." As the show opens, the populace of the castle complains about an unjust law levied by Queen Aggravaine. The law states that no one may wed until the Prince, Dauntless the Drab, first marries. However, every petitioning princess is sent away after failing an unfair test devised by the Queen. It seems that no one is good enough to marry Prince Dauntless.

 

One of the gallant knights of the kingdom - Sir Harry, who is desperately in love with Lady Larken - embarks on a quest to find the last princess in the realm. He soon returns with Princess Winnifred the Woebegone, a brash, and unrefined princess from the marshlands. She immediately charms Dauntless and most of the court. However, she also succeeds in offending the Queen, who vows to find a way to stop her.

 

The Queen, assisted by her Wizard sidekick, quickly designs Winnifred's secret "test." They will place a tiny pea beneath twenty thick downy mattresses. If Winnifred is unable to sleep due to the pea, then she will be sensitive enough to marry Dauntless.

 

As the day of the test approaches, Dauntless and Winnifred fall in love, Harry and Larken break up (only to be later united by Winnifred), and the King, Jester and Minstrel trick the Wizard into telling them of the test. When she finally takes the test, Winnifred cannot fall asleep. She drowsily confronts the Queen the next morning, but Aggravaine insists that the test was rigged. Dauntless tells Aggravaine to "shut up", and the curse on King Sextimus is lifted (the "mouse", or Dauntless, thus devours the "hawk", or Aggravaine). Aggravaine discovers that she cannot talk, and Dauntless and Winnifred are free to be married. And in true fairy tale style - they all live happily ever after!

Mattress has plenty of challenges for those wishing to take on a principal role - and there are plenty to go around. There are three leading principals - the Queen, Dauntless, and Winnifred, as well as six supporting principals - including the King who must be proficient at pantomime - and five supporting cast members, along with a court full of knights and ladies of the court.

 

There is a wonderful recording of the show featuring the original Winnifred, Carol Burnett. This was the show that made her a star! There is also a more recent recording featuring Sarah Jessica Parker as Winnifred that we prefer as it includes some of the dance music as well.

 

There is a recent television version of the show that has been airing on the Ovation channel - featuring Carol Burnett again - but this time in the role of Queen Aggravaine. It's not exactly true to the musical, but it will give you a preliminary idea of the show.

 

Those who will be preparing for their summer audition with voice teachers will want to prepare a musical number from the "traditional" Broadway library. This is a show written by the daughter of Richard Rodgers (of Rodgers and Hammerstein fame). There are roles for all vocal types - and even the plum role of King Sextimus, which requires no singing at all! We will be looking for actors who display a sense of comic timing and stage personality to fill the principal roles.