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Once Upon a Mattress
Music by Mary Rodgers
Lyrics by Marshall Barker
Book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuler and Marshall Barker
Directed by Ray Frewen
Musical Direction by Jeff Bell
Choreographed by Marci Caliendo
At Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre
Oakbrook IL
Call 630-530-0111, tickets $22 to $26
Wednesday at 8 PM
Thursday at 2 & 8 PM
Friday at 8:30 PM
Saturday at 5:30 & 9 PM
Sunday at 2:30 PM & 7 PM
Running time 2 hrs, 25 min with intermission
Through December 18, 2005
This mattress feels just right
Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre, under Ray Fewen’s leadership, has another delightful, easy to like musical that is excellent family fare. It is amazing the quality Frewen and staff produce and only charge $22 - $26 per ticket. Once Upon A Mattress has a cast of 23 dressed in bright multi-colored tights and period-perfect dress in elegant 15th Century style (costume design by Gregory Slawko) who sing, dance and garner many laughs in this tweaking of the Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea. With music by Mary Rodgers (daughter of Richard Rodgers) and catchy lyrics by Marshall Barker, Once Upon A Mattress unfolds as a colorful, funny fluff piece with a niceness that satisfies.
Queen Aggravain (Paula Scrofano at her comic best) has ruled that none shall marry until her son, Prince Dauntless (Sean Fortunato at his nerdy funniest) marries. The problem is that the Queen can’t let go of her son so she devises impossible tests for the princesses resulting in no marriage for Dauntless. When Sir Harry (Brian Herriott who flaunts his machismo) and Lady Larkin (Pegah Kadhodaian, all charm and sweetness) learn they are going to be parents, marriage or not, Harry travels to get Princess Winnifred (Kristen Frelich at her Carol Burnett-like earthiness). Harry, the Minstrel (Jason Bayle) and the Jester (Bernie Yvon in a true triple performance) help the Princes out wit his dominating mother.
The not-too-serious tone is set with the opening prologue as Jason Bayle outlines the story while the white clad (boys in tights, girls in white flowing dresses) underscore the Minstrel’s song with funny ballet-style dance and farcical gestures. We get it and the fun begins. From the opening number, “An Opening for a Princess,” the ensemble introduces us to the players who lament the lack of marriage in the realm. The show stopper, “The Minstrel, the Jester and I” has Jason Bayle (Minstrel), Bernie Yvon (the Jester) and the mute king (Dale Benson as a pantomime darling) is pure vaudeville niceness.
“The Swamp of Home” has the outspoken strong princess, Winnifred wins our hearts in a terrific comic turn from the talented Kristen Frelich. Paula Scrofano as the overbearing Queen energetically attempts to sabotage her son’s interest in the crude princess who ‘swam the mote.’ Once Upon A Mattress is funnier than expected, sings excellently, especially Brian Herriott and Bernie Yvon and dances with charm and grace (nice choreography by Marci Caliendo). The “Song of Love” with Winnifried (Frelich) and Fortunato expounding “I’m in love with a girl named Fred” was priceless. Bouncy tunes filled with bawdiness and near burlesque abound throughout.
Act two’s opening number, “Quiet” was marvelously staged, sung and danced and the hilarious pantomime song, “Man to Man Talk” has Dale Benson doing charade-type body movements to Fortunato singing his guesses as the king tries to explain the facts of life to his son. This number was a hoot! Bernie Yvon’s wonderful, “Very Soft Shoes” was classic Broadway show stopper complete with vaudevillian panache.
Once Upon A Mattress has all the elements going for it to produce a polished slick show that is easy to digest. This 1960 hit show (460 performances on Broadway) doesn’t take itself seriously but has enchantment that is infectious. You’ll be glad your saw this worthy musical. For under $30 you be hard pressed to find a higher quality show with an “A” list cast. Kudos to Ray Frewen’s attention to casting.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Chicago Stage Talk Radio Show
This show eligible for a C.S.T. Equity Theatre Award
October 13, 2005
Jeff Recommended
Once Upon a Mattress
Review by Joe Stead
Although an avid connoisseur of Broadway musicals, I am bound to admit that there have been a few over the years that for one reason or another I have missed. "Once Upon a Mattress" is one, but now thanks to Drury Lane Oakbrook's highly enjoyable romp I can finally set that wrong right. Mary Rodgers' tuneful score confirms that great talent is a family trait (Ms. Rodgers is the daughter of Richard Rodgers and the mother of Tony Award winning composer Adam Guettel). Drury Lane Oakbrook has proven itself to be one of the very best places to see a musical in all of Chicagoland.
And while the material is plenty silly, director Ray Frewen's colorful pageant is consistently inspired and often rib-tickling. The 1960 musical version of "The Princess and the Pea" fairy tale was noteworthy as the Broadway debut of a singing comic named Carol Burnett, whose star quickly ascended into the stratosphere. And Drury Lane has an equally exciting new rising star in Kristen Freilich. Without trying to consciously imitate anyone, Ms. Freilich channels the spirit such great lady clowns as Ms. Burnett, Kathy Najimy and Fanny Brice. In fact, one wishes Ms. Freilich had been called upon for the last Chicago revival of "Funny Girl."
As the moat-swimming Princess Winnifred the Woebegone, the lady is simply hilarious, larger than life while appearing confident and down to earth at the same time. And when she's belting her heart out in "Shy," proving her physical prowess in "Song of Love," or contorting uncomfortably atop those twenty mattresses, it's easy to fall in love with her.
Those unaware of her remarkable versatility may be surprised to find local sweetheart Paula Scrofano playing the haughty and domineering Queen Aggravain (a role Burnett will be graduating to in the new television remake of "Mattress"). But she once again distinguishes herself as Chicago's premiere leading lady. Dale Benson and Sean Fortunato are already comedic royalty, so their assumption of the mute King and his dopey son Prince Dauntless seem entirely apropos. Their man-to-man talk duet about the birds and the bees (with Fortunato singing to Benson's pantomime) is as endearing as it is hilarious.
And finally, Bernie Yvon lights up the stage with his amazing talent in the Jester's soft shoe song and dance. Gregory Slawko has costumed them all gorgeously, and Choreographer Marci Caliendo has provided some groovy steps. This "Mattress" feels as comfy and cozy as one could want in a musical comedy. "Once Upon a Mattress" continues at Drury Lane Oakbrook through December 18, 2005. The musical runs 2 hours 45 minutes with intermission.
Performances are Wednesday at 8:00 p.m., Thursday at 2 & 8:00 p.m., Friday at 8:30 p.m., Saturday at 5:30 & 9:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 & 7:00 p.m. Tickets range from $22-26, with dinner and theatre packages starting at $40.75. It will be followed by Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park" December 30, 2005-February 26, 2006; "The Pirates of Penzance," "Nunsensations," "Ten Little Indians," "Forever Plaid," and "The King and I." Call (630) 530-0111 for reservations, or visit www.drurylaneoakbrook.com.
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