Bloomington Music Works is presenting "Once Upon a Mattress," a musical comedy based on the fairy tale of "The Princess and the Pea." David Wade is the director and designer. Jeff Clanton, assistant conductor with the Bloomington Symphony, is the music director and Mathew Wisely is credited with the choreography.
In Mary Rodgers and Marshall Barer's version of the traditional tale, the princess is more raucous than refined and more tomboyish than genteel. Clair Wilcher was a strong singer and energetic actress as the princess. In her first appearance she's dripping wet from a swim across the castle moat. Her suitor was the apron string tied Prince Dauntless played by Matt Jahud. Dauntless's apron strings attach him to the dominating queenly presence regally played by Janice Hammond. In the story of "Once Upon a Mattress," the queen has been blocking a whole string of likely candidates with various tests and excuses. Unfortunately the prince's prospects aren't his concern alone as no marriages are allowed in the entire kingdom until he is wed.
This delay is of special concern to the lovely Lady Larken sung by Amber Nash and her worthy husband to be Sir Harry sung by Martin Wilson. It seems that they were overcome by a bit of premarital bliss and need to get the marital part of things done before the ‘pre' part becomes apparent.
Speaking of marriages we might mention that the Queen is in fact married, but a curse has been laid upon the king and he is mute. Mike Price made the most of the King's muteness with an energetic approach that seemed to artfully combine moves from both Groucho and Harpo Marx.
Stephen Chambers as the minstrel and narrator sang very well and was our graceful host for the show. There are a couple of dance numbers in "Once Upon a Mattress." Perhaps it was lack of rehearsal time or the right mix of skills, but these were weak points. I also wondered a bit about the delayed discovery of the court's connivance in support of Winifred.
But, does Princess Winifred pass the test? Do Lady Larkin and Sir Harry get to a minister before a midwife? Does the king get his voice back? Hey, this isn't "Sweeney Todd " or "Come Into the Woods," It's "Once Upon a Mattress," and of course the answer to all three questions is "Yes.!" The real question is was it fun. And again, the answer is "Yes."