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The St. Cyril Theatre Guild's 1996 Summer Musical,
Once Upon A Mattress,
presented the challenge for most of the cast of some
unfamiliar songs. The original broadway show with
Carol Burnett was never made into a movie and hadn't
been performed in Houston for quite some time. Even
though the show wasn't all that familiar, we had a new
director, Jill Aufill, whose unique style and imagination
added an additional spark of "fairy tale" magic.
This musical was another "laugh 'til you cry show."
Classic memories of this show include Kayleen Clements'
rendition of "FRED," Kevin Drewes as Prince Dauntless,
and Rick Solis as the "speechless" King. Unknown to
much of the audience, we actually had an "additional"
cast member as the Queen Laura Gerard was pregnant.
Once Upon a Mattress is based on
Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale of the Princess
and the Pea. This charming once-upon-a-time story
unfolds in a mythical 15th century kingdom, where
Prince Dauntless the Drab is pursuing matrimony and
his mother, Queen Aggravain, is attempting to
frustrate all eligible candidates and keep the Prince
from leaving home. The King is a victim of an evil spell
and can't speak. The ladies-in-waiting are
forbidden to marry until the Prince finds a
mate. Then, in swims (via the castle moat) Princess Winnifred the Woebegone,
dripping wet. Though a little eccentric, she captures the heart of
Dauntless and the entire kingdom...the entire kingdom,
that is, except for the Queen. After a series of
tests, Winnifred must undergo a night's sleep upon 20
mattresses, which under the bottom one has been placed a
single pea (obviously, if Winifred is truly a princess,
she would not bear such discomfort). Well, with a little help she passes
the test, marries Prince Dauntless, and they live
happily, happily, happily ever after.
...Directed by Jill Aufill
....Produced by Bill Ortiz
Music by Mary Rodgers
Lyrics by Marshall Barer
Book by Jay Thompson, Marshall Barer, and Dean Fuller
Nominated for Best Actress in a Musical (Carol Burnett) in 1960
Nominated for Best Musical 1960
Partial Cast List
in order of appearance
- Minstrel-Hank Rethlake
- Princess #12-JoAnn Vallot
- Nightingale-Alice Rethlake
- Wizard-Sheila Drewes
- Lady Larken-Nancy Spahni
- Queen Aggravain-Laura Gerard
- Prince Dauntless-Kevin Drewes
- King Sextimus-Rick Solis
- Jester-Cheryl Anderson
- Sir Harry-Dave Hall
- Princess Winnifred-Kayleen Clements
The Songs
- Overture
- Many Moons Ago
- An Opening For A Princess
- In A Little While
- Shy
- Sensitivity (Currently Playing)
- The Swamps Of Home
- Normandy
- Spanish Panic
- Song Of Love
- Quiet
- Happily Ever After
- Man To Man Talk
- Very Soft Shoes
- Yesterday I Loved You
- Nightingale Lullaby
- Finale
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