“Once Upon A Mattress” is one of the true oddities of the American stage. It is silly, smutty, shallow, and utterly absurd. It was created as a fun project for an Adult Summer Camp. (Put the emphasis on “Adult” for sexual innuendo.) It then went on to become an unlikely Off-Broadway success. To the astonishment of critics and company alike, it transferred to Broadway where it ran for 470 performances. The production was (unbelievably!) directed by Broadway legend George Abbott. It starred Carol Burnett in her Broadway debut, for which she won a Tony nomination, as did the show itself. It went on to have successful Broadway revivals in 1996 and 2024. It has been highly successful in a televised version. And it is beloved of high schools and amateur theatre groups everywhere.
It’s ridiculous, but apparently this mattress has legs!
The explanation is simple: people really do love to laugh, and “Once Upon A Mattress” delivers. Like the Three Stooges, it lacks finesse, but gets the job done. It requires little more from an acting company than enthusiasm and a willingness to look foolish. So what makes it so exceptional?
The secret sauce in “Once Upon A Mattress” is that the roles of the terribly shy Princess Winnifred and King Sextimus the Silent transcend the material. In the hands of skilled performers (think of Carol Burnett as Winnifred and Buster Keaton as Sextimus), the result can be really quite wonderful. And that is certainly the case with the redoubtable Daniela Innocenti Beem and the wonderful Jake Russell.
Daniela Innocenti Beem is the Ethel Merman of Sonoma County. (Admittedly, she might not equal the original– who could? — but in the Bay Area, she smashes the competition.) This is her 3rd time out as Princess Winnifred, and she has perfected the part. Part of the fun is that she is no longer a soubrette and uses her maturity to milk even more laughs out of the swamp princess than is customary. As usual, she delights.
Jake Russell is a welcome surprise as King Sextimus the Silent. According to the program notes, this not-so-young but nevertheless youthful performer has come late to his calling, having begun to act in 2022. He has a short resume but a tall talent for comedy. Casting directors should take note that Danny Scheie may be facing some competition. Liam Vincent (newly announced incoming artistic director of Panto in the Presidio), are you listening? There’s a new kid on the block.
The rest of the cast and the chorus are very funny and capable, as is direction by Larry Williams and choreography by Tara Roberts. And costumes by Adriana Gutierrez are a treat.
Laughter is guaranteed!
“Once Upon A Mattress” plays through August 2 at Sonoma Arts Live. For further information, click here.
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Rating: *** (For an explanation of TheatreStorm’s rating system, click here.)
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“Once Upon A Mattress.” Music by Mary Rodgers. Lyrics by Marshall Barer. Book by Jay Thompson, Jean Fuller, and Marshall Barer. Directed by Larry Williams. Musical Director: Cat Austin. Choregrapher: Tara Roberts. Lighting Designer: Robin DeLuca. Sound Designer: Alex Clark. Costume Designer: Adriana Gutierrez. Projection Designer: Larry Williams. Intimacy Coordinator: Lissa Ferreira.
Cast:
Wizard: LC Arisman. Princess Winnifred: Daniela Innocenti Beem. Knight/Ensemble: John Cionci. Knight 2/Ensemble: Oakley Cruce. Nightingale of Samarkand: Sara Curtis. Lady Rowena/Lady Merrill: Madeline Edwards. Knight 3/Ensemble: Andrew Herold. Lady Larken: Whitney Isabella. Minstrel: Cindy Leahy. Sir Harry: Nate Mercier. Jester: Seana Nicol. Sir Studley/Ensemble: Francisco Orcellet. King Sextimus The Great: Jake Russell. Prince Dauntless: Tim Setzer.
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