It made Carol Burnett a star. It’s a twist on a familiar fairy tale and is now a showcase for 47 young actors representing 30 area schools. Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairytale, "The Princess and the Pea," comes to the stage as a musical comedy in the Mount Vernon Children’s Community Theater spring production “Once Upon a Mattress.”
With considerable twists on the childhood fairytale, the musical opens in a very unhappy medieval kingdom being ruled by an evil queen and a mute and powerless king. The queen knows that she’ll lose her power if her son marries and finds many creative methods of shuttling princess candidates quickly out the door. Adding to the tale of how Princess Winnifred and Prince Dauntless meet and the tangled lives of the courtiers who very much want the prince to marry, are some very funny musical numbers, including “An Opening for a Princess,” “I’m Shy” and “Spanish Panic.”
Nominated for a Tony Award for Best Musical, “Once Upon a Mattress” is a timeless tale with a spin that is as fresh and funny as ever. The production is family-friendly and appropriate for most children. It's full of silliness, great characters, funny lyrics and even a father-son song that mimes a hilariously innocent tale of birds, bees and the stork. You don't want to miss out on this wonderful take on the classic “Princess and the Pea” that is perfect for a family night out. Everyone loves a “happily ever after” story.
To further encourage budding young artists of all genres, MVCCT in partnership with Zinga Frozen Yogurt in Beacon Center Mall, is hosting a “Princess and the Pea” coloring contest. Visit www.mvcct.org for more. Children under 18 have a chance to win a free ticket to the show and backstage tour to meet the cast.