Fairy tale tests for 'real' princess
By Joanne Fox Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, July 04, 2008
Kathy Pfautsch as the minstral, John Mangan as the king and Ben Miller as the jester pose during a rehearsal Thursday, June 26, 2008, for the Sergeant Bluff Pioneer Valley Players' production of Once Upon a Mattress. (Sioux City Journal photo by Tim Hynds)
The tale of a young woman who undergoes a test to see if she's a "real" princess has inspired books, movies, dramas and ballets.
The fairy tale story will be retold in a popular musical, "Once Upon a Mattress" by the Pioneer Valley Players, Sergeant Bluff.
"Once Upon a Mattress" is based on "The Princess and the Pea," a story written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1835 about a young woman who claims to being a real princess. She is put to a test, forced to sleep on a single pea under 20 mattresses and 20 featherbeds. Upon arising, the girl laments her sleeplessness, bemoaning the presence of "something so hard that I am black and blue all over," thus giving testament to her true role as a princess.
The fairy tale gained wide popularity with "Once Upon a Mattress," a 1960 musical starring Carol Burnett as the irrepressible Princess Winnifred. Burnett later played Queen Aggravain in a 2005 remake.
In the musical, no one in the kingdom of Prince Dauntless (Tom Miller) is permitted to marry until the prince himself exchanges vows. It's a problem considering the prince's mother, Queen Aggravain (Kelly Meyers) has sabotaged all prospective brides. This does not sit well with the honorable Sir Harry (Tyler Zimmerman), a man whose heart longs to wed the Lady Larken (Erin Nelson). Sir Harry returns to his kingdom to present Princess Winnifred of the swamps (Sarah Meyers). The queen is horrified and immediately begins to scheme, but Winnifred, with some help from the King (John Mangan), and the Jester (Ben Miller), proves tough to be rid of.
"This is such a fun play," said director John Meyers. "And it's not only a fun story, it's a show the entire family can enjoy."
Like any good fairy tale, there's a lesson for adults and children alike, Meyers said. Don't judge a book by its cover.
"The message is you don't have to look like a princess to be one," he said. "The show examines being true to oneself and open to the possibilities of meeting and maybe even falling in love with someone who's different from the norm."
Meyers added, "And who doesn't love princesses?"
The Pioneer Valley Players was formed in 1980 by Carmen Freiberg and Cynthia Bauman after their mutual "Hello, Dolly!" experience at the Sioux City Community Theatre in 1979. Since 1980, plays have been a part of Pioneer Valley Days, a summer celebration held in Sergeant Bluff. In 1998, the Pioneer Valley Players became a more structured group, with elected board members. Last year Kristi Quinn was named creative director, when Freiberg retired.
Meyers, who lives in Sioux City, said he approached Quinn and suggested "Once Upon a Mattress" as a possibility for this summer's production.
"I guess we're Sergeant Bluff people by default," Meyers quipped. "I was thrilled when they said yes."
Meyers recalled seeing the musical on television as a kid and marveling at Carol Burnett as Princess Winnifred.
"I still get goose bumps when I hear 'An Opening for a Princess' (one of the first songs in the show)," he said. "I always said, if there was any one show I wanted to do, this was it."
Meyers oversees a cast of 32 for this rollicking commentary on royal courtship. His wife, Kelly, is the choreographer and Brooke Redwine is the musical director.
"There's lots of 'shtick' in the show to make you laugh," he said. "I'm so grateful that lots of people jumped in and helped out to make this a really enjoyable experience."
"Once Upon a Mattress" will be presented by the Pioneer Valley Players, July 10-13 with a 7:30 p.m. evening curtain and a 2 p.m. matinee at the Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School Theatre, 708 Warrior Road. Tickets are $7 and available at the door or in advance from any cast member. Questions may be directed to 251-1113.
The fairy tale story will be retold in a popular musical, "Once Upon a Mattress" by the Pioneer Valley Players, Sergeant Bluff.
"Once Upon a Mattress" is based on "The Princess and the Pea," a story written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1835 about a young woman who claims to being a real princess. She is put to a test, forced to sleep on a single pea under 20 mattresses and 20 featherbeds. Upon arising, the girl laments her sleeplessness, bemoaning the presence of "something so hard that I am black and blue all over," thus giving testament to her true role as a princess.
The fairy tale gained wide popularity with "Once Upon a Mattress," a 1960 musical starring Carol Burnett as the irrepressible Princess Winnifred. Burnett later played Queen Aggravain in a 2005 remake.
In the musical, no one in the kingdom of Prince Dauntless (Tom Miller) is permitted to marry until the prince himself exchanges vows. It's a problem considering the prince's mother, Queen Aggravain (Kelly Meyers) has sabotaged all prospective brides. This does not sit well with the honorable Sir Harry (Tyler Zimmerman), a man whose heart longs to wed the Lady Larken (Erin Nelson). Sir Harry returns to his kingdom to present Princess Winnifred of the swamps (Sarah Meyers). The queen is horrified and immediately begins to scheme, but Winnifred, with some help from the King (John Mangan), and the Jester (Ben Miller), proves tough to be rid of.
"This is such a fun play," said director John Meyers. "And it's not only a fun story, it's a show the entire family can enjoy."
Like any good fairy tale, there's a lesson for adults and children alike, Meyers said. Don't judge a book by its cover.
"The message is you don't have to look like a princess to be one," he said. "The show examines being true to oneself and open to the possibilities of meeting and maybe even falling in love with someone who's different from the norm."
Meyers added, "And who doesn't love princesses?"
The Pioneer Valley Players was formed in 1980 by Carmen Freiberg and Cynthia Bauman after their mutual "Hello, Dolly!" experience at the Sioux City Community Theatre in 1979. Since 1980, plays have been a part of Pioneer Valley Days, a summer celebration held in Sergeant Bluff. In 1998, the Pioneer Valley Players became a more structured group, with elected board members. Last year Kristi Quinn was named creative director, when Freiberg retired.
Meyers, who lives in Sioux City, said he approached Quinn and suggested "Once Upon a Mattress" as a possibility for this summer's production.
"I guess we're Sergeant Bluff people by default," Meyers quipped. "I was thrilled when they said yes."
Meyers recalled seeing the musical on television as a kid and marveling at Carol Burnett as Princess Winnifred.
"I still get goose bumps when I hear 'An Opening for a Princess' (one of the first songs in the show)," he said. "I always said, if there was any one show I wanted to do, this was it."
Meyers oversees a cast of 32 for this rollicking commentary on royal courtship. His wife, Kelly, is the choreographer and Brooke Redwine is the musical director.
"There's lots of 'shtick' in the show to make you laugh," he said. "I'm so grateful that lots of people jumped in and helped out to make this a really enjoyable experience."
"Once Upon a Mattress" will be presented by the Pioneer Valley Players, July 10-13 with a 7:30 p.m. evening curtain and a 2 p.m. matinee at the Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School Theatre, 708 Warrior Road. Tickets are $7 and available at the door or in advance from any cast member. Questions may be directed to 251-1113.
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