Once Upon a Mattress
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Cititour.com Review
“Once Upon a Mattress,” the musical reinvention of the fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea,” began life a summer camp production and has since gone on to have countless high school productions (as well as two lives on Broadway). So it’s not surprising, perhaps, that there’s a certain simplicity as well to Jack Cummings III’s production for Transport Group, now at the Abrons Art Center. But there’s no need to sigh alas and alack for the lack of trimmings: all the less-than-inspired costumes, basic choreography, and barely-there set are more than made up for by Cummings’ uniquely talented and idiosyncratic cast.
Is it possible not to laugh at Jackie Hoffman, who brings her peerless comic timing along with a surprisingly accomplished vocal range to the anything-but-demure Princess Winifred? A determined (and here not-so-young) woman, Winifred has literally swum her way into the court of the haughty Queen Agravain (John “Lypsinka” Epperson) and mute King Sextimus (David Greenspan) seeking to marry their son, the drab if lovably goofy Prince Dauntless (the adorkable Jason Sweet Tooth Williams, practically channeling Seth Rogen). Fortunately, this go-for-broke comedienne enlivens every scene in she’s in, though it’s surprising to realize how much of the show doesn’t revolve around Winifred at all.
Indeed, that monstrous mommie dearest, Queen Agravain, seems like the star role, in large part because of Epperson’s giant stature (in every sense of the word). While Epperson adds some of his own funny bits to the script (by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and lyricist Marshall Barer), he’s really best when he’s “doing” his celebrated alter-ego full on, from the arched eyebrows to the gesturing hands. And it was inspired casting to use Greenspan, who has one of the most distinctive voices in show business, in a non-speaking role, though this delicious actor proves he can get a laugh with a facial expression or a bit of mime.
Indeed, as good as the “headliners” are, it may be the supporting players you remember, including the velvet-voiced Hunter Ryan Herdlicka as the Minstrel (who narrates the show in the opening number “Many Moons Ago), Zak Resnik as the dashing Sir Harry and the lovely Jessica Fontana as feisty Lady Larkin (who duet sweetly on “In a Little While”), and especially the triply-talented Cory Lingner as the Jester, who literally stops the second act with his divine dancing in “Very Soft Shoes.”
Those songs, along with the famous “Shy,” the clever “Happily Ever After” and the very pretty “Normandy,” are just part of the very fine score by Barer and the late Mary Rodgers. True, not all of these tunes are smoothly integrated into the musical, which is in many ways more a series of interconnected skits than a well-plotted book show. But even if this “Mattress” has a few lumps, it’s a very comfortable way to pass the time.
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
http://transportgroup.org/once-upon-mattress
Open/Close Dates
Opening 12/13/2015
Closing 1/3/2016
Box Office
866-811-4111
Theatre Info
Abrons Arts Center
466 Grand St.
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
New York, NY 10002
Map
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