Overview
Synopsis
Our story begins in a faraway kingdom long ago. Due to an unhappy curse, King Sextimus is unable to speak. Meanwhile, his terror-of-a-wife, Queen Aggravain, has taken over control of the kingdom. Most importantly, in an attempt to keep Prince Dauntless single, she has decreed that only the princess that can pass her test may marry her son. Further, no one else in the kingdom may marry until Prince Dauntless does. Lady Larken and Sir Harry are extremely disturbed by this fact since Lady Larken is now pregnant with Sir Harry's baby.
Luckily, Sir Harry is able to find an amazing princess, Winnifred the Woebegone. She instantly catches the attention of Prince Dauntless, and in the end, is able to pass the Queen's supposedly impassable sensitivity test. When the Queen still tries to prevent the Prince Dauntless from marrying, he tells her to 'shut up' which ends up breaking the curse on the king. Now able to speak, King Sextimus regains his rightful position as leader of the kingdom, and all is well. Mary Rodger’s classic Once Upon A Mattress is a delightful musical that is sure to become a fan favorite in theatres everywhere!
Show Information
- Book
- Dean Fuller , Jay Thompson
- Music
- Mary Rodgers
- Lyrics
- Marshall Barer
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- The Princess and the Pea (fairy tale)
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1959
- Genres
- Comedy, Fairy Tale/Fantasy
- Settings
- Fantasy/Imaginary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- a far off place, a castle, medieval
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, High School, Large Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Young Adult, Adult, Early Teen, Late Teen, Elderly Characters
Context
Mattress was originally written as a one-act version of the classic fairy tale The Princess and the Pea for the Tamiment adult summer resort in 1958. After its initial popularity, it was developed for the professional stage and premiered off-Broadway in 1959. Although reviews were mixed, the show has surprised many critics with its enduring popularity, making it an ideal choice for high school and community theater programs everywhere.
The show’s music was written by Mary Rodgers,
to read the context for Once Upon a Mattress and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Our story begins in a faraway medieval kingdom, very long ago. The kingdom is ruled by Queen Aggravain and her mute husband, King Sextimus the Silent. Sextimus was struck dumb by a witch’s curse when his son was a baby. The curse states that Sextimus will remain silent until “the mouse devours the hawk.”
The court’s Minstrel sings the classic tale of The Princess and the Pea, although he informs the audience that this version is not the truth-- which he ought to know, since he
to read the plot for Once Upon a Mattress and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Silent |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Silent |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
|
Songs
Act I
- Overture - Orchestra
- Many Moons Ago - Minstrel
- An Opening for a Princess - Prince Dauntless, Lady Larken, Ensemble
- In a Little While - Sir Harry, Lady Larken
- In a Little While (reprise) - Sir Harry, Lady Larken
- On a Stormy Night - Minstrel
- Shy - Princess Winnifred, Knights and Ladies
- The Minstrel, the Jester, and I - Minstrel, Jester, King Sextimus
- Sensitivity - Queen Aggravain, Wizard
- The Swamps of Home - Princess Winnifred, Prince Dauntless, Ladies-in-Waiting
- Normandy - Minstrel, Jester, Larken, King Sextimus
- Spanish Panic - Orchestra, Ensemble
- Song of Love - Prince Dauntless, Princess Winnifred, Ensemble
Act II
- Entr'acte - Orchestra
- Quiet - Queen Aggravain, Ensemble
- Goodnight, Sweet Princess - Prince Dauntless (Revival only)
- Happily Ever After - Princess Winnifred
- Man to Man Talk - Prince Dauntless, King Sextimus
- Very Soft Shoes - Jester
- Yesterday I Loved You - Sir Harry, Lady Larken
- Nightingale Lullaby - Nightingale of Samarkand
- Finale - Prince Dauntless, Princess Winnifred, Queen Aggravain, King Sextimus, Ensemble
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A genre of story involving magical and fantastical elements, sometimes adapted for theatrical performance.
A period of artistic flourishing, often referring to 1940s-60s Broadway or English Renaissance theatre. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
Broadway musicals from the 1940s–60s, known for integrating plot and song, such as *Oklahoma!* and *The Sound of Music*.
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