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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

Music
Mary Rodgers
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
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

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Prince Dauntless

Lead

Male

Tenor

Princess Winnifred the Woebegone

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Queen Aggravain

Lead

Female

Alto

Jester

Supporting

Male

Tenor

King Sextimus the Silent

Supporting

Male

Silent

Lady Larken

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Minstrel

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Wizard

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Sir Harry

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Lady Mabelle

Featured

Female

Alto

Lady Rowena

Featured

Female

Soprano

Nightingale of Samarkand

Featured

Female

Soprano

Princess No. 12

Featured

Female

Spoken

Kitchen Wench

Featured

Female

Silent

Sir Studley

Featured

Male

Tenor

Sir Luce

Ensemble

Male

Tenor

Ladies-in-waiting, Knights, Soldiers, Servants, Musicians

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

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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