ONCE UPON A MATTRESS – Music by Mary Rodgers; Lyrics by Marshall Barer; book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer; Directed by Kenny Moten; Choreographed by Christopher Page Sanders; Musical Direction by Jordan Ortman. Produced by the Arvada Center (6901 Wadsworth Boulevard, Arvada) through December 29. Tickets available at 720-898-7200 or ArvadaCenter.org.
Sometimes you just need a laugh. The holidays are a good time to partake of this life-affirming practice, often indulged in by families and friends gathered over food. Even occasionally on family treks to the theatre in a time-honored tradition of re-visiting yet another production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Does the Arvada Center follow tradition? Not always. This year their light-hearted holiday offering is the very charming ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, a musical riff on the Princess and the Pea legend. Not a sprig of holly or a Ghost of any Christmas in sight.
To illustrate the silliness of this script, our heroine, Princess Winnifred (Fred to her friends), enters the scene with a song proclaiming “I’m Shy” as she bounces around the stage like a kangaroo, winning the hearts of all the courtiers in the castle with her extroverted charm. There is nothing shy about this exuberant performance by Alana Watters, returning to Arvada after playing the statelier role of the Fairy Godmother in last year’s CINDERELLA. She is down-to-earth, practical, full of joy, susceptible to kindness, and oblivious to the offhand cruelty of her nemesis, Queen Aggravain. The interplay between the two women and the Prince looking for a wife is glorious.
Joanie Brosseau-Rubald is such a joy to watch in everything she does. Straight role or musical, she grabs it the hair and heart to make it her own. As she does with the maternal role of the Queen who wants to keep her son to herself. Therefore, she does everything she can to sabotage all the “real” princesses who come to audition for the role of the Princess Bride. Joannie’s prickly Queen sets the almost-but-not-quite over-the-top mood of the production.
A subplot reveals the dilemma of two members of the royal court. Tradition demands that couples cannot marry until Prince Dauntless, the Queen’s son, gets wed. Therefore, the frantic search for a Princess is abetted by the rather desperate and frustrated members of the court. Lady Larken and Sir Harry have a particularly pressing reason to desire an immediate wedding. Performed by Elizabeth Halren and Mathenee Treco, their relationship is feisty and fun and their duets breathtaking.
EJ Dohring returns to Arvada and puts on his best pair of doofus shoes to bring us Prince Dauntless. By the time all the other Princesses-in-waiting have been sent away by the equally dauntless Queen, the Prince has had all of his daunt drained by disappointment. But the sight of Winifred making her dramatic entrance decidedly not dry delights him. He is captured by her difference-ness, becomes dreamy and, once again, full of daunt. EJ personifies a goofy teenager in the throes of first love. So much fun to watch.
These primary characters are ably supported by Brian Watson as the narrator/Minstrel; Megan Van De Hay as the wise and womanly wizard; Colin Alexander as the silent King Sixtimus and the Jester, David Otto. David is one of those hard-working actor/dancers who has filled ensemble roles with quiet grace and competence for years. It’s wonderful to see him get a breakout role like this and take the lead in the dance number “Very Soft Shoes.”
Director Kenny Moten always seems to recognize and reward the truly talented members of his casts, giving each a few moments in the spotlight. He brings the thirteen members of this ensemble to the forefront to showcase a taste of their talent. All are given lines and solo moments in the dance numbers. Kenny has diligently worked his way into becoming one of the busiest and most in-demand directors in Colorado. Deservedly so – but let’s just say I first met Kenny as a dancing candy cane in yet another holiday extravaganza. And he was brilliant in that role as well.
Once again, the technical crew and backstage workers at the Arvada Center come through professionally in their support of this production. It’s always a pleasure to welcome Christopher Page Sanders back to town for the style and charm of his choreography. Justin Ortman conducts the big sound of music which comes forth from under the stage created by his eight-piece orchestra. Another beautifully layered set designed by Brian Mallgrave has been brought to the stage by Nick Cimyotte and the carpenters and painters on his crew. The colorful and beautifully made costumes were designed by Madison Booth and constructed by the drapers and stitchers on her crew. Although I never did quite figure out the Wizard’s look. The props and set dressings were collected and curated by the three members of the prop shop while Casey Burnham and Jon Olson brought the sound and light designs of Max Silverman and Kate Bashore to life with the assistance of board and spotlight operators. Everything was kept running smoothly by the expertise of Christine Rose Moore and her crew of ninja warriors, both front of house and backstage. It takes a village to create a kingdom.
A WOW factor of 8.75!