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once upon a mattress

Once Upon a Mattress has once again come and gone to the Jacksonville stages. This musical has been popular over the years, and it is always fun to do and fun to see. It proved to be an excellent choice for the sponsors, The Nathan H. Wilson Center for the FCCJ Artist Series, since it is one of those flexible shows with a cast that numbered 78. This is an after-the-fact review, but it is important nonetheless, as often reviews are the only permanent public record of artist achievement in the community. This production certainly deserves to be remembered.

If you read fairy tales, you probably remember the prince who would only be allowed to marry a princess delicate enough to feel a pea under a stack of twenty-or-so mattresses. Mary Rodgers, daughter of the great Richard Rodgers, wrote the music and it has been a part of the musical theatre repertory since Carol Burnett originated the role of Winifred the Woebegone many years ago.

Beth Harvey, Operations Manager of the Wilson Center, has been the Producer/Program Director of this show and last year’s Guys and Dolls. She is one of the reasons both have been so successful. She is an outstanding professional and she assembled like-minded talent in her staff. Let me drop just a few names; Artistic Director-Matt Hemphill, Music Director/Conductor-Scott Gregg, Vocal Director-Cathy Murphy Giddens, Choreographer-Michell Ottley-Fisher, Technical Director Johnny Pettegrew. The names of the remainder of the extensive staff could fill this review and it is through their creative talents that this show, for a second year, is one of the most professionally staged musical theatre productions by actors under the age of twenty that could be seen anywhere in the county. I’d bet on that.

The sets by Johnny Pettegrew, Scene Shop Supervisor Robert Rupp and the crew, were big and bold and I felt transported back to the castles of medieval times. The costume crew keeps topping themselves, as they produced colorful, eye-popping creations for the entire ensemble. Broadway could not have done them any better.

The leading characters were well cast and possesed excellent voices and fine stage presence. I was impressed by Tyler Hardwood (Prince Dauntless), Nick Jones (Sir Harry), Cody Russell (Minstrel), Ashton Vincent (Lady Larkin), Walter Ware II (Wizard) and Samuel Smid (King Sextimus). Fletcher High School senior, David Paul Kidder as the Jester, brought down the house with his dance solo ‘Very Soft Shoes.’ As I have written in the past, he is the best dancer in Jacksonville and a joy to watch.

Julia Fallon, who was remarkable as Adelaide in Guys and Dolls last year, was even better as Queen Aggravain in this year’s show. Playing a woman at least twice as old as her, Ms. Fallon was convincing and funny as the bossy mother. Paxon graduate, Katie Swider, is headed for the FSU theatre program. As Princess Winifred (Fred!) she was short, spunky, sassy and sang marvelously. I can’t recall seeing anyone ever doing this role any better.

The cast of “thousands” was excellent in every way, and it was a real treat to see such teamwork and energy on stage from the future stars of musical theatre at the community theatre and professional levels. A combined total of eleven schools were represented on the stage and the word is out that this will expand in future years.

Mark your calendar for next July when the 3rd Annual High School Summer Musical Theatre Experience takes place. Tickets went fast, and as the reputation of this event spreads, so will the demand. Thanks to the l05 people involved in the production. Because of you, Mattress was a masterpiece.