Once Upon a Mattress

Art in Motion Theatre Company presents this very solid, intelligent production of Once Upon a Mattress at Don Russell Performing Arts Centre. Musically strong, with fun choreography and well-rounded performances, this is a pleasure to watch.

This adaptation of The Princess and the Pea is firmly tongue in cheek and the cast give us a metaphorical knowing wink, while never over-stepping into farce or silliness. The tone is set by our sometime narrator, the Minstrel, who addresses the audience directly, played “once more unto the breeches” by Kate O’Sullivan, lending her lovely contralto to this male role.

Micheal Carroll, dressed as if he was four years old by costume designer Oneisha Tamby, is great fun as mummy’s boy Prince Dauntless. Lucy Eyre steals scenes as the garrulous Queen Aggravain, mastering her rapid-fire delivery, while Peter (Pear) Carr endears himself to the audience as the mute King Sextimus.

Unlikely love interest and bonafide princess, Princess Winifred or “Fred”, is played with ring-of-truth awkwardness and tomboy gung-ho by Paige Alexander, in a worthy central performance.

Jason Nettle is very likeable and dances up a storm as the court’s Jester, while Oleksandr Isaiev’s natural Ukrainian accent and stunning curls are an asset in probably his best performance to date, as the Wizard.

Young lovers Sir Harry and Lady Larkin are beautifully portrayed by Felix Malcolm and Arianne Westcott-King; he charms even while talking rot, and she wins sympathy and affection throughout.

A small hardworking and very focused ensemble play minor roles and add atmosphere, including performing the “Spanish Panic” with panache - just some of the excellent choreography by Keri-Rose Baker.

Tara Oorjitham leads an impressive twelve-piece band, visible and seated on stage behind a castle wall. Though this diminishes the already small playing space even further, director Rachel Vonk employs the whole auditorium well, and the small cast means that while the space is small, we never feel cramped. The band also interact with the cast at times, a conceit that plays well. 

Once Upon a Mattress is a well-presented incarnation of this fun musical, that was a joy to watch.

Kimberley Shaw