An unconventional princess-to-be and a prince who has trouble standing up to his mother lead the comedic production of “Once Upon a Mattress,” starting Thursday at Whiteland Community High School.
The play first hit stages in 1959 and served as the Broadway debut for actress Carol Burnett, launching her into the public eye. Whiteland High School play director Tara Sorg first heard musical numbers from the play a decade ago when she was taking vocal lessons. Sorg said the subversion of stereotypes in the play, including an unconventional lead in prospective princess Winnifred the Woebegone, intrigued her.
“Winnifred goes by Fred and we see her lift weights, drink and wrestle, dance and pantomime. She’s lively, she’s not dainty or demure,” she said. “Dauntless the Drab is not the stereotypical prince. Dauntless is a mama’s boy and hasn’t quite found his voice yet. Dauntless has a hard time standing up to (his mother) because she gets to pick the princess and it’s not his choice.”
During the play, Dauntless’ mother, Queen Aggravain, tests Woebegone to see if she’s fit to be a princess.
Cassandra Hoyt, a sophomore, landed the lead role despite making her theatre debut. Character and dedication, rather than experience, is key in choosing a lead, Sorg said.
“A kid’s character is important to me. Some kids have the benefit of coming in highly recommended by their choir directors or their teachers,” she said. “They’ll say ‘this kid works so hard, they’re a sweetheart.’ I see if they’re highly prepared and what they come to the audition with. It’s great to work with kids I’ve worked with in shows before, but it doesn’t mean they’ll be the lead role if it’s not the right fit.”
The tornado that hit Whiteland on March 31 knocked out a full week of rehearsals, so Hoyt had just a month to prepare for her role. She was apprehensive about the role at first, but those worries have since subsided.
“When I first found out I was the lead, I was a little scared. This was my first ever theatre production I’ve been in and I was thrown in the middle of the lead role,” she said. “As I started rehearsing I got more excited and thought ‘this is so much fun.’ I didn’t realize how difficult learning lines would be, but it’s a lot of fun and I’m very glad I got the lead.”
Zachary Kaylor, a sophomore, plays Sir Harry, a chivalric knight of the herald who finds out his girlfriend is pregnant.
“Sir Harry is a little stuck up. He means well, but he is just oblivious. He became the chivalric knight of the herald and it’s the only thing he focuses on,” Kaylor said. “I thought this would broaden my horizons and I’d get to meet new people. Learning lines is tough and I didn’t know I’d have to wear makeup, but this was a fun surprise.”
Without a strict mold the characters must fit into, Sorg had more flexibility when it came to casting the play, she said.
“As a director, I don’t have to bank on stereotypes of beauty or romance,” Sorg said. “Anyone can play the role as long as they’re an unconventional character.”
Clara Sorensen, a senior, is the stage manager for the production, which runs Thursday, Friday and Sunday after playing the lead role in the fall production of “The Wizard Delivers.” She’ll finish her high school career leading cast transitions and stage directions, working with Sorg and Assistant Director Jeremy Gale, Sorensen said.
“I like being in charge, mostly because I enjoy knowing where everything is. And at the end, you can say everything went smoothly, or most things went smoothly, and I can be glad I facilitated it,” Sorensen said.
The play will be a joyful experience for attendees, Sorg said.
“It’s a great show for all ages. It’s an unlikely princess we can all see ourselves in and an unlikely prince,” she said. “It’s a barrel of laughs, it’s super silly and the kids worked so hard on it. It’s super fun and that fun is contagious.”
IF YOU GO
‘Once Upon a Mattress’
Where: Whiteland Community High School auditorium, 300 E Main St, Whiteland
When: 7:30 pm Thursday and Friday, and 2:30 pm Sunday
How much: $10 for people aged 10 years and older, $5 for people younger than 10
Tickets: Purchase at the door or online at bit.ly/3VNLSeI
