"Once Upon a Mattress" tells the story of the Princess and the Pea, with a twist here and there. It seems that everyone in the kingdom wants Prince Dauntless (Mike Jacobs) to marry except his mother, Queen Aggravaine (Ellen Hardesty) who finds no princess suitable for her son. Since no one in the kingdom may marry until Dauntless does, the ladies and knights of the court are desperate, especially Lady Larkin (Shelley Lillibridge) and Sir Harry (Eric Burton) who find themselves facing a dilemma. Enter Winifred (Caroline Heading) who swims—yes, swims!—the moat—yes, the moat! as she has heard that the kingdom has “An Opening for a Princess.” And then the games begin! You won’t want to miss the fun when everyone (well, almost) tries to find a way to bring the “moat-crossed” couple together so all may live “Happily Ever After.”

You won’t want to miss Jeff Wherley as the mute King Sextimus when he “explains” the birds and the bees to Dauntless, Doug Wachtel as the bungling but well-meaning Wizard, or Brice Yost (the Jester) reminiscing about his father’s “Very Soft Shoes.” Jeff Leonard (the Minstrel) tells the story and joins the hijinx of Sextimus and the Jester as they try to dissuade Lady Larken from running away to “Normandy.” Rounding out the cast are the ladies and knights of the court: Jamie Hostetler, Jon Cotterman, Rob Miller, Luke Widder, Robin Talley-Virostko, Julie Rice, Sarah Barnes, Anne Thomas, Sheridan Adams, Layla Eckelberry, and KaLyn Markley.

Susan Gordon and Mike Abood join forces once again as director and musical director, with Jackie Mishler producing, Glenn Mishler stage managing, Jane Crow on the piano, and Breanne Miller and Brittany Markley choreographing the dance numbers.

Production dates are March 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 2005. Curtain is 8:00 each evening. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students high school and under. While based on a fairy tale, this production is not a children’s play and some portions are not appropriate for younger children.

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