I know it recently got more attention with the Sutton Foster led revival in New York but I’d still say that Once Upon a Mattress is one of the more underrated Broadway shows. It’s a show that has something for everyone and the songs are really good and yet I don’t hear it talked about much when people are discussing Broadway classics. I certainly vastly prefer it over other popular similarly themed shows like Into the Woods. Anyway, Heritage Theatre is currently putting on the show and it is as delightful as one could hope for.

If you are unfamiliar with Once Upon a Mattress it’s basically a retelling of The Princess and the Pea fairytale with a lot of cheeky humor thrown in for the adults to enjoy. The production at Heritage is directed by Alisha Hall and I love how traditional she keeps things. So many community theaters these days are leaning into projections and other modern effects, which I understand the need for but it’s nice to go to Heritage and see hand-made and painted sets and props (set designer Ricky Parkinson and W Derek Hendricks, prop design Megan Geilman.) The costumes designed by their team particularly for Queen Aggravain are also very impressive with elaborate headpieces and crowns you don’t expect to see in a community theater production like this.

The show has also been well cast with couple in real life David and Hannah Atkinson leading the show as Prince Dauntless and Princess Winifred respectively. Amber Kacherian is another standout as the queen, and I always love Lady Larkin and Harry in this musical. Here they are played by Naomi Nielsen and Austin Williams (Larkin and Harry have a lot of the saucier moments of the musical and these 2 can sell the cheeky humor.)

While no community theater production is perfect things went off without much of a hitch during the Saturday afternoon matinee I attended. Some of the highlights are saved for Act II with Kacherian singing “Quiet” and Spot Beecher’s charming iteration of “Very Soft Shoes.” While “Shy” is probably the highlight of Act I my favorite song from Hannah Atkinson is her performance of “Happily Ever After.” She not only has a lovely voice but she sells the exasperated feelings of the princess at that moment.

I bet a lot of my readers haven’t seen Once Upon a Mattress and if this is the case I hope they take advantage of the opportunity to see this production. It’s funny, romantic, sweet and endearing. Plus, they always put on their shows with the heart and soul you want from community theater at Heritage. Unfortunately there are only a few days left to see it so act quickly! It is playing until April 25th and tickets can be purchased here.

Once Upon a Mattress has music by Mary Rodgers and lyrics by Marshall Barer with a book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Barer (the recent revival has an updated book by Amy Sherman-Palladino which I’d love to see someday.) It is based on the fairytale The Princess and the Pea was first performed on Broadway in 1959 with Carol Burnett as the princess. She also played the role in 2 television specials over the years. Sarah Jessica Parker played Winnifred in the 1996 Broadway revival.

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