by Jacqui Renwick
The music and drama departments at H. J. Cody High School are presenting the Rogers and Hammerstein musical comedy Once Upon a Mattress during six performances in the middle of March.
All is not well in a fictional medieval kingdom where manipulating Queen Aggravain rules and her husband, King Sextimus the Silent, suffers from a curse that makes him mute.
Their son, Prince Dauntless the Drab, is of marriageable age but the queen concocts convincing plans that eliminate any interested princesses.
The whole kingdom waits in agony for Dauntless to find a princess because no one in the kingdom can marry until Dauntless does.
Just when they think there are no more princesses in the kingdom, and much to the dismay of Queen Aggravain, Winnifred the Woebegone swims the moat to try for Dauntless’ hand in marriage!
Mayhem and shenanigans ensue on a rollicking road to happily ever after that forms the basis of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy Once Upon a Mattress, which is a charming retelling of the fairy tale “The Princess and Pea”.
Casting for this production began in September and work began in mid-October to stage this musical comedy fairy tale with lots of twists and turns along the way.
The cast, crew, and musicians include students from grade 9-12 enrolled in Advanced Acting, work experience, or extracurricular music. Students have been working on their vocal skills by being a part of the choir and special music rehearsals for the cast.
Shows are taking place Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Mar. 12-15 at 7 p.m.
There are two shows Saturday, Mar. 16 (at 1:30 and 7 p.m.). The Friday evening performance includes 50 of the 200 seats available for a dinner theatre as a fundraiser for the H. J. Cody Grad committee.
The show is all ages but we recommend five and over.
Tickets are $12 on sale now at the main office of H. J. Cody School or at the door if not sold out.
Contact the school office at 403-887-2412 with any questions.