mean?
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Not So Common Players Announce Auditions for “Once Upon a Mattress”
Posted by Gail M. Burns - March 2010
Once Upon a Mattress
Audition Notice
April 11th and 13th at the Shenendehowa Adult Community Center.
Sunday—registration 1:00 pm
Tuesday—registration 6:30 PM
Performances on the Clifton Common
July 16, 17, 18 and 22, 23, 24, 25
Prepare 16 bars of a Broadway Show Tune and bring sheet music; no a-capella singing; wear comfortable clothes for a brief movement audition. Accompanist provided.
Many moons ago in a far off place
Lived a handsome prince with a gloomy face
For he did not have a bride
Alas, the prince couldn’t find a lass
Who would suit his mother’s pride.
Once Upon a Mattress is the musical telling of the fable “The Princess and the Pea.” It takes place in an enchanted kingdom during a time of damsels, castles, swords, etc., etc.
As our story begins we learn of the poor prince’s pitiable predicament. And why should it be thus? It seems Her Royal Highness the Queen has rather royal high standards for her heir. What’s more, she has decreed that until there is held a royal wedding there will be no nuptials of any kind! Naturally, the townspeople (certainly the eligible ladies and gents) are rather anxious at this unnatural state of affairs. Or, er, lack of affairs. Seizing the initiative (and an offstage steed), a noble, brave, and yes, handsome knight sets out on a quest to find a worthy woman for woyal wooing.
Thence from another enchanted kingdom arrives a remarkable woman, eager to display her qualifications for the prince’s hand, not to mention the rest of him. She sings! She dances! She does long division in her head! But little does she realize that, in order to succeed, she will have to meet a never-before-met challenge both tall and…small.
Character Breakdown
Solo singing roles:
Winnifred (25+) – Our heroine. Spririted and fun, gracious and friendly, with perhaps a quirk or two. Most of all, self-confidence personified (and for our story, a good physical comedienne, too)
Queen Aggravain (50s-60s) – The domineering ruler of the kingdom. Smart, self-centered and shrewish. While married to the King, the only one in her world who really matters is…
Dauntless (30s-40s) – The long-frustrated prince, forever hopeful of finding a bride. Meek and good, if maybe a little too meek and good
Lady Larken (18-20s) – A member of the royal court, she is the “girl most likely to ___.” While not exactly a dreamer, she is a happy romantic, and just wild about…
Harry (20s-30) – A noble, brave, and yes, handsome knight (see above). A swell fella, gallant chap, and expectant daddy
Wizard (40s+) – Right hand henchman to the queen. Devious, conniving, cheats on his taxes. Actor may be left-handed
Minstrel (20s+, male or female) – Our intrepid narrator. Have lute, will travel
Jester (20s+, male or female) – A jester
Note: The Minstrel and Jester will mingle and ad-lib amongst the audience pre-curtain
Ensemble singing roles, various ages teen to adult:
Lady Rowena
Lady Lucille
Lady Merrill
Knight 1
Knight 2
Knight 3
Lady H
Luce
Luce’s Lady
Studley
Mabelle
Non-singing role:
King Sextimus (50s-60s) – Warm, beloved, grand liege of the land. How unfortunate to be a victim of a curse that has rendered him mute, only able to communicate with gesture and pantomime. Nothing to sing, no lines to memorize? It’s good to be king!
Possible adds: townspeople, children (able to sing and move)
Questions may be directed to the director—Sky Vogel: skyvogel@aol.com