Musical production runs for two weekends
By Jason Arndt
Editor
An overprotective mother’s ruling on a medieval kingdom takes a humorous and zany turn in Burlington High School’s production of “Once Upon a Mattress.”
The BHS production, which opens Friday and runs for two weekends, features more than 70 students and even an optional dinner on Saturdays.
Penny Yanke, co-show director with Jennie King, said the show is a musical comedy adapted from Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea.”
Since 1959, when it first appeared on Broadway, the show earned two Tony Award nominations in 1960, including Best Musical, as well as Best Revival of a Musical in 1997.
“It is a very fun show, different than the last few shows we have done because it is very light-hearted,” she said.
The show presented through a special arrangement with Rodgers and Hammerstein will be double-cast, according to Yanke.
Medieval comedy
“Once Upon a Mattress” offers viewers a glimpse of a far-off place many moons ago.
There, Queen Aggravain, played by Gracie Geyso and Bella Gatterer, prohibits couples from marrying until her son, Prince Dauntless, finds a bride.
Alex Robers and Luke Ziegler are the two actors portraying Prince Dauntless.
“Princesses came from far and wide to win the hand of the prince, but none could pass the impossible tests given to them by the Queen. That is, until the ‘shy’ swamp princess, Winnifred the Woebegone, showed up,” the show’s synopsis states.
“Would she be able to pass the Sensitivity Test, marry her prince and help Lady Larkin and Sir Harry to the altar?”
Mady Fox and Tia Morby will play Princess Winnifred.
Lady Larken will be played by Viv Lynch and Quinn Turke while Owen Haase and Thomas Martin depict Sir Harry.
Challenging roles
Geyso, a senior, has been involved in BHS musical productions since she was a freshman.
Geyso, however, said depicting Queen Aggravain came with challenges because her character differs from her own personality.
“My character is a lot more outgoing than I am,” she said, adding Queen Aggravain has a brutally honest demeanor.
“I tend to be a little more reserved, so it is fun to step into her shoes, because it is so different than I am,” she said.
Robers, also a senior, reports his role should come easier after playing Seymour Krelborn in last year’s spring musical production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Robers attributes the additional year of experience as the primary reason.
“That production was really strenuous. It was my first big role on the BHS stage. I think that production was one of the best year’s of my life because I got to really step into the role of the actor,” he said.
“I think this year is even better as a senior and with last year’s role, I can just relax and do my thing.”
Fun ensembles, subtle humor
Meanwhile, according to Geyso, the musical numbers are exciting because of the intense energy and camaraderie between cast members.
“I think they should expect a lot of fun and there is a lot of subtle humor, so you got to look out for that,” she said.
“It is very high energy, a lot of ensemble members have really good acts outside of that, so I think that is really interesting.”
Robers agreed, adding he and other performers will strive to offer action packed entertainment.
“We are here to make you laugh and have a good time,” he said.
Show times
The six-show run is slated to open Friday, March 6, in the auditorium of Burlington High School, 400 McCanna Parkway, and will feature two matinee performances.
Evening performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on March 6, 7, 13 and 14, and afternoon shows are set for 2 p.m. on March 8 and March 15.
The Saturday shows, which are March 7 and 14, will offer an optional dinner running from 5:30 until 7 p.m. at a total cost of $20 a ticket.
Otherwise, tickets will come in at $5 per person, and may be purchased at brownpapertickets.com or at the door.
A full list of cast and crew members are as follows:
CAST
- Dauntless (Alex Robers, Luke Ziegler)
- Queen Aggravain (Bella Gatterer, Gracie Geyso)
- King Sextamus (Hauke Olson, Leo Puntillo)
- Winnifred (Mady Fox, Tia Morby)
- Jester (Abigail Boettcher, Maddie Ivkovich)
- Princess No. 12 (Erin Torpy)
- Wizard (Caleb Daubner, Yariel Rodriguez)
- Lady Rowena (Kate Raleigh, Gabby Vanbolhuis)
- Lady Merrill (Amelia Anderson, Katherine Picazo)
- Minstrel (Jacob Busch, AJ Ivkovich)
- Lady Lucille (Gwen Busch, Hannah McMartin)
- Sir Harry (Owen Haase, Thomas Martin)
- Lady Mabelle (Charley Bunker, Megan Vos)
- Sir Studley (Andrea Cutugno, Charles Vincent Hemann)
- Sir Luce (David Smitz)
- Kitchen Wench(s) (Talya Reesman, Trinity Northrup and Sam Darville)
- Nightingale of Samarkand (Erin Torpy)
- Luce’s Lady (Raquel Gomez)
- Lady Larken (Viv Lynch, Quinn Turke)
- 1st Knight (Damion Hulita)
- 2nd Knight (Andrew Picazo)
- 3rd Knight (Thomas Fitch)
ENSEMBLE
Amelia Anderson, Abigail Boettcher, Charley Bunker, Gwen Busch, Jacob Busch, Matilda Crist, Andrea Cutugno, Samantha Darville, Caleb Daubner, Kaelyn Davis, Zahria Davis, Cameron DeGroot, Cecilia Eastridge, Lauren Fitch, Megan Fitch, Thomas Fitch, Mady Fox, Bella Gatterer, Gracie Geyso, Raquel Gomez, Owen Haase, Mariah Hegemann, Charles Vincent Hemann, Emily Hilden, Damion Hulita, Erin Hupy, Kaitlyn Hynes, AJ Ivkovich, Madeline Ivkovich, Viv Lynch, Stacy Machuca, Thomas Martin, Hannah McMartin, Morgan McNamera, Tia Morby, Trinity Northrup, Hauke Olsen, Deirdre O’Sullivan, Andrew Picazo, Katherine Picazo, Leo Puntillo, Courtney Raboine, Kate Raleigh, Talya Reesman, Alex Rich, Alex Robers, Yariel Rodriguez, Brooke Schenning, David Smitz, Erin Torpy, Quinn Turke, Gabrielle Vanbolhuis, Wendy Villagran, Megan Vos, Luke Zigler
CREW
Annathea Brenneman, Bianca Delgado, Ben Laskowski, Karina Martin, Grace McCormick, Jon Morrell, Dori O’Sullivan, Rose Pinter, Claire Reynolds, Connor Schmaling, Ayla Warske, William Wheaton
If you go…
WHAT: “Once Upon a Mattress” presented by Burlington High School
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 6, Saturday, March 7, Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14; 2 p.m. Sunday, March 8 and Sunday, March 15.
The Saturday productions feature a 5:30 p.m. dinner with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. at a total cost of $20.
WHERE: Burlington High School auditorium, 400 McCanna Parkway, Burlington.
TICKETS: Tickets are available for purchase online at brownpapertickets.com at a cost of $5 per person. Cost of Saturday’s dinner as well as the show will be $20. A small service fee applies to each purchase.
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