Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The irrepressible Sutton Foster lifts the goofy but creaky ONCE UPON A MATTRESS to giddy heights

• By drediman
• August 20, 2024
• No Comments

This summer, the Great White Way welcomes a delightful and extremely entertaining revival of the musical Once Upon a Mattress, which arrives at the Hudson Theatre after a successful Encores! run at New York City Center earlier this year. Based on the well-known “The Princess and the Pea” story, the musical features upbeat music by Mary Rodgers (whose work can be heard in its full glory courtesy of a full set of players and Bruce Coughlin’s buoyant orchestrations), as well as a kooky, albeit creaky, book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer — all of which can be enjoyed through the filter of Amy Sherman-Palladino’s goofy, tongue-in-cheek adaptation.

Admittedly, the musical is by no means a masterpiece, but under Lear deBessonet’s colorful, winning direction — and thanks largely to a fantastic cast — there are few more diverting evenings currently to be had at the theater. Indeed, only the hits Oh, Mary! and Titanique rival Once Upon a Mattress as it relates to laughs-per-minute, making the revival ideal summer fare for the entire family. Unsurprisingly, Tony-winner Sutton Foster continues to be perfectly cast as the outrageous Princess Winnifred — the role that catapulted Carol Burnett to stardom — lifting the musical to deliriously giddy heights. In terms of heart, physical comedy, and pure onstage charisma, few can rival the irrepressible stage and screen star. Joining Foster from the previous Encores! run as Prince Dauntless is Michael Urie, who is just as adorable and endearing as he was at City Center. Also returning are the luminous Nikki Renée Daniels as Lady Larken and David Patrick Kelly as King Sextimus — and both also continue to do sterling work.

New to the cast are Ana Gasteyer as Queen Aggravain (replacing Harriet Harris), Will Chase as Sir Harry (replacing Cheyenne Jackson), and Daniel Breaker as the Jester (replacing J. Harrison Ghee). Collectively, they bring distinct new energy to the production, which should entice those who saw the staging at Encores! to revisit it at the Hudson. Gasteyer is a complete joy as the agitating queen — wickedly funny in a craftily calibrated, textured performance — putting all those years of sketch comedy on Saturday Night Live to good use. Chase is also giving an inspired comic performance, upping the hamminess in a turn that all but threatens to chew the scenery. Breaker, last but not least, manages to bring unexpected depth and a knowing wink to a role that also functions as the musical’s narrator.

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ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
Broadway, Musical
Hudson Theatre
2 hours, 15 minutes (with one intermission)
Through November 30