A test: twenty mattresses. One desperate prince. Twelve princesses down. One remains. Once Upon A Mattress at Archmere Academy turned the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Princess and the Pea, into a comedic, if at times riqué, party of a performance. 

Originally opening on Broadway in 1959, the musical follows the meek Dauntless the Drab in his search for love under the controlling eye of his mother, Queen Aggravain, and his mute and lewd father, King Sextimus. Since “no one may wed, ’till Dauntless shares his wedding bed,” the desperate Sir Harry, in the shadow of a looming pregnancy, sets out on a quest to find a princess and returns with Winnifred the Woebegone. This vivacious and endearing newcomer causes quite the stir in the court. 

Through palpable enthusiasm from a dedicated cast, Archmere Academy expertly captured the scale and drama of this lively show. From energized and dazzling numbers like “Shy” and “Song of Love” all the way through to the final bow, every single performer, leading or not, fully embodied their characters with energy and heart. The production’s technical elements transformed between scenes to match the plot, highlighting the craft of both cast and crew.

The standout performance of the night came from the effervescent and absolutely hysterical Serena Martin as Winnifred the Woebegone. From her show-stopping vocals to her superb comedic timing, Martin’s technical execution blended perfectly with her wit and charm to provide an emotional core to the show. Rob Smith encapsulated all of the quirky awkwardness and lovable innocence of Dauntless, not to mention his stellar singing, to create an adorable pair with Martin.

Further adding to the outstanding cast, Jack Maister as King Sexitimus amusingly communicated with the audience without needing his voice at all. His rambunctious and persistent physicality worked with his partners in crime on stage, the marvelous and musical Minstrel (Ray Bellace) and the remarkably funny Jester (Kaitlyn Kaulback), to add sneaky subplots that strengthened the show. The ensemble brought energy and life that served as a wonderful backdrop to the plot. There were consistently stellar dance and vocal performances from everyone in the cast. 

The set, expertly designed by Archmere’s Preparé Set Crew, was modular by design and moved to accommodate the plethora of locations necessary for the show. This included an impressive technical feat where tents were flown in and expanded right on stage, far beyond the standard scope of a high school production. The costumes were masterfully customized for the performance with specific details that furthered the plot, highlighting Ray Bellace’s (who also plays the Minstrel) prowess as a designer. In another multi-talented cast member playing double duty, Kaitlyn Kaulback’s marketing technique included many unique and helpful elements like customized balls and a painted rock advertising the show! 

Archmere Academy’s Once Upon A Mattress was a lively, witty, hoot of a show that left the audience with smiles on their faces. Certainly not a sleepy soul in sight!