ONCE UPON A MATTRESS – FUN FAMILY FARE

Iowa Lakes Community College is proud to present “Once Upon A Mattress,” from April 3-5. These performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on the Estherville Campus.

“Once Upon A Mattress” is rated G for general audiences, but has adult humor in a ‘Shrek’ sort of way,” says director Carol Ayres.

Based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, “The Princess and The Pea”, this classical Broadway musical spins the tale of a medieval kingdom's search for a proper princess to marry the hapless Prince Dauntless the Drab. Everyone in the kingdom wants to see the lonely prince engaged (because no one in the kingdom can get married until he does!) Everyone, that is, except the domineering Queen Aggravain, unwilling to cut the royal apron strings.

Enter Princess Winnifred the Woebegone, loud, brave and dripping wet (having swum the moat!). She boldly declares herself a contender for the Prince's hand. But to show she is a true princess, she must prove that she is too delicate to sleep on 20 mattresses if there is even a tiny pea underneath them. The Queen plots a huge party to make sure the Princess will be up all night dancing and be so tired she would fall asleep on a pile of rocks! Even though there are many twists to this familiar story, there is still a ‘happily ever after’ ending.

Based on the book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer, with music by Mary Rodgers and lyrics by Barer, the story ends on a positive note and will appeal to audiences of all ages. It is presented through special arrangements with the Rodgers and Hammerstein Theatre Library in New York.