'Once Upon Mattress' charming

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jan 15, 2008 | by Susan Whitney Deseret Morning News

"ONCE UPON A MATTRESS," Rodgers Memorial Theatre, Centerville, through Feb. 9 (298-1302), running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes (one intermission).

Mary Rodgers' musical, "Once Upon a Mattress," is a perfect choice for the Rodgers Memorial Theatre. What could be more appropriate family fare than a classic comedy performed by a better- than-average community theater?

Saturday night's cast included Sally Ann Paskins as the minstrel, Addison Welch as Prince Dauntless, Maurie Tarbox as Queen Aggravain, Aaron Ford as Sir Harry, Dana Rasmussen as Lady Larken and Taylor Anne Marsden as Princess Winnifred. Jansen Davis directs.

In addition to nice singing voices, this production has the benefit of a set by Roger Cushing and costumes by Tracy Figueroa. Pretty dresses and jewels abound. The castle features a revolving secret passage.

Three of the strongest performances are turned in by Paskins, Tarbox and Marsden. Marsden, especially, does not need a mike to fill the theater with her voice.

Paskins introduces the production with a well-sung explanation of the real story behind the fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea." (Apparently a dozen princesses had already failed a variety of sneaky tests before the world's most easily bruised woman arrived at the castle.) Tarbox is suitably shrill as the manipulating mother who only pretends that she wants her son to marry. Marsden is adorable as the spunky princess from the swamp who has set her sights on a meek-but-sweet guy.

Welch may seem awkward at first, but he comes into his own during "The Song of Love,"("I'm in love with a girl named Fred ... "). And though they initially appeared to be an unlikely casting choice as a couple, Rasmussen and Ford blend their voices well in their duets.

JD Dumas is the music director and Susan Holland choreographs. She makes up in arm motions and swirling what might be lacking in the actors' abilities to do intricate footwork.

Sensitivity rating: An out-of-wedlock pregnancy is at the center of the plot. However, neither the pregnancy nor the lighthearted musical discussion of the birds and the bees is at all explicit.

E-mail: susan@desnews.com