Best Shoes’s Blog

Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s tale The Princess and the Pea, Once Upon a Mattress opened in May 1959 and was a solid success, if not a huge blockbuster. It did well enough, in any case, to warrant a 1997 revival starring Sarah Jessica Parker. The show was far from revolutionary, but it provided a really fun vehicle for a cast of top stage personalities, including black actress Jane White, who played Queen Aggravain (a part originally written for comedienne Nancy Walker) in whiteface. But of course, Once Upon a Mattress’s heart and soul was Carol Burnett, who, in her Broadway debut created the part of Princess Winnifred and delivered two of Mary Rodgers’s best songs, the hilarious “Shy” and the spunky “Happily Ever After,” which sounds a bit like Jule Styne at his most rhythmic. Burnett’s timing and performance remain as sharp as they were 40 years ago. –Elisabeth Vincentelli
Customer Review: Delightful fantasy
Later in her career, Carol Burnett turned to loud humor based on family conflict, and I lost my taste for her. However, this is early Carol Burnett and displays her at her best. I would also add that she did an excellent turn as the queen in the recent television version of this musical. There is a wonderful line in the play, just after Winifred’s appearance climbing over the wall, that establishes her character, even before “I’m Shy.” She looks at the crowd and exclaims, “I swam the moat.” My remembrance of the Burnett television showing was that she gave an emphasis to the line. Both the Ullman telecast and the one community theater presentation I have seen threw the line away, and the point is largely missed. I thought I recalled the emphasis on this recording, but the line is not included. As good as Burnett is here, she is not the only show. The story is playful, the music carries the plot, the rest of the cast are all beautiful in their roles. This recording preserves an important part of musical comedy history.
Customer Review: Mattress reviewed
Since I am in an amateur production of this show, I found the original cast recording delightful and instructional to listen to. I’m sure those who are familiar with the show will agree with me that it’s well worth adding to your collection. Carol Burnette is especially delightful as Pincess Winnefred.