"ONCE UPON A MATTRESS"

“ONCE UPON A MATTRESS”
I never thought that I would ever attend a theatrical play with a
9:00 a.m. start time. Last Friday morning it happened. I saw “Once Upon a Mattress” at our local Fairfield High School. I suspect that the unusual start time was to accommodate a few of us Seniors, along with about 100 youngsters, who are students at local elementary schools - kindergarten through the third grade.
There were only five of us from Quail Creek - three with power chairs, and two of us ambulatory. Some ate box - breakfasts en-route to the high school. I decided to go to the dining room when the doors opened
at 8. I was able to have a “wiki-wiki” breakfast before the bus left at 8:30.
The play was held in the drama class auditorium - a small and intimate room, with folding metal chairs. There must have been over 100 kids there. It was bedlam - with all of their energy and enthusiasm at full throttle. (Why does such energy have to be “wasted” on the very young?) I was having difficulty picturing me coping with such noise for over two hours. But, once the curtain went up, there wasn’t a peep out of any of them. I was amazed how attentive they were. Their powers of concentration were probably better than mine. They showed intense interest.
The play originally opened over 50 years ago, at an off-Broadway theatre in New York. The music for the comedy was written by Mary Rodgers. The play was a take-off, based on “The Princess and the Pea” by Hans Christian Andersen. Carol Burnett made her debut in this play. The play is popular with high school drama programs.
The high school players did a great job. The play was filled with high energy action. We didn’t receive a program, but I would guess that there were at least 30 actresses and actors! A personable young man greeted us at the school. He told me that he made the stage settings and the props. He did a great job. In talking with him, I asked him where he got his “know how”. He told me that his dad was a contractor, and he worked for him. He told me he was a senior. I asked him what he would like to major in and he said “History”, which was interesting to me. Then, he went on to say that he was going to enlist in the Marines, after he graduates in June. He was quite an impressive young man! So, I tried pitching the military academies. But, he wasn’t interested. He wants to be a Marine.
After the performance, the whole cast filled the stage. Their drama instructor stood in front of them, and asked the kids if they had any questions of the cast? I only heard the first two questions, as we had to leave. But, they were very good ones. Their questions showed that the “askers” had really paid attention during the play. I only wish that I could have heard the rest of their questions, and the answers by the cast. It was really a great experience for me to be sitting so close to all of the action. I really enjoyed the play. It was a great learning experience for me!



RCL - 3/21/10.