“Once Upon a Mattress,” a parody musical adapted from the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, “The Princess and the Pea,” is being staged at Neuqua Valley High School Thursday through Saturday.
“Certainly, it is an oldie but a goodie,” teacher and director Johnathan Pontarelli said. “Shows like ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ are so often produced because of the themes that resonate (with audiences).”
Among those themes are gender roles, equality and beauty, Pontarelli said.
“Through the art of theater, audiences will be able to connect with these themes, especially if they have ever encountered an overbearing potential mother-in-law like the character Winnifred does,” he said.
The production features more than 150 students in the cast, crew and pit orchestra.
“The cast is a very enthusiastic bunch and they’re always willing to try something new for the betterment of the production,” Pontarelli said. “Even though it is a classic musical, we have added new bits and shtick that will give the show a contemporary flare.”
Zach Honer plays Prince Dauntless, an everyday type of prince who is desperately looking for a wife despite the challenges his overbearing mother keeps throwing his way.
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“Dauntless is an incredibly fun character to play,” Honer said. “He is a crazy child, a loving dog, a whiny baby and a caring man all mixed into one prince. He is goofy and definitely not afraid of letting the women in his life take charge.”
Honer said audiences should expect to laugh a lot, and they will leave the show with a nice message.
“Expect an extremely silly show,” Honer said. “It gets crazy and weird but in all the best ways. The cast is putting forth all of their energy in order to get a laugh from the audience and allow each and every audience member to leave feeling more lighthearted and whimsical.”
“Once Upon a Mattress” will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at Neuqua Valley High School Auditorium, 2360 95th St., Naperville. Tickets are $8 for students and seniors, $12 for adults. Information: www.nvhstheatre.com
