Once Upon a Mattress

By: MaKayla Meier

Once upon a time at a school named Red Rock Central there was a musical preparing to be performed, and it contained romance, suspense, and a little bit of laughter. The Red Rock Central drama department is gearing up for the musical Once Upon a Mattress, and it is bound to be a wonderful production.

Once Upon a Mattress is a comedy about the age old story of the Princess and the Pea. In this story though, it’s a little different. A controlling queen named Aggravane has a tight grasp on her son, Dauntless, and until he marries, no one else can be married. Many princesses come to try for his hand, thirteen in fact, but the queen has a couple of tests up her sleeve. Every princess is given a test, and if she doesn’t pass, she is not a true princess and cannot marry Dauntless. Tying the story all together are the King, Jester, Minstrel, and Storyteller. They will surely have you laughing the whole time. Behind all the main drama, a lady in waiting named Larkin and her love interest, Sir Harry, have a problem; they need to get married before they are thrown out of the kingdom. Sir Harry goes to find a princess to pass the Queen’s test, and what he finds is not what anyone expected. Crazy Winnifred the Woebegone comes from the swamps but is a registered princess, and so she gets a test. Whether she passes or not is a mystery unless you come see this production will be performed November 9th at 7:00 p.m. and November 10th at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

This musical is put on by a huge cast and leading the way are ten characters. The Minstrel is played by Tyler Luttman, and his partner-in-crime is the Storyteller, Thomas Blomgren. The controlling Queen Aggravane is played by Alicia Vogel, and her husband the King Sextimus is played by Shoua Vang. Lance Mattison plays the part of Prince Dauntless the Drab, with his special love interest being Winnifred the Woebegone played by MaKayla Meier. The young love couple, Lady Larkin and Sir Harry, are played by Anna Hagan and Austin Price. The Queen’s right hand man, the Wizard, is played by Carter Engen. The King’s right hand man, Jester, is played by Joel Derickson. Every role in a musical is an important one, and the supporting roles are played by Josh Mattison, Aurelien Jogen, Kate Hagan, Melanie Kedl, Libbey Warner, Elizabeth Holck, Anya Mattison, Hannah Engen, Jada Hill, Tyra Missling, Mikayla Hubin, Michelle Koppen, Kallie Mattison, Melody Buffalo, Brandon VanMeveren, Alexis Osland, Alex Evans, Ethan Derickson, Tyler Martius, Payton Vold, Devon Evans, Jeff Coners, Caleb Nielsen, Alex Thillen, Courtney Teveldal, Amber Wacker, Morgan Mattison, Emma Stavnes, Jamie Derickson, Rachel Kedl, Alison Doyle, Abigail Meier, and Amber Evans. For the backstage crew there are five good workers: Chloe Arfsten, Mitchell Schultz, Zach Kircher, Elijah Meier, and Ryan Determan. The directors for this musical are Susan Wilmes, Tasha Frasher, Robert Van Maasdam, and Ron Kelsey. Can’t have a musical without the music! The pit orchestra consists of Tasha Frasher-clarinet, Jeremiah Frasher-drums, Aleida Helgeson-flute, Michael Helgeson- french horn, John Derickson-trumpet, Brenda Derickson-trumpet, Paula Derickson-tuba, Russel Derickson-trombone, and Robet Van Maasdam-piano.

Tickets are now on sale, so don’t wait too long. Tickets can be purchased at the door or reserved in advance by calling the high school office. Adult tickets are $8.00 and students $5.00. Seats fill up fast! Come to the Red Rock Central Drama department’s production of Once Upon a Mattress and see for yourself if everyone lives happily ever after.

Cast practicing their dance moves for the Spanish Panic.

Sir Harry and Lady Larkin

King Sextimus, Prince Dauntless and Queen Aggravane

Full Cast