Parkland Secondary’s musical theatre students are busy rehearsing for the upcoming production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Once Upon a Mattress, a whimsical spoof on the fairy tale The Princess and the Pea.
This delightful musical will challenge everything you think you know about the original story — was it really the pea that caused Princess Winnifred a sleepless night?
Once Upon a Mattress features lovable characters like Prince Dauntless the Drab, the nasty Queen Aggravain, heroic knights, delicate princesses, hopeful ladies-in-waiting, a loyal jester, a tricky wizard and a mute king under a horrid spell.
Carried on a wave of wonderful songs, this medieval tale is both hilarious and romantic with lots of side-splitting shenanigans.
This year’s cast and crew features over 70 students from Grades 9 through 12 who have been working hard under the tutelage of choreographer Stacey Firth, director and producer Christine Irving, musical director Jan Heinrichs and set design teacher Tyler Caddell.
The show opens Wednesday, Feb. 11 and runs through Saturday, Feb. 14 with nightly shows at 7 p.m. sharp.
Tickets can be purchased for reserved seating at the front office of Parkland Secondary, 10640 McDonald Park Road in North Saanich, or by calling the school box office at 250-655-2736.
— Submitted by Parkland Secondary School’s drama class