I'm in Love With a Girl Named Fred

Friday night Emily, my cousin Phaedra, and I made the trek out to Draper to experience the Draper Historical Theater's production of "Once Upon A Mattress". I was not at all familiar with the title, but soon learned from the program that it's the story of the Princess and the Pea. Set to music. With some comedy mixed in. What could be better for a night out?

Community theater is quite the experience. As long as you don't go in expecting Broadway-style theater, you'll enjoy yourself. And I certainly did. First of all, there was live accompaniment with a piano player and a flute player. Very cool. I'm always very impressed by music and those who can create it.

The story centers around Prince Dauntless and his quest to find a real Princess, who will be deemed such by his overly-talkative mother, Queen Aggravain (don't the names just put a smile to your face?). Twelve almost-princesses have already been sent away, and the entire Kingdom is anxious for a bride because no one else can marry until the Prince does. The couple most in need of a quick wedding are Sir Harry, the star Knight of the kingdom, and his lady-in-waiting love, Lady Larken, because she's pregnant and well, they're not married.

Wackiness ensues when Sir Harry comes back with Winnifred, a Princess from the swamplands. She swam the moat to get to the castle! Of course the Queen is not thrilled about this, or Fred's seemingly un-Princess-like ways. But Dauntless is smitten and wants Fred to be his wife, and thankfully the feeling is mutual. And now comes the Queen's conniving to make sure Fred won't pass the Princess test.

We of course all now what happens next, but it was fun getting there during the play. There were musical numbers, none better than the rousing, "I'm in Love With a Girl Named Fred." The real title is, "Song of Love," but mine is much more fitting; it involves that great line plus body/hand letter spelling and Fred showing off how cool she is by lifting weights and manhandling the jester. "Song of Love," doesn't quite convey the awesomeness and silliness of the song.

And nothing was as unintentionally funny as when some popcorn that had been used as a prop fell all over the stage as scenes were being changed. It wasn't cleaned up before the next scene, which involved dancing! It got trampled on, and when the lights went down for intermission, the director remarked that now would be time for snacks and for him to clean up his popcorn. It was hilarious, and could quite possibly be the reason why community theater is so fun--no pretentious airs.