Sassy, silly Once Upon a Mattress

IT HAS SOMETHING to do with a bed and Sarah Jessica Parker, but it is not Sex in

the City. There is nothing kinky in the musical parody Once Upon a Mattress — at least in Ephesus Teatron Group, Inc.’s version — rather, it is full of clean, silly fun.

The tale about the search for the right princess to marry Prince Dauntless is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea.” The musical was first produced in 1959 and was the Broadway debut of the comedienne Carol Burnett who originated the role of Princess Winnifred. It went on to be adapted for television in the US in 1964, 1997, and in 2005. Sex in the

City’s Sarah Jessica Parker took on the role of Princess Winnifred in the 1996 Broadway production which got a Tony nomination for Best Revival of a Musical in 1997.

Once Upon a Mattress — with a book by Jay Thompson, Marshall Barer, and Dean Fuller, and music by Mary Rodgers — goes on stage on Jan. 20 to 22 at the Tanghalang Yaman Lahi Theater, Emilio Aguinaldo College in Ermita, Manila.

To give the well-loved comic musical its own twist, Ephesus Teatron Group, Inc. will incorporate tap dance and livelier music for its production in Manila.

“It’s going to be crazier and more whimsical. The princess has to do much more than sleeping on 20 mattresses,” said its director, Steven Conde, in a press preview on Jan. 6.

“It [originally] has a lot of sexual innuendos, but our staging is more tamed down in terms of these references,” said Mr. Conde. He said the show is for audience members of all ages.

“Winnifred is not your typical princess who should be elegant and prim and proper. She is dignified and is a pure blooded royal princess, but she can adjust to anyone. It’s a good example of a person, who, despite the stance, stays humble and okay with everyone ,” said Sweet Samaniego-Buchanan, the production’ s artistic director and president of the theater group.

Ephesus Teatron, which started in 2012, “leans toward the old style music” and hopes to present more quality shows in the Philippines “despite the ups and downs, especially financially,” said Ms. Buchanan. As she said, “you don’t give your audience a sloppy show.”

The new theater group — which is 95% comprised of Repertory Philippines “babies” — has already Once on This Island and

The Ant and the Grasshopper, among other shows. —