(Cover Photo: Rachel Sheldon as “Winnifred,” in a moment from the musical, "ONCE UPON A MATTRESS" presented by A Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham, MA. through July 27, 2025. Photo Credit: Jill Mack)

By Kevin T. Baldwin

METRMAG Reviewer

# 774-242-6724

"No! You'll stay here! Why should we both have to suffer all our lives just because you had a moment of weakness?"

                                                                                                    - ("Sir Harry") / Marshall Barer

A Common Thread Theatre Company

Presents the Musical 

"ONCE UPON A MATTRESS"

Book by Dean Fuller, Jay Thompson

Music by Mary Rodgers

Lyrics by Marshall Barer

Based on the Play/Book/Film (fairy tale) “The Princess and the Pea”

Directed by Jon Mael

Music Director Kathryn Denney 

Choreographer Julia Hoffmaster

Cast Includes: Andrew Webster as “Minstrel,” Zachary Mauricio as “Sir Harry,” Katie Scholl as “Lady Larkin,” Rachel Sheldon as “Winnifred,” Billy Jenkins as “Jester,” Jason Cavallari as “King Sextimus,” Cathy Merlo as “Queen Aggravain,” Matthew Divoll as “Dauntless,” Lalia Brustin as “Wizard,” Amanda Denney as “Sir Studley,” Kristin Fehlau as “Nightingale,” Allison Ma as “Shy Soloist/First Knight,” Elinor Welling as “Princess No. 12,” Ellie Page as “Madame Luce,” Gina Romano as “Kitchen Wench,” Kristen Sehn as “Emily/Lady Mabelle,” Isabelle Williams as “Second Knight,” Mei-Lin Po as “Third Knight,” Bianca McGlew as “First Lady in Waiting-Rowena,” Grace Goodwin as “Second Lady in Waiting-Merrill,” Kiara Morales as “Third Lady in Waiting-Lucille,” Katie Najarian as “Lady H,” Isabelle as “Luce’s Lady.”  Minstrel ‘s Assistants - Jane Adams, Lily Sances, Joseph Sances.

Additional Creative Team:

Assistant Music Director - Nare Kim; Producer - Jill Mack; Stage Manager - Mariah Bundy; Lighting Design - Roxanne Nute, Peter Nute; Lighting Crew - Peter Belsley, Monica Ruiz, Elizabeth Adams; Sound Design - Bryce Denney; Sound Crew - Turina Garrant; Crew - Sanika Agrawal, Henry Whelihan; Costume Design and Construction - Elizabeth Horwitz; Props - Carolyn Olson; Costume Crew - Carolyn Olson, Fiona Smith; Set Design and Construction - Jon Mael; Set Painting - Elizabeth Adams, Monica Ruiz; Hair and Makeup - Fiona Smith, Patricia Gonzales; Rehearsal Pianists - Marnen Laibow Koser, Justin Simone; Digital Artwork, Design and Videography - Kristin Fehlau; Assistant Producer - Kellen DeLaney. 

Performances:

July 18, 2025 through July 27, 2025

(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)

Dennison Memorial Hall, Boston Church of Christ, 214 Concord Street, Framingham, MA. 01702

TICKETS:

# 508-834-4682

https://www.acommonthreadtheatre.org/box-office

BUY TICKETS 

COVID 19 PROTOCOLS

Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.

(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)

A Common Thread Theatre Company takes on the challenging musical fable "ONCE UPON A MATTRESS" and (prince) valiantly attempts to deliver a balance of music and merriment and delivering a finale with an iconic “happily ever after” moment. 

Opening Off-Broadway in 1959 before transitioning to Broadway, the farcical musical is a humorous adaptation of the 1835 Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea” that, after 65 years, still delights audiences. 

Featuring music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer, and a book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer, "ONCE UPON A MATTRESS" contains themes on gender and marriage which feel sorely outdated but, gosh darn it Andy, the musical still retains an endearing quality that makes one just adore it. 

The original production of "ONCE UPON A MATTRESS" also marked the Broadway debut of the now-legendary Carol Burnett, who literally defined the role of “Princess Winnifred.” 

The original run would receive two Tony Award nominations and Burnett would win a Theatre World Award. 

A Broadway revival with Sarah Jessica Parker as “Winnifred” opened in 1996 running for 35 previews and 188 regular performances and was nominated for the 1997 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. 

A limited holiday run also opened Off-Broadway in 2015. 

A special limited run concert version of "ONCE UPON A MATTRESS" took place in 2024 as part of the New York City Center Encores! Series with stars such as Sutton Foster, Ana Gasteyer, Cheyenne Jackson, J. Harrison Ghee and more. 

However, probably the most famous incarnations of "ONCE UPON A MATTRESS" are the two television adaptations broadcast on CBS – first in 1964 and then again in 1972 - starring Burnett as “Winnifred” along with members of the original Broadway cast and other stars of the day (Wally Cox and Ken Berry to name a few). 

The legendary Burnett would once again be seen in the 2005 ABC broadcast of "MATTRESS," this time taking on the role of “Queen Aggravain” with Tracey Ullman as “Winnifred.” 

Now, under the direction of Jon Mael, it is Common Thread's turn to provide its take on this charming, classic albeit completely silly tale. 

(Photo: Andrew Webster as the “Minstrel” with several young members of the CAST of the musical, "ONCE UPON A MATTRESS" presented by A Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham, MA. through July 27, 2025. Photo Credit: Jill Mack)

As "ONCE UPON A MATTRESS" commences, a Minstrel (Andrew Webster) appears with several children and begins regaling them and sings "Many Moons Ago" which begins the fable of a fictional medieval kingdom in 15th-century Europe (at least one might assume this to be the time and place – I don’t believe an actual time or location outside of “Many Moons Ago” is ever mentioned). 

The kingdom is ruled by the stringent Queen Aggravain (Cathy Merlo) and her mute King Sextimus (Jason Cavallari), aka “Sextimus the Silent.” 

King Sextimus suffers from a curse cast by a witch that can only be reversed "when the mouse devours the hawk." 

Keep the above in mind because it will come back later in the story. 

The couple have an adult son, Prince Dauntless (Matthew Divoll) aka “Dauntless the Drab” who must marry…but the Queen does everything in her power to keep this from happening, leaning into a quite disturbing “Oedipal” complex. 

If one can get past the above, what follows is most enjoyable. 

Princess after princess has failed the “Princess tests” put to them by Dauntless’ deceptive mother. 

Compounding the situation for the rest of the kingdom is that, unless a worthy princess is found to marry Dauntless, NO ONE ELSE can wed, either. 

(Photo: Rachel Sheldon as “Winnifred" (left), Cathy Merlo as “Queen Aggravain” and Matthew Divoll as “Dauntless” (right), with the CAST of the musical, "ONCE UPON A MATTRESS" presented by A Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham, MA. through July 27, 2025. Photo Credit: Jill Mack)

Common Thread Theatre Company's Merlo and Cavallari seem well suited as the married couple and give effective performances. 

Divoll as Dauntless has a fine voice and attempts to add occasional moments of inspired humor to the otherwise passive and "one dimensional mama's boy" Dauntless character which works quite well for the most part but also reduces the overall "mouse" aspect inherent in Dauntless. 

In a sub-plot which will factor greatly later on, leading knight of the realm Sir Harry (Zachary Mauricio) discovers that his secret girlfriend, Lady Larken (Katie Scholl), is pregnant. 

The on-stage chemistry between Mauricio and Scholl is best evidenced in the show’s second act number, “Yesterday I Loved You.” Scholl has a delightful singing voice and gives the best performance of the show as the kind and refined Lady Larken who would sacrifice everything for her one, true love Sir Harry. 

Earlier, however, as conveyed in the first act duet "In a Little While," concerned that her pregnancy will become quite “obvious” to the rest of the kingdom…and soon...Sir Harry sets out to find a princess for Dauntless himself. 

What he "returns" with actually makes it back to the kingdom before Sir Harry. 

Entering the tale (or rather swimming the moat and climbing over the castle walls) is Princess Winnifred the Woebegone (Rachel Sheldon), a bright but coarse-looking princess from the Marshlands, who immediately captures the heart of Dauntless...and the wrathful look of the Queen. 

Sheldon shines brightly throughout the show playing Winnifred as childlike and unrefined, yet also making impeccable comedic choices and approaching the character with an unbridled enthusiasm that is infectious, well-conveyed in Winnifred’s hilarious signature song, "Shy."

(Photo: Jason Cavallari as “King Sextimus,” Billy Jenkins as the “Jester” and Andrew Webster as the “Minstrel” in a scene from the musical, "ONCE UPON A MATTRESS" presented by A Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham, MA. through July 27, 2025. Photo Credit: Jill Mack)

The Queen vows to keep any marriage to her son from happening, keeping him all to herself...again, yes, a little creepy...but just go with it. 

Meanwhile, Sextimus discovers Larken's pregnancy and attempts to aide her in her time of strife with his aides and confidants, the Minstrel and the Jester (Billy Jenkins) which is evidenced in the song "The Minstrel, the Jester, and I." 

The Queen is aided by the kingdom’s wacky Wizard (Lalia Brustin), and together they design a test intended for Winnifred to fail, which they sing about in the number “Sensitivity.” 

This is where the whole “Princess and the Pea” fable intersects with the "OUAM" story. 

Placing a tiny pea beneath twenty mattresses, the Queen dictates that: should Winnifred be unable to sleep due to the "inconvenience" caused by the tiny pea, then she will be deemed sensitive and worthy enough to marry Dauntless. 

Claiming “any genuine princess would feel it,” the Queen does everything in her power to ensure Winnifred’s exhaustion before the “pea test” commences, including a dance marathon a la the “Spanish Panic” as performed by the cast with the ensemble. 

The collective Common Thread principal performances keep the overall pacing of "ONCE UPON A MATTRESS" fluid, but there were some scenes at the July 20th performance which played out slower than others, and there were smaller scenes featuring only two or three characters which came across as under-rehearsed.

(Photo: Rachel Sheldon as “Winnifred,” in a moment from the musical, "ONCE UPON A MATTRESS" presented by A Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham, MA. through July 27, 2025. Photo Credit: Jill Mack)

The single set design seems intentionally kept quite rudimentary, reflecting more of a “comic strip ambience” perfectly in keeping with the quite cartoonish show. 

Scene changes are well managed, and any down time in between scenes is kept minimal. 

However, costuming the production appears problematic and will have many heads scratching as nothing appears to be consistent with a production where one might expect fairy tale garb given the fairy tale theme. 

For whatever creative reasoning, costuming not only is kept “contemporary,” it seems to span multiple contemporary time periods. 

Many women in the cast appear in (what can only be described as) mid-1960s flight attendant uniforms, as if they were intending to appear in either “Catch Me If You Can” or “Boeing Boeing” but along the way to those theatres instead they all somehow wound up in this show. 

This does not diminish the overall collective effort by the ensemble for "ONCE UPON A MATTRESS" which excels in the musical numbers "An Opening For a Princess," "Shy," “Spanish Panic," "Song of Love" and "Quiet."  

The ensemble also executed well the unique, inspired and creative choreography by Julia Hoffmaster. 

In addition to Hoffmaster's choreography, elevating the entire production is the exceptional live orchestra, conducted by music director Kathryn Denney (Note: Nare Kim is also credited as conducting). 

So, don't YOU be shy. Make sure to try and catch "ONCE UPON A MATTRESS" before it ends on July 27th.

For tickets and more information, call Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham at # 508-834-4682 or vist https://www.acommonthreadtheatre.org/box-office

BUY TICKETS 

Approximately two hours, 30 minutes with one intermission.

Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)

@MetrmagReviews

@Theatre_Critics

ABOUT THE SHOW

Our story begins in a faraway kingdom long ago. Due to an unhappy curse, King Sextimus is unable to speak. 

Meanwhile, his terror-of-a-wife, Queen Aggravain, has taken over control of the kingdom. 

Most importantly, in an attempt to keep Prince Dauntless single, she has decreed that only the princess that can pass her test may marry her son. 

Further, no one else in the kingdom may marry until Prince Dauntless does. 

Lady Larken and Sir Harry are extremely disturbed by this fact since Lady Larken is now pregnant with Sir Harry's baby. 

Luckily, Sir Harry is able to find an amazing princess, Winnifred the Woebegone. 

She instantly catches the attention of Prince Dauntless.

Mary Rodger’s classic "ONCE UPON A MATTRESS" is a delightful musical and a fan favorite! 

ABOUT A COMMON THREAD THEATRE COMPANY

A COMMON THREAD THEATRE COMPANY is a community theatre, founded by local theatre veterans, which seeks to unite the Greater Boston area under a common goal: to foster, promote, and increase the public knowledge and appreciation of the arts and cultural activities through theatre and other artistic endeavors. We are committed to providing the hands-on training and education of actors, designers, directors and others involved in theatre productions. A COMMON THREAD THEATRE COMPANY may be a new name but its board members and instructors have been producing, directing, and creating theatre in the Metrowest area for the past decade. 

A COMMON THREAD THEATRE COMPANY

Phone # 508-834-4682

info@acommonthreadtheatre.org