MAGNA — There’s nothing quite like community theater when it leans into chaos, comedy, and charm—and that’s exactly what audiences get with Once Upon a Mattress at the historic Empress Theatre in Magna. Presented by the Oquirrh Hills Performing Arts Alliance, this endearing, offbeat musical offers big laughs, bold choices, and a whole lot of heart.
A twisted take on the classic fairytale The Princess and the Pea, the story follows an overbearing queen who refuses to let her son, Prince Dauntless, marry—unless a princess can pass her absurdly difficult tests. But the queen isn’t playing fair. She’s sabotaging every potential match to keep her son under her thumb. That is, until Princess Winnifred swims across the moat and turns the palace—and the rules—upside down.
I attended a performance by the “Quilt Cast,” featuring a spirited group of performers led by Sam Fraser as the awkward Prince Dauntless and Michaela Shelton as the unapologetically bold Princess Winnifred. From the moment Shelton bounds onto the stage, she commands it. From her raucous entrance in “Shy” to her soaring vocals in “Happily Ever After,” she brings humor, heart, and vocal prowess to the role. She’s a great match for Fraser’s Dauntless, whose transformation from timid mama’s boy to lovestruck rebel is both funny and sweet. Their duet, “Song of Love,” is a highlight—enhanced by rhythmic choreography and sharp comedic timing as Dauntless declares his love for a girl named Fred.
This 1959 musical—credited with launching Carol Burnett’s career and recently revived on Broadway with Sutton Foster—thrives on humor, and this production embraces that with gusto. Director Adam Cannon layers the show with hilarious anachronisms and modern-day winks, from medieval iPads to references to Ke$ha and Geico ads. Brad Goodman’s wizard even flips through a Harry Potter spellbook for guidance, proving no era is safe from the show’s playful mockery.
Amanda Robison as Queen Aggravain absolutely owns the palace—and the show. With a voice that could shatter royal windows and a stage presence that channels Moira Rose (complete with a rotating wig collection and an outfit nodding to The Crows Have Eyes III), she’s a comedic and vocal force to be reckoned with. Her domineering grip on her innocent, cowardly son creates some of the show’s most dysfunctional—and delightful—moments.
Scott Carr delivers a masterclass in physical comedy as the mute King Sextimus, teaming up with the charming Minstrel (Lola Greenwald) and the energetic Jester (Dominic Cordero) to execute a series of hilarious pantomimes. The trio’s behind-the-scenes charades (both literal and figurative) work to subvert the queen’s impossible tests and help Dauntless find love.
Another standout pairing is Sir Harry (Ian Bate) and Lady Larkin (Abigail Baugh), whose romantic chemistry is matched by lovely harmonies in “In a Little While” and “Yesterday I Loved You.”
The show’s choreography, by Lorelai Byers and Michelle Moore, is ambitious and energized—from precise tap routines in “Very Soft Shoes” to the hilariously chaotic group number “The Spanish Panic.” Aerial acrobatics even make a surprise appearance, with Abby Shelley’s Nightingale serenading Princess Winnifred from the rafters in a whimsical lullaby scene.
The Empress’s multilevel staging works well for the final mattress test. A towering stack of 20 soft Downey mattresses—humorously labeled with brands like “Sorta” and “Blurple”—sets the stage for Winnifred’s fate: can she feel the tiny pea and prove her royal sensitivity?
Costume design by Abby Shelley makes bold (if occasionally baffling) choices—one moment we’re in medieval garb, the next in ‘70s bell bottoms or ‘90s denim. Lady Larkin looked as though she had just stepped off the set of La La Land. Yet somehow, the eclectic styling only enhances the show’s gleeful absurdity and disregard for historical consistency.
This isn’t a flawless production—but that’s exactly what makes it so endearing. What it lacks in polish, it more than makes up for in spirit. The cast clearly loves what they’re doing, and their joy is infectious. Once Upon a Mattress at The Empress Theatre is a laugh-out-loud, family-friendly romp, with just enough wink-wink grown-up humor to keep the adults grinning.
If you’re looking for a night of fun, music, and unconventional theatrical delight, don’t sleep on this one—unless you’re Princess Winnifred.
These reviews are made possible by a grant from the Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks program.
