Musical theater group Hoof 'n' Horn performed "Once Upon a Mattress" to a completely sold-out house Oct. 13-15-so full, in fact, that would-be audience members were waitlisted and then turned away due to space limitations in Sheafer Theater.
So what exactly did these late ticket purchasers miss out on? The court minstrel, played by junior Russell Hainline, opens the musical with a few jokes to set the stage-humorous newsreel tidbits from the days of King Arthur, ladies-in-waiting and chivalrous knights. A brief display of balletic artistry follows, as the details of the classic "Princess and the Pea" test of royalty are acted out en pointe.
Sophomores Shaun Dozier and Julia Robertson star as Prince Dauntless and Winnifred, the princess in question. The moody and authoritarian Queen Aggravain, played by freshman Anna Snyder, has only the best intentions for her son Dauntless, and schemes up impossible tests to eliminate anyone made of less than genuine princess material. Despite the queen's efforts to discourage Winnifred's eligibility, Dauntless falls in love with her, as unconventional of a gentlewoman as she is.
A comical "man-to-man" talk ensues as King Sextimus (senior Alberto Mendoza), attempts to subtly explain the "birds and the bees" to his son. The only catch is, the king is mute and must communicate through animated signals reminiscent of charades. Humorous contradictions and surprises like this keep the audience laughing as much as the jester amuses King Sextimus' court.
Each character, from ladies-in-waiting to the boisterous and moat-swimming Princess Winnifred, is appropriately cast and performed in character for the entire show. Clever choreography makes good use of the minimalist set, which serves as the castle, a ballroom and the princess' bedroom all at once.
Sound system difficulties, however, resulted in brief moments of ear-splitting microphone feedback, and a few scene changes took so long that the audience became restless. The pit orchestra was discordant at times, and the strings detracted from the professionalism of the show by playing unnecessarily during the entire intermission.
One item to notice is the influx of new faces this season's Hoof 'n' Horn. Many new freshmen with brilliant performances in this production ensure that the future of the South's oldest student-run musical theater troupe is in good hands.
The show will continue its run Oct. 20-23 in Sheafer Theater. Tickets are $7.
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