‘Adult’ version of an Andersen fairy tale

MANILA, Philippines - So the story goes like this: The crisis escalates when the leading knight of the realm, Sir Marry, discovers that his girlfriend Lady Larken is pregnant. OMG. What is that out-of-wedlock pregnancy doing in a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen?

“It wasn’t in the original fairy tale,” says director Steven Conde good-naturedly. “You might say it is an adult version of Andersen’s The Princess of the Pea.”

The production in question is Once Upon a Mattress, a Broadway musical comedy which originally starred Carol Burnett, was revived with Sarah Jessica Parker playing the lead role, and was last staged as an off-Broadway presentation in 2016.

Once Upon a Mattress is now a show by Ephesus Teatron Group which will run until tomorrow, Jan. 22, (3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.) at the Emilio Aguinaldo College Theater, Gen. Luna St., Ermita Manila. (For inquiries, call 0947-298-5003.)

This was announced in a recent press launch at Sikat Studios, Quezon City.

With music by Mary Rodgers and lyrics by Marshall Barer, the operetta-comique type of tale tells the story of bitchy Queen Aggravain (Milay Guinid) who wants to keep her dashing son Prince Dauntless (Niño Alejandro) single. She therefore rules that only the princess who can pass an impossible test — being unable to sleep on mattresses because there is a pea under these — can marry the prince.

Furthermore, no one can marry unless the lucky princess is found. Naturally, this creates a problem for Sir Henry (Hans Eckstein alternating with Chino Vequillas) and the pregnant Lady Larken (Yanah Laurel alternating with Jill Ita-as).

Playing the heroine, the spirited princess from the swamps, is Carla Guevara-Laforteza alternating with Cara Barredo. Swirling in the background are a gaggle of ladies-in-waiting and knights who have the hots for each other but cannot get married until the princess who passes the test is found.

“We will do this in a different way (from the Repertory Philippines version some years ago),” says director Steven. “It’s an adult version, so there will be sexual innuendoes that only the adults will understand.” But he hastened to add: “It is geared towards the whole family, even the five-year-olds. No age Limit.” - Amadís Ma. Guerrero