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Show Westminster Players Triumphant With a Bright and Refreshing Once Upon a Mattress by Calvin L. Harrington Forum staff writer Public response was the most enthusiastic in years and possibly ever in the colleges theatrical history during Westminster Players production of Once Upon A Mattress." Directed by Gail McCulloch, the play ran from Nov. 8 through Dec. 1 with y audiences. Musical standing-room-onl- comedy junki es had a ball! Once Upon A Mattress is based on the famed fairy tale of The Princess and the Pea. Mary Rodgers wrote the score for the adaptation. .The prologue, sung by the Minstrel (Mike Brown), tells the story, explaining that it happened many moons ago. After warning the audience that this version does not cover all the facts, he tells us the stoiy as it really happened. The kingdom is in a sorry state. Placed under a witch's curse, King Sextimus (David Benglesdorf) has been struck dumb and will never talk until the mouse devours the hawk. Queen Aggravain (Miyoshi Holmes), a marathon talker, who likes telling everyone else to shut up or be quiet has assumed power. She has decreed that no one in the kingdom can marry until her son, Prince Dauntless (Kareem Fergusson) is married to a true princess of royal blood. The Prince is a likable young man, but he is completely dominated by his mother, whois determined that he shall remain a bachelor. So far, the Queen has given the royalty test to numerous contenders and each has been dismissed on the grounds that she is not a true princess. In the throne room of the castle, the 12th prospective bride, Lady Maybelle (Robyn Rich) is being examined by the Queen and the Wizard (Justin Dye). The Queen makes the last question of the test so difficult that the would-b- e bride fails. The knights andladies of the court are distressed by the situation. In a gallery of the castle, Lady Larken (Kim Henneman) tells her lover, Sir Harry (Chris Miller) that, marriage or no marriage, they are going to be parents. To find a princess for Dauntless is therefore, becoming a matter of some urgency. Sir Hany promises that he will travel to the unexplored marsh and swamplands to find a true princess. The new contender for the princes hand makes her arrival in the courtyard. Her name is Princess Winnifred and she makes an impressive entrance, dripping wet! Actually, she informs the astonished group, I swam the moat. In the lead role, Jennifer Richerson scored a popular success. She was quite exuberant as the rowdy tomboy named Winnifred (she preferred to be called Fred). Her comical facial expressions, distinctive voice and faultless timing have earned her a solid reputation in her debut as actress-comedienne-sing- feel that pea! Fred passes the test. The Queen is furious and tries to force her to leave, but Prince Dauntless runs to Freds aid and, for the first time in his life, shouts his mother to silence. The Jester explains that the curse is broken (the mouse has devoured the hawk). The Queen is struck dumb and the King makes it clear that he is again in command. Fred cant understand why she was unable to sleep and in the closing moments of the show, we find that not only did the Queen put ia pea under her mattress, but also that the Minstrel had placed (under the top mattress), assorted hardware and other large bulky objects! Thus, the story has a happy ending. The cast remi nds us that You can recognize a lady by her elegant air, but a genuine princess is exceedingly rare. Miyoshi Holmes captured the role of the Queen to a T. She was hot, cold, tempestuous and seething; she was mesmerizing in every scene. As Lady Larken, Kim HennemanV voice' matched the serene quality of her characterization (she had the mostbeautiful voice in the entire production). She has very good carrying power and the musical score was completely within her range. Kareem Fergusson has obviously nurtured his comic skills and gave an excellent deadpan performance. The Nightingale of Samarkand segment should not have been so brief and harried. Kathleen McGilvray, too, should be praised for the color, size and brilliance of her voice. The sequence where the King tells his son all about the birds and the bees through mime and the Spanish Panic number had the audience roaring. Former Westminster student, Lisa Meyers was choreographer and the vocal coach was R.C. Allred. Shawn Colvin, Portia Early, Phil Lindhardt, Michelle Rosinski, Tom Davis, Melanie Olmstead, John Stillman, Tamara Schneiter, Lu Ann Smith and Laurel Erwin were all uniformly excellent. er. Winnifred (or Fred) comes from a part of the swampland, known as and possesses nolady-likcourtly graces. She tells the assembled group in a number that brought the house down, that she is really shy. In another rousing number, we hear her humorously nostalgic reminiscences of The Swamps of Home. Lady Larken has a quarrel with Sir Harry and decides to run away. The Jester (M. Shane Cook), the King and theMinstrel offer their help. The Queen decides upon her test. Twenty of the finest mattresses will be placed on Winnifreds bed and, under the bottom mattress, will be a single pea. The Queen claims that any real princess will Wallovvs-on-the-Mi- re e, The Dining Room to Open at Park Citys Egyptian Theatre by Calvin L. Harrington Forum staff writer The Dining Room, a Jr. will, open at Park Citys Egyptian Theatre on Dec. 14 and .fun through Jan. 5, Wednesday through Sunday. Curtain time is 8 p.m. for all nights except Sunday. The play begins at 7 p.m. on Sundays. The production is being by done by Park City Performances (PCP). The Dining Room is a brilliantly conceived and richly humorous play with six actors. Each of these actors portray a wide array of diverse characters as they depict the dying lifestyles of wealthy white n Protestants (WASFs). The diningroom in this play is the symbol ofthe room which was once a vital center of family life. This play is a theatrical experience of exceptional range, compassionate humor and abundant humanity. The dining room today is often neglected in most American homes, except for very special occasions. play by A.R. Gurney, Anglo-Saxo- The Dining Room is directed by Rafael Colon Castanera, PCFs resident artistic director. The ensemble cast includes Steve Kerr, a former University of Utah student; Laura Clayton, a BYU student making the long commute from Provo; Rai French, a junior in the U of U theater program; Steve Phillips, a Park City local; Linda Littel, also a coed at the U of U; and Valerie Merit, a California native majoring in theater at BYU. An added bonus for theatergoers is the Issue 11 December 11, 1990 visual artist series. During the entire run of The Dining Room, photographic works by James LaRosa will be on display. There will be a reception Saturday, Dec. 15 from 3 to 5 p.m. Tickets for this play are $12 for adults, $9 for students and senior citizens and $8 for children. 649-937- 1 1, For tickets and more information, call Tuesday through Saturday from to 5 p.m. . Westminster Chorus to Present Holiday Concert The Westminster College Chorus will present an evening of traditional holiday tunes on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Gore Building. The Chorus, led by Director Robert Zabriskieand accompanied by Fran Wilcox, will sing works by Mendelssohn, Andrew Lloyd Webber, J.P. Sweelinck, Mozart, Praetorius, Adolphe Adam and Leroy Anderson. Also performing will be the Westminster Renaissance Singers who will 16th century sing tunes from the 15th andthe of dress historical period. wear and at no attend to invited is The public charge. Forum Page 11 |