by Dave DeMars
news@thenewsleaders.com
If it’s springtime, then it must be time for a play.
Just ask Julie Christenson, drama director at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School. This year, she will be directing Once Upon a Mattress, a story based on an old folk tale about a princess who had a hard time sleeping because of a pea – sort of.
The play will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, April 21-23 and also at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 23 and 24.
“If you thought you knew the story of The Princess and the Pea, you may be in for a walloping surprise!” Christenson said.
Did you know, for instance, Princess Winnifred actually swam the moat to reach Prince Dauntless the Drab? Or that Lady Larken’s love for Sir Harry provided a rather compelling reason she reached the bridal altar posthaste? Or that, in fact, it wasn’t the pea at all that caused the princess a sleepless night?
Carried on a wave of wonderful songs – by turns hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic – this rollicking spin on the familiar classic of royal courtship and comeuppance provides for some side-splitting shenanigans. Chances are you’ll never look at fairy tales quite the same way again.
Christenson chose the play because she had prior experience with it and maybe because it’s spring and there is a kind of blossoming of love in spring.
“I directed this play in 2012 for Two Rivers Community Theatre,” she said.
And then there is the simple idea the play is lots of fun to do and she thought Sauk Rapids-Rice High School students would enjoy performing it.
Like any spring production in a high school, it has been a test of perseverance. She has 20 students on stage and four back stage supporting the cast.
“The schedule for spring play is always a challenge. Many of the students are involved in music as well as drama, and the choir and band competitions fall during the time of the spring play,” Christenson said.
Just this past weekend, the entire set had to be struck because of the recent Minnesota Association of Student Councils convention in Sauk Rapids. There are so many events that are using the Performing Arts Center during spring play time.
“We have built our entire set on wheels, as we have had to take it down and put it back up again several times during the run of the spring play,” she said.
In spite of all the challenges, Christenson said rehearsals are progressing very well. Lines are now memorized, and students are “off-book.” And this week, students ran their first dress in costume – a splash of springtime romantic color.
Shakespeare probably got it right. “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts.” A deserted stage awaits the Sauk Rapids High School players who will bring the magical story Once Upon a Mattress to life at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, April 21-23 and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 23 and 24.
No actor walks on stage without the help of the stage crew. Heading the stage crew for this production of Once Upon a Mattress is Cidavia Marchand and Jennifer Lage. All the props, scenery and fly-aways will be handled by these two veteran student stage directors. Dress rehearsal is as much for the stage crew as for the actors on stage.
Emily Schrader (Queen Aggravain) remonstrates with her wizard played by Justin Glen.
Ladies in waiting are meant to wait. And so to pass the time, it helps to have a minstrel around. From left to right are Alyssa Luukkonen, Jennifer Nguyen, Stephanie Wright, Bailey Hennes and Alyssa Brenhoffer.
