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Title: Once Upon a Mattress (18 Dec 2005)
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| Episode credited cast: | |||
| Carol Burnett | ... | Queen Aggravain | |
| Tracey Ullman | ... | Princess Winnifred | |
| Denis O'Hare | ... | Prince Dauntless | |
| Zooey Deschanel | ... | Lady Larken | |
| Matthew Morrison | ... | Sir Harry | |
| Michael Boatman | ... | The Jester | |
| Tom Smothers | ... | King Sextimus | |
| Edward Hibbert | ... | The Wizard | |
| Michelle Harrison | ... | Princess #12 | |
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Scott Augustine | ... | Dancing Knight | |
| Paul Becker | ... | Knight | |
 |
Linda Bernath | ... | Dancer |
|
|
Jordan Cable | ... | Dancing Knight |
|
|
Stephenos Christou | ... | Dancing Knight |
| Dave Cote | ... | Court Small | |
In this hilarious tweaking of the fairy tale, "The Princess and the Pea", Queen Aggravain has ruled that none may marry until her son, Prince Dauntless marries. However, she has managed to sabotage every princess that come along. When Sir Harry and Lady Larken learn that they are going to be parents, wed or not, he goes off to the swamps and brings back Princess Winnifred ("Fred" to her friends). The queen is horrified and immediately begins to scheme, but Winnifred, with some help from Sir Harry, the King, and the Jester, isn't going to be quite so easy to get rid of. Written by Brad Pardee
This is the first time I have seen any version of "Once Upon a Mattress". I thought Carol Burnett was wonderful as the domineering, often emotional and sometimes quite evil queen. And she could even sing. Tracey Ullman was outrageously quirky, especially when she tried to go to sleep. She could also be warm and pleasant, and she even had some singing talent--if that was her. Her first musical performance was more funny than anything else. Tom Smothers did quite a good job as the mute king, who could not talk after being cursed. Denis O'Hare also delivered. Zooey Deschanel and Matthew Morrison were very talented singers and did okay at acting. And Michael Boatman was very funny as the Jester, and Edward Hibbert deliciously evil as the Wizard.
I would say this was clean enough for most children. I questioned the TV-PG rating until I heard a reference to premarital sex. But unless a child knows where babies come from, this would be meaningless. It might lead the child to ask where babies come from, and of course King Sextimus gave his son a hilarious explanation of the process which never really got to the point. Especially since it was all in mime.
There was also a double entendre from Winnifred, but it would go over most kids' heads.
I enjoyed the music for the most part. Despite the medieval setting and costumes, a lot of the music sounded like Rodgers and Hammerstein. Winnifred also performed a sultry jazz number that seemed appropriate for a stripper.
The dancing and costumes also impressed.
I won't say it was a Disney classic, but it was certainly up to the usual Disney standards.