Jackie Hoffman in Once Upon A Mattress!

[gstrus2]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 4:24pm

Jackie Hoffman is starring in Transport Groups off broadway revival of Once Upon a Mattress in November of this year!
NY Times Article

[Littleshopofcarrie]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 5:52pm

Yay!!

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 6:28pm

Aww, that’s fun. What a neat choice for Transport Group. Lots of theater folks strongly dislike this show, but I’ve always thought it was good, charming fun, perfect for a cast of strong character actors, with a handful of really terrific songs.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 7:26pm

Who dislikes this show?? It's a fun show with a delightful and clever score.

[Emmaloucbway]

Posted: 1/6/15 at 8:10pm

This is great news! I saw the reading they did two years ago and it was so much fun. Can't wait to see her in this show again!

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 9:26am

"Who dislikes this show?? It's a fun show with a delightful and clever score."

Lots of people! I dunno. I've seen it excoriated here, and friends of mine are quick to disparage it, too. But it was the first real musical I was in, in high school, so perhaps I have a sentimental inclination towards forgiving its flaws.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 9:37am

I actually think the terrible revival in the 90s still skews people's views. For some reason, sirius broadway always plays that version and SJP cannot compare to Burnett in any way.

The musical is charming, if done well.

[mbruth]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 9:40am

I love Jackie Hoffman, but isn't she way too old for this role?

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 9:44am

Her age is certainly unconventional for the role. Tracey Ullman was 46 when she did the movie in 2005, and it struck me as odd. I don't think it adds anything especially interesting to have a middle-aged actress play Winifred, but Jackie Hoffman, like Ullman, is an inventive actress, so I can't really complain about it.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 9:45am

I think it works better with an older Fred and Dauntless. Adds to the desperation of everyone involved. They've waited a LOOOOONG time to get it on.

It is a great musical? Not in the slightest, but it is adorable and a delightful way to spend an evening. (I've directed it twice in the last 20+ years.)

[newintown]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 9:52am

I like the show very much, particularly with an adept clown as Fred (unlike that amazingly unfunny revival with Sarah Jessica Parker, which had nothing in its favor, that I can recall).

Hoffman will be delightfully funny in it, no doubt; she doesn't belt, however, which may prevent her songs from landing as satisfyingly as one might like. But who knows? Maybe strong clarion high notes on these songs aren't as important as I think...

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 9:58am

A strong belt certainly helps land the jokes in "Shy".

I also think that an older Fred/Dauntless works fine, especially in contrast to the younger couple.

[Amanda DeLalla]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 11:24am

I agree that an older Fred and Dauntless can make it very funny through the "waiting a LONG time to get it on." Haha!

I wonder who'll fill the rest of the roles? Perhaps Alexandra Silber as Lady Larken? Will be following this.



Updated On: 1/7/15 at 11:24 AM

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 11:27am

^^^^^

Sorry, this was me on my other account. Not sure how that happened.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 11:29am

Over a dozen posts and no mention of Lypsinka co-starring?

[Kad]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 11:36am

I've never seen Epperson actually speak as Lypsinka. Lypsinka's shows are brilliant, though.

[LindaSmyth]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 12:29pm

Jackie is going to be WONDERFUL. But I can't stop thinking that Rachel Bay Jones would be an amazing Winifred too!

[RCohen2299]

Posted: 1/7/15 at 3:29pm

So she's leaving On the Town??

[Kad]

Posted: 1/8/15 at 12:40pm

This production starts in November. She would have been with On the Town for approximately a year, provided it's still open.