ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Reviews- Page 3

[UWS10023]

Posted: 9/2/24 at 12:02am

CoffeeBreak said: "de Bessonett isn't a good, or creative, director. Sheshould take the cue from Jack Viertel and be theArtistic Director Encores! and stop directing the shows. They are so much better without her direction (Titanic, Jelly's Last Jam, Light In The Piazza).

The high profile actors want to do the material - althoughmany have become wary of her after a singleexperience. Under her direction, weworryabout Ragtime despite a good cast. Wishsomeone with vision and creativity would tackle it, even as concert."

She must be doing something right. She has had two Broadway transfers in the last few years and the first one was nominated for several Tony awards. 

 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 9/5/24 at 10:31pm

Saw this tonight.  You really miss the big orchestra that they had at city center, and overall I enjoyed it more there.  Ana Gasteyer was fine, but Harriet Harris stole the show for me at City Center.  Was Mattress always this sitcom-y?  It’s truly not a good musical, enjoyable at times.  It doesn’t even make sense, everything is underbaked.  Sutton has a line in there about the royals in her town living in the swamp, and the poor having some stuff.  You’d think she would bring generosity to the kingdom, but sadly, the line went nowhere.  I don’t understand the wizard, the jester, the no speaking king, why the others can’t get married, why she can't keep being queen even after he’s married.  It’s just such a mess of a musical, the score mostly sucks, the direction sucks,  Michael urie sucks.  Why is there a song about the jesters father? The end of act 1, FRED song, is the most underwhelming thing especially when you think about Sutton being amazing in “Show Off.”  What’s up with the grape eating bit? And why so longgg.  
We deserve a good Princess and the Pea musical. Shaina Taub, if you’re listening. 
Are they doing a cast recording?

Updated On: 9/5/24 at 10:31 PM

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 9/14/24 at 1:14am

Any advice on if rush or TDF will provide better seat locations? Normally there's something in one of these threads but no one mentioned it.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 9/14/24 at 1:39am

I rushed and got a seat maybe third row balcony.  It really was not a bad seat at all, I think the Hudson balcony feels quite close to the stage. 

[romain2]

Posted: 9/19/24 at 5:57pm

We had a blast. What a dream cast, excelling at giddy silliness. I seriously want Foster and Urie to become a comedy improv pair who reunite again and again. They are fabulous together. Daniel Breaker is a quadruple threat: sing, act, dance, comedy. A fun treat. 

[James2]

Posted: 9/27/24 at 10:28pm

Has anyone heard anything about a cast album?  I asked at the flea market table, and they didn't know.

[willep]

Posted: 10/6/24 at 5:27pm

Voter said: "Has anyone done the TodayTix rush for Once Upon a Mattress? And if so, where was your seats"

I know I’m responding to a post from a couple months ago, but since it’s always helpful info, I got a TodayTix rush ticket today and it was Orchestra O11. Marked partial view, but really didn’t miss much, a head or face behind a light now and then. But everything important is center stage and clear.

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 6:27pm

Per her Instagram, Kara Lindsay will be making her Winnifred debut tonight!

[nycward]

Posted: 10/9/24 at 1:11am

Was at tonight's performance and was quite disappointed that both Sutton and Michael were out. We had TDF tix so decided to see the show anyway. Both Kara and Daniel Beeman really hit their stride and were quite funny and endearing. It was clearly a different take on the roles and knowing what Sutton and Michael were capable of I'm sure it would have been even funnier than it was tonight (which was still pretty damn funny what with the great polished performances surrounding the two.) Reading on this thread that this was Kara's debut, I am really impressed with a polished and credible performance indeed.

The upside was that since many people probably asked for refunds my TDF seat was 5th row orchestra! Congrats to all. 

[Plexsis]

Posted: 10/26/24 at 12:40am

Saw that Kara went on again tonight.  Does anyone know if Sutton is out the rest of the weekend?

[idioteque...]

Posted: 10/29/24 at 1:15pm

Long shot is anyone able to get one of the legacy playbills for me this week if they are going?😬.

Didn’t win the lottery so figure I would ask

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 10/29/24 at 1:19pm

idioteque... said: "Long shot is anyone able to get one of the legacy playbills for me this week if they are going?😬.

Didn’t win the lottery so figure I would ask"

I might be finally seeing it this week. I'll see what I can do regarding getting playbills for you. TBC. 

[corninthesky]

Posted: 10/29/24 at 1:52pm

Assuming a cast recording is becoming a pipe dream?

[idioteque...]

Posted: 10/29/24 at 4:12pm

Bill Snibson said: "idioteque... said: "Long shot is anyone able to get one of the legacy playbills for me this week if they are going?😬.

Didn’t win the lottery so figure I would ask"

I might be finally seeing it this week. I'll see what I can do regarding getting playbills for you. TBC."

thanks for being a real one man appreciate it!

[greensgreens]

Posted: 10/29/24 at 6:28pm

corninthesky said: "Assuming a cast recording is becoming a pipe dream?"

They were looking for investors/producers for a recording. I wish I had enjoyed the show or that would be a tempting offer!

[inception]

Posted: 11/12/24 at 10:43pm

Saw this tonight.  Sutton Foster is giving everything one expects from her.  Ana Gasteyer seems to have grown into her role, as I didn't see any of the problems people had during early previews.  Also didn't feel long to me compared to Monday night at the Met for Trovatore - a show that feels much more padded , even with the cuts they made to the score 

Once this moves to LA, might they film it there for something like Great Performances?  Would there be different union rules there than in NY?  It really feels like something that could do well for PBS, especially since they've had a few other things with Foster in the past.

[nativenewyorker2]

Posted: 11/25/24 at 11:51am

https://www.tiktok.com/@anagasteyer/video/7440984885885455646?

 

Cynthia gonna make the show close 5 days early now 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/25/24 at 8:38pm

For the LA run, Ben Davis will be Sir Harry and Oyoyo Joi will be Lady Larken. Kara Lindsay won't be continuing on, either (perhaps others too).

CTG Program

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/25/24 at 8:51pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "For the LA run, Ben Davis will be Sir Harry andOyoyo Joi will be Lady Larken. Kara Lindsay won't be continuing on, either (perhaps others too).

CTG Program"

Kevin Del Aguila as the Wizard!

[willep]

Posted: 11/25/24 at 9:58pm

Oh, Kevin is gonna be GREAT.

[MorrisLACat]

Posted: 11/26/24 at 11:57am

Any promo codes or discounts (excluding TodayTix) for the Los Angeles performances at the Ahmanson Theatre?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/30/24 at 4:16pm

The annual Broadway winter bloodbath starts tonight…

Anyone here attending the final performance?

[mshalo18]

Posted: 11/30/24 at 4:34pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "The annual Broadway winter bloodbath starts tonight…

Anyone here attending thefinal performance?"

This was always a limited run, so not exactly part of the bloodbath. 

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 12/1/24 at 12:42am

Final performance was lovely. Was not expecting much from Ana Gasteyer but thought she was hilarious.  Not great material but I thought everything was very tight and funny. Nikki Renee Daniels was not present and was also not mentioned in Sutton's list of thank yous and emotional goodbyes to the folks not transferring to LA.

Are they really not gonna make a cast recording? Odd since this is a new-ish version of the show that I'd imagine they'd want to license... and a cast that really sells the material. Sigh.

[hyangsoo]

Posted: 12/1/24 at 4:51pm

I was at closing - second time watching. Everyone was giving their all. Ana Gasteyer was more in her stride than I'd seen her last time.

Interesting note about Nikki Renee Daniels. Indeed she was not named as one of the cast not transferring but she is not on the cast list for the Ahmanson. I wonder if Sutton just forgot to mention her?

This would be a great show for high schools to license.