Once Upon A Mattress with SJP

[Broadway_freak]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 9:44pm

Did anyone see this with Sarah Jessica Parker in it? Was she any good? When I heard her on the gap commercial she sounded weak and strained, and when I found out she was Annie and Winnifred in OUAM I was shocked. Anyone?

[Pinguin]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 9:46pm

I didn't see the show but I have the recording, and her voice is definetely not her strongest suit; they lowered some of the keys of the songs for her and stuff. But she is a good actress so I'm sure was adorable.

[jaded_october]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 9:47pm

i doubt she was any good. she sucks at singing. she could barely hit the notes in the gap commercial.

(canyoutellihateherguts?)

[liotte]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 9:50pm

I saw her in it, it was one of my first broadway shows. It was cute from what I remember, but she doesn't really stand out in my mind. I was about 13 or 14 I think

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 9:59pm

I think she has a decent voice (she sounded good in Hocus Pocus and singing the Willy Wonka song on the MTV movie awards). She's not really singing in full voice in the GAP commercial. They probably told her to talk-sing so as not to annoy people who don't like musicals or something.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 10:00pm

Hocus Pocus wasn't bad. It might seem annoying, but it fit the role.

[Rypm25]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 10:06pm

I remember my Ouam visit very vividly! (visit very vividly..ha!) anyway...
I was in once upon a mattress in high school and was very excited to see the show. Went to a matinee and it was pouring rain. The audience wasnt let in until almost 2:00...when we got in we were informed that SJP was out that day...and the show started about 15-20 minutes late. and it was such a messy disappointment. the understudy was good..but the production was a mess. thats how i remember it.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 10:16pm

Yeah, I liked Hocus Pocus, too. I believe she sang in a episode of Square Pegs, also.

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 10:24pm

Fred's more of an actress's role than a singer's, isn't it? Yes, she has to be able to carry a tune but it seems like it's all about the personality. I dont know, Ive never seen it but I adore the music.

[jaded_october]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 10:31pm

"Hocus Pocus wasn't bad."

yeah, i guess i gotta give her that.

[luvliza89]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 10:36pm

I like her voice enough on the Revival CD. But then again I LOVE SJP. She is perfection in every way possible.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 10:51pm

Saw her in H2$ with Matthew, and she was very cute, and her voice fine. Also just found her Tony clip with Once... (which I believe was performed the evening of their last perf), and again, while not the strongest voice, is very pleasant and she's a great performer.

Now when the hell will she go into Chicago as Roxie?!

[luvliza89]

Posted: 5/30/05 at 11:21pm

everythingtaboo, you read my mind! I've ALWAYS thought she'd be perfect as Roxie.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 12:26am

SJP rocks! she isn't the greatest singer, but there are far far far worse that they have put on BWAY (coughChristyCarlsoncough).

and she is sweet, gorgeous and has THE best wardrobe! gotta love her!

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 12:34am

I thought the girl that played Winifred at my high school was better for it than SJP. She's just too... pretty? Winifred is supposed to be awkward etc.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 5:07am

While no Carol Burnett, she was sweet and charming! Wow, this was a while ago... I thought it was a really cute production. Very much in the vein with Beauty and the Beast and by that I mean family friendly. Jane Krakowski was featured too. I remember her headshot with brown hair and blonde chunky streaks. I was scared. This was of course pre-"Nine".

[twogaab2]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 10:18am

Outside on an interesting supporting cast, aviod this recording like the plague. (Unless you like the supporting cast or are one of those types-like myself who is a bug having everything you can in your collection)

The Burnett recording is still better (in spite of rather lousey stereo sound)

Updated On: 5/31/05 at 10:18 AM

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 11:05am

She was so wrong for the part - Fred is supposed to be anything but pricess like. SJP was too cute and princess like that it threw the entire plot off.

[M J R]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 11:25am

I don't even think the GAP commercial is all that bad....but I adore her, so it's hard to be unbiased.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 2:19pm

I saw the show (front row) and although I liked SJP, I didn't like the show. I actress who played the queen (Mary Lou Rosato) was way over the top. I didn't like her at all.

[neelyohara]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 5:46pm

I saw it and thought she was great...of course, I was eleven or twelve at the time and probably as harsh a critic as I could have been. She doesn't sound as good as I remember on the cast recording, but I did really, really enjoy the show.

[alphieboy]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 6:55pm

I did not see her in OUAM, but I also have the revival recording, and I love her on the cd.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 7:22pm

I like her voice. Not amazing, but pretty good.

[overthemoon419]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 10:07pm

my school just did Once Upon A Mattress this year and I used both the original and revival cast recordings in my preparation-- I was (and, in my heart, always will be) Princess Winnifred. and, well, my point is...

Fred is an extremely demanding part. i spent months training my voice to belt and do her songs justice. although the meat of the part is in the dialogue and the physical comedy, it certainly requires a powerful voice with considerable training to carry it well.

SJP was beyond disappointing. Her "belt" was merely a yell. She took comical bits (like "Swamps of Home") and tried to make them sound pretty--not only was she unsuccessful comically, but her voice just ain't that pretty. "Happily Ever After" begins all right, but then she ends with a scat that must have the entire 1930s and 1940s rolling in their graves. i don't know HOW it made it to the recording. her "Mattress" was essentially that GAP commercial, just longer and with more costume changes.

I love Sex and the City, but I could die happy never having to hear SJP sing again. ever.

[Broadway_freak]

Posted: 5/31/05 at 10:25pm

Well, I wouldn't say she has a bad voice,but she doesn't have the vocal stamina to sing Winnifred 8 nights a week. She must have stained her voice SCREAMING the part of Annie trying to match Andrea McArdle.