Donna Gholson is involved in academic coaching and public relations for the Russellville Independent Schools.
Russellville High School drama students have been busy rehearsing their spring musical Once Upon a Mattress, a musical comedy that opened
off-Broadway in May 1959. The play was written as an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Princess and the Pea.
RHS drama students will perform this outrageously funny musical on April 30, May 1 and May 2. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m.
Sunday Here's a synopsis of the story line: Due to a curse, King Sextimus is unable to speak.
Meanwhile, his terror of a wife, Queen Aggravian, has taken over control of the kingdom. In an attempt to keep her son, Prince Dauntless, single, she
has decreed that only the princess that can pass her test may marry her son. The prince manages to meet an amazing princess, Winnifred the Woebegone,
who instantly catches his attention. Princess Woebegone passes the Queen’s supposedly impassable sensitivity test. When the Queen still tries to
prevent the prince from marrying, he tells her to “shut up,” which breaks the curse on the king. Finally able to speak, King Sextimus regains his
rightful position as leader of the kingdom.
You will not want to miss seeing talented students such as Breanna Shelton (Queen Aggravian), Emily Guffy (Princess Woebegone), John Corum
(Prince Dauntless), McLean Shutt (Sir Harry), Sarah Fox (Lady Larkin) and others perform in the musical, nor will you want to miss some of the funniest
lines you will hear in a long time!
Come and join the fun!