Once Upon a Mattress ...
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
Forum Discription: Need help finding a show that's right for your theater? Ask here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3563
Printed Date: 4/21/25 at 6:19pm
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Topic: Once Upon a Mattress ...
Posted By: Scott B
Subject: Once Upon a Mattress ...
Date Posted: 10/27/08 at 3:47pm
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Typical small community theatre ... we have some good actresses ... quite a few, but we're a little thin on
the male side.
OUAM would give us the opportunity to cast several of the gals in a principle role IF we could do some gender bending. I did this show 30 years ago in high school and read it about 6 years ago, so I'm a bit sketchy on how the parts interact with each other. Is it possible to change any or all of the following roles to female without hurting the show ... Jester Minstrel Wizard Your input would be greatly appreciated. |
Replies:
Posted By: skoehler
Date Posted: 10/27/08 at 3:59pm
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Not sure of the specifics of the show, just be aware that you cannot change the sex of a character without getting permission from the publishers. That does not mean that you cannot have a woman playing a male role, but the character must remain male. ------------- Steven Koehler Managing Director Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette www.lafayettecivic.org |
Posted By: Kyle L
Date Posted: 10/28/08 at 5:15am
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Yeah those 3 roles are fine to cast as female. And just a random note, the Wizard does not have a solo to sing in the show, but you could definitely include him/her in the chorus. Good luck! It's a fun show |
Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 10/28/08 at 8:40am
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The Jester and Minstrel could be played by women as long as you are ok with the lesbian undertones which will be present in certain parts of the show. (Not that there is anything wrong with that). ------------- Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse |
Posted By: Debflo
Date Posted: 10/28/08 at 12:23pm
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When we did the show, (back in high school), we cast females for all three of those roles and there were no issues. It worked quite well. Hope it goes well for you! ------------- Check out The Denver Theatre Examiner! http://www.examiner.com/x-474-Denver-Theater-Examiner |
Posted By: Scott B
Date Posted: 10/28/08 at 3:28pm
What would make it seem like lesbian undertones? If they're played by guys does that give it a gay undertone? I was the minstrel in high school (actually it was 36 years ago) and I don't remember the interaction of those parts. HOWEVER ... I do remember on closing night, walking to the apron of the stage and completely blanking out on the first three words. I could not, for the life of me, remember "Many moons ago ... " Thank goodness my girlfriend was in the pit to bail me out with a loud whisper. It felt like an eternity, but I'm sure it was nothing more than about 30 seconds. I won't go into all the detail of what went on during that time, but let's just say it was painful.  |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 10/28/08 at 8:14pm
Well, the wizard plays most of his scenes with the queen - and there is a certain amount of flirting that sort of happens. And, yes, if the queen was played by a guy, I would definitely say it had gay under-over-and-in-the-middle-tones  |
Posted By: Scott B
Date Posted: 10/29/08 at 12:18am
 See ... I told you I didn't know about the interaction between the characters. For some reason I thought you meant the interaction between the minstrel, jester and wizard. OOPS! |
Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 10/29/08 at 7:49am
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Well, the Minstel is supposed to pretend to run away with one of the ladies so she can actually be with of of the "Sir" sombodies. And the Minstrel, Jester and King have a suggestive song as well, if memory serves me right. In most fairy tales women and women don't run away to be together. ------------- Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse |
Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 10/29/08 at 7:50am
Not that there's anything wrong with that!  ------------- Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse |
Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 10/29/08 at 11:56am
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The following paid political announcement is just one old guys opinion (Who happens to have done mattress 3 times) The King, Minstral & Wizard are written, both in prose and lyric, as dirty old men. (old being relative). The wizard and the queen have a "thing".. Now as we tone this down a bit in high school, if you are really doing it for a ct and you want the most from the show, do it as written... Our CT did it a few years back, the director had all but promised one of her protegies the part of Fred. When a new face came in and blew her away, the director tried to "mend fences" by making the first girl the minstral... For those who know the show, or are paying attention, it really didn't play well... Again, just my opinion... My name is MartyW and I approved this message. ------------- Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.." |
Posted By: Scott B
Date Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:54pm
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Thanks to all for your input. I think we're going to let this show slide for a year. From what I remember of it, it was a fun show to do. I can't say there are any songs that people will identify with, but I'm sure people in our demographics will relate with the show. |