After days of uncertainty, show goes on in Kendall
Photos by Kristina Gabalski: Sophomores Hanna Hofstra and Ryan Barrett star as Winnifred and Dauntless in the Kendall High School production of Once Upon a Mattress.
2 more performances today of Once Upon a Mattress
KENDALL – Utility crews continued to work on power lines just down the road, but the lights were at Kendall Junior/Senior High School which meant this year’s school musical – Once Upon a Mattress – could open on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Power outages from Wednesday’s windstorm meant students had to “adapt to changing scenarios,” drama director Michael Billotti said, but the opening performance, only one day delayed, went off without a hitch.
Billotti spoke to the audience prior to the show. “Going into this week we had the usual stress of show week,” he said. “We weren’t thinking, ‘What if the lights were not going to be on?’ To say it has been an unusual show week in an understatement.
“We found solutions to each obstacle,” Billotti said. “At the beginning of the week we talked about the old adage that the show must go on… we did not know how telling those words would be.”
Daniel Lauritzson is the show’s musical director. The final two shows are set for Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are available at the door. Tickets purchased in advance are good for any performance.
Kierstyn Christensen, the Wizard, puts Princess #12, played by Brianna Drennan, to the test.
The Royal Family – King Sextimus, played by senior Kenneth Price, Queen Aggravain, played by junior Megan Hardenbrook, and Prince Dauntless, played by Ryan Barrett – show their disappointment at the latest marital prospect for the prince.
Sir Harry, played by junior Caleb Henion and Lady Larken, played by sophomore Anna Oakley, pledge their love for each other as they sing, “A Little While.”
Winnifred, played by Hanna Hofstra, sings of being “Shy” shortly after being brought to court by Sir Harry as a potential bride for Dauntless.
Winnifred, played by Hanna Hofstra, is introduced to King Sextimus, played by Kenneth Price, as the Jester, played by Olivia Reed, and Dauntless, played by Ryan Barrett, look on.
Winnifred, played by Hanna Hofstra, is joined by Dauntless, played by Ryan Barrett as they sing, “The Swamp Home” about her humble beginnings…
Queen Aggravain, played by Megan Hardenbrook, prepares to place the pea at the bottom of a mattress-stacked bed, in order to test Winnifred’s appropriateness as a bride for Prince Dauntless.
Senior Clancy Frearson as the Nightengale, sings an entrancing lullaby as Winnifred goes to sleep.
Winnifred, played by Hanna Hofstra, finds it impossible to sleep on top of the mattresses with the tiny pea placed underneath.
Once Dauntless and Winnifred become engaged, the Jester, played by Olivia Reed, and the Minstrel, played by Sarah Knapp, remove objects from underneath the top mattress which were the real cause of Winnifred’s unrest.
