When the student actors and crew of Durango High School Troupe 1096 take the stage next week for their season-opener, “Once Upon a Mattress,” they’ll also be kicking off their chosen yearlong theme of “Celebrating Diverse Voices.”
“Once Upon a Mattress,” a musical comedy based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea,” takes audiences to a kingdom far away and long ago. According to a summary from Stageagent.com, the king has been struck mute by a curse, and his wife, Queen Aggravain, has taken over the rule of the land. Her main concern? Keeping Prince Dauntless single. By her decree, only a princess who can pass her test can wed Dauntless. And, not only that, no one else is allowed to marry until Dauntless does.
If you go
WHAT: Durango High School Troupe 1096 presents “Once Upon a Mattress,” book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller and Marshall Barer; music by Mary Rogers; lyrics by Marshall Barer.
WHEN: 7 p.m. Nov. 6-8, 13-15; and 2 p.m. Nov. 15.
WHERE: Durango High School, 2390 Main Ave.
TICKETS: $15. Available at https://tinyurl.com/ycakpm74.
MORE INFORMATION: Visit https://troupe1096.weebly.com.
Enter Princess Winnifred, who not only catches Dauntless’ attention, she is able to pass the queen’s test, despite not being what one would typically expect a princess to be.
DHS junior Arii Crowl plays the king in the show, while also serving as the scenic designer and one of the technical directors. For him, the production has not only encouraged him to up his leadership abilities, the role has also encouraged him to stretch his acting skills.
“This show has taught me a great deal about being a leader in the tech side of theater and how to be an effective co-head of our set crew so that my designs can be realized in the ways I imagined them,” he said. “This show has also pushed me as an actor because my role is completely mute, which has required me to become a lot more intentional with my movements as an actor and has created a new understanding of how I can use body language and other forms of nonverbal communication.”
Crowl said “Once Upon a Mattress” fits onto the theme of celebrating diverse voices perfectly.
“Our season’s theme around celebrating diverse voices can most clearly be seen in the fact that Princess Winnifred comes from such a different background from any other character in the show, that being from the swamp, but she is still beloved and accepted, which creates a message that how someone is thought of should be dictated by their actions and not where they’re from,” he said.
There’s also the idea of being honest to yourself, something Winnifred succeeds at, said senior Mia Sholes, who is in her first season as a Troupe member.
“Troupe 1096 is brand new to me this year, and it has been the most welcoming and rewarding experience I’ve had all four years of high school,” she said. “The production of ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ has shown me the importance of displaying your internal beauty and being true to yourself. Especially during times of uncertainty when there are harsh expectations to fit in that shadow over the beautiful uniqueness of reality”
Also pulling double duty for this production is junior Kate Graybeal. Behind the scenes, she is the scenic shop manager/part of the technical director team and the master carpenter for the show. She’s also Sir Luce the knight (ensemble) on stage as well. She said that while her jobs require a lot of hard work, it’s all worth it when seeing the final show begin to take shape.
“This has been an incredible show to start off my journey as an upperclassman and as someone in tech leadership. It has had its challenges for sure, but it’s always so rewarding to see a show come together,” Graybeal said. “I feel so fulfilled as a part of the student tech director team alongside our wonderful tech director Natalie Cohn, and all of the time I spend in this theater program helps me develop crucial skills that I can bring through my whole life. I think the messaging of this show is so important right now, and seeing a story of someone from far away being so loved and accepted in a new place is very crucial to hear. More than anything I hope everyone enjoys the show and recognizes and appreciates all the hard work that goes into this program.”
And while “Once Upon a Mattress” can be taken as just an entertaining night at the theater, there’s more the cast and crew hope people take away from the show, Crowl said.
“I hope that the audience leaves this show with a deeper understanding of the importance of judging someone by who they are and not what they are while also having had a great night at the theater,” he said.
For those planning ahead, Troupe 1096 will also stage “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later” in early March and a new musical called “Ride the Cyclone (high school edition)” in May.
katie@durangoherald.com
