'Once Upon a Mattress' at Sharon Center School

SHARON — It was all royalty and romance last week when Sharon Center School students performed “Once Upon a Mattress.�

The musical comedy, which opened off-Broadway in 1959 and then moved to Broadway, is an adaptatian of the tale, “The Princess and the Pea,� by Hans Christian Andersen. It’s the story of a prince trying to find a genuine princess to marry — one who lives up to the exacting standards set by his mother, the queen.

During a storm, a lady claiming to be a real princess appears at the door of the royal family’s castle.

To test her claim of royalty, the queen places a single pea on top of a bedframe and piles 20 mattresses and featherbeds on top of it, claiming that a true princess will not be able to sleep because of the irritation of the pea.

The princess does indeed spend a sleepless night on top of the mattresses, earning the right to marry the prince. The royal couple lives happily ever after.

Jose Salazar, 14, played the king in the production, a role he relished.

“It’s really amazing performing,� Salazar said with a grin. “It sure feels good to be king. I’m not sure if I’m going to stay with acting... but it’s fun.�

On Tuesday, March 24, the cast put on a special performance for 20 residents of the Sharon Health Care Center, who traveled to the school to watch the show in the gym.

“They called to invite us,� Bonnie Sheldon, recreation director for the center, said. “Some of the residents are having fond memories of when they were all in school and in plays.�

Resident Emily Hollman said she loved the performance.

“I’m delighted and impressed,� Hollman said. “This gym is much bigger than the old one we had.�

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