Complete Synopsis

Once Upon a Mattress

A Complete Synopsis

Act One

Our story begins in a faraway medieval kingdom, very long ago. The kingdom is ruled by Queen Aggravain and her mute husband, King Sextimus the Silent. Sextimus was struck dumb by a witch’s curse when his son was a baby. The curse states that Sextimus will remain silent until “the mouse devours the hawk.” 

The court’s Minstrel sings the classic tale of The Princess and the Pea, although he informs the audience that this version is not the truth-- which he ought to know, since he was there (“Many Moons Ago”). In the actual story, the entire court was very upset about an unjust law proclaimed by Queen Aggravain: “Throughout the land no one may wed, ‘til Dauntless shares his wedding bed.” However, every single princess that has applied to marry Dauntless has tried and failed to pass a series of impossible tests put forth by Aggravain and her assistant the Wizard. The knights and ladies of the court are distressed because they all want to marry one another! (“An Opening for a Princess”). 

Meanwhile, the Lady Larken reveals to her lover Sir Harry that she is pregnant (“In a Little While”). This is bad news because as long as the two aren’t married, Larken will have to be sent away from court and Harry may face the loss of his station. In order to prevent this, Harry decides to journey out on his own find a princess for Dauntless (“In a Little While (reprise)”). 

A few anxious weeks later, Harry returns with his prize: Winnifred the Woebegone, a princess from the marshlands. She arrives wet and somewhat bedraggled: in her excitement to meet the prince, she swam the moat of the castle! She immediately makes friends with everyone, including Dauntless-- who instantly falls in love with her (“Shy”). 

The King accidentally discovers Larken’s pregnancy and tells his friends, the Minstrel and the Jester. He tells them not to say anything, but they are more concerned about him spilling the beans-- he can’t keep a secret! (“The Minstrel, the Jester, and I”). 

Queen Aggravain hates Winnifred and vows to stop her from marrying the prince. She teams up with her Wizard sidekick and together they form a plan to test Winnifred on a quality they are certain she doesn’t have: sensitivity (“Sensitivity”). They decide to place a tiny pea underneath twenty mattresses; if the “princess” can’t sleep, then that will serve as proof of her royal birth! 

In another part of the castle, Winnifred tells her new friends about her home (“The Swamps of Home”). After they leave, she accidentally spills a vase of flowers. While kneeling down to mop up the mess, she is mistaken by Lady Larken for a chambermaid. After realizing her error, Larken and Sir Harry get into a horrible fight. She says that she never wants to see him again and attempts to run away from the castle. 

Larken is intercepted by the King, the Minstrel, and Jester. They attempt to change her mind, but eventually decide to help her escape (“Normandy”). 

Queen Aggravain has planned an elaborate ball for the evening. In an attempt to make Winnifred as sleepy as possible, she insists that everyone dance the (“Spanish Panic.”) the most exhausting dance in all the world! It doesn’t work, however-- Winnifred is still going strong when everyone else has long since tired out. 

After the ball, Dauntless tries to help Winnifred prepare for her test. He reads to her from a history book, quizzes her on her spelling, and brings out an enormous barbell in case she should be asked to test her physical strength. When she lifts the barbell effortless, Dauntless confesses his love for her. Winnifred reveals that her nickname is Fred, and Dauntless sings her a love ballad as she continues to practice for her exam (“Song of Love”). 

Act Two

That night, the Queen instructs everyone to help carry the twenty mattresses to Fred’s room (“Quiet”). She unluckily discovers the Minstrel, the King and the Jester helping Larken escape (disguised in one of Dauntless’ suits). Aggravain is furious and holds the Minstrel responsible for the offense-- she promises him that he will be banished by dawn!

Fred has a talk with Larken and convinces her to make up with Sir Harry. After Larken leaves, Dauntless bids Fred good night and leaves also. As she reads various fairytales in an attempt to study for the quiz, Fred reflects on how easy it was for other princesses to find love (“Happily Ever After”). Meanwhile, the King and Dauntless have a confusing pantomime conversation about the birds and the bees (“Man to Man Talk”) and the Minstrel and the Jester trick the Wizard into revealing the secret of Fred’s princess test. Afterward, the Jester reminisces about his father’s impressive past as a famous dancer (“Very Soft Shoes”). 

Larken and Harry reunite in the hallway and forgive one another for their harsh words (“Yesterday I Loved You”). When it’s time for bed, the Queen makes every effort to help Fred fall asleep, including bringing in the Nightingale of Samarkand to sing her a lullaby (“Nightingale Lullaby”). Winnifred, however, can’t seem to get any rest-- her mattress is too lumpy! She resolves to count sheep instead. 

The next morning, Dauntless is dismayed to hear that his beloved Fred has already taken-- and failed-- the princess test. When Fred enters the great hall, however, she is clearly exhausted: she never slept a wink! Everyone celebrates the victory but Aggravain is furious. She insists that Fred doesn’t deserve her precious son, to which Dauntless angrily tells her to shut up. 

With that, the curse is lifted! (Dauntless, the “mouse,” has metaphorically devoured the “hawk,” his mother.) King Sextimus can magically speak again, and the Queen has been stricken into silence. Now Dauntless and Fred are free to marry one another. 

Finally, the true reason that Fred couldn’t sleep is revealed: after learning about the Wizard’s test, the Jester and the Minstrel secretly stuffed the mattresses full of jousting equipment, weapons, and various sharp household items. These are all removed by the Jester (“Finale”). However, it’s not until Dauntless finally takes the pea out of Fred’s mattress that she is at last able to sleep. The End!