As One Of The Show Lyrics Go, Darlings, This Show Will Leave You "Thoroughly Satisfied!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                      Almost as soon as we arrived in our Bay Ridge apartment, with me happily exhausted from my birthday holiday, we received word from our connections that we would be heading back into the city that night--driven to and from--to see the revival of "Once Upon A Mattress," now playing at the Hudson Theater, where, a year ago last October, we saw "Merrily We Roll Along!"

                                        The show, the only musical written by Mary Rodgers (daughter of composer Richard) is a takeoff on "The Princess And The Pea."   It is pure musical theater magic, compared to the rest of what is on Broadway.  Sutton Foster is as perfect for Princess Winnifred The Woebegone, as Carol Burnett was back in 1959.  Foster not only puts over the numbers "Shy" and "Happily Ever After," with the pizzaz required, her limberness and bodily flexibility is remarkable, and she is incredibly adept at the physically comic aspects of the role.  As her Prince, Michael Urie emerges from a charming Mama's Boy into a person of his own strength.  And Ana Gasteyer is devilishly humorous as the Queen Mother.

                                            The rest of the company is solid, the sets and costumes appropriately fairy tale like.  And to think this was directed by Lear deBessonet, from ENCORES!  She was the one I thought ruined "Oliver!" when we saw it there, so I am amazed she pulled this show off so well.

                                             A more delightful evening of musical theater one can't ask for.  But, girls, I urge you to see it fast.  I have heard no postings, but I fear it may be part of the January show exodus.

                                                This 'Mattress' will have you purring contentedly, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!