re: How was SJP in MATTRESS?

[FOAnatic]

After seeing the movie on ABC last night I was reminded of how much I truly love the score; ever since I was in a production of ONCE UPON A MATTRESS.

I was wondering if anyone saw Sarah Jessica Parker in the 1996 revival. I was supposed to go, but plans got cancelled.

How was she as Winnifred? I'm assuming most people will think Carol Burnett was better and I can understand why.

[DottieD'Luscia]

I saw the revival; didn't like it.

[WOSQ]

She was miscast. Sarah Jessica Parker is a leading lady and not a zany.

You need a real comic actress to play this role and that she is not.

Marisa Jaret Winokur would be spot on.

In 10 years, Sarah Jessica would be a terrific Mame.

[Blanche]

Oh thank you thank you! I thought I was the only one who thought SJP was miscast as Winifred. I have been arguing with my best friend about this for years! :)
In my mind Carol Burnett is the only true Winifred, although I thought Ullman did a good job, Carol to me, will always be the best.

[MargoChanning]

SJP was completely miscast -- too pretty and refined and lady-like for the role, so the jokes about her appearance all fell flat. She also doesn't have much of a voice anymore.

[YayJudyYayJudy]

agreed- but although she was miscast she still brought a lot of life and spunk into that show, have to give her credit for that.

[MargoChanning]

I always thought Lea DeLaria would be a fun choice for the role, not that she would ever be cast in a major Broadway production of it.

[munkustrap178]

While obviously not the BEST choice for the role, I thought she was great. But, I was also like 12 when I saw her - so that could just be attributed to my age

[Doogie]

Lea DeLaria did a regional production in Cali last year, Margo

[DottieD'Luscia]

I also thought Mary Lou Rosato as the queen was horrible.

[melissa errico fan]

She was awful. Painful. I wanted to scream.

I would LOVE to see Lea DeLaria do this show!

[MTVMANN]

Awww, I was just going to say that judging from the recording the Queen looked like she was really good and fun and really got into her role.

[munkustrap178]

Maybe I was just young and impressionable...

But I STILL love the recording of the show.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

I never watched this production, but I sure love Sarah Jessica Parker's acting in the recording. The reviews were not harsh on her though, they all said that she really had star power but like Margo already said, most reviews pointed out her lady-like attitude and elegance which obviously is wrong for Winnifred. How was Jane Krakowski though?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Jane was fine. I remember that was around the time she was cast in Ally McBeal and left the show as a result.

[MrMidwest]

I like her on the recording. There's only one Burnett, but SJP's take on the role is cute.
SJP - Happily Ever After

[AC126748]

It was a community theatre performance in a Broadway production. Very workmanlike--you could see all of the wheels turning.

[jayinchelsea]

In more than 50 years of theatergoing I have never done this before. But our friends were going with us to THE KING AND I, and Donna Murphy was out that night, so we got our money back and repaired to a coffee shop to decide what to do.

Our friend said: let's second act a show! Never had the nerve or desire to do this before, but what the hell. So we went over to the Broadhurst, with our rolled up programs from TKAI, waited for the intermission to be over, and wandered in with the rest of the audience. Went straight up to the mezzanine, where there were no more than 25 people (balcony was empty) and saw the second act.

Sadly, the show (which several of us had done in amateur productions and knew well) was totally listless, as was the audience response. SJP was sweet, but had a very small voice, and crooned her way through "Happily Ever After" with little resonance. It was all sort of tired and sad, and we were all kind of depressed. No TKAI, and a tired half of OUAM. Oh, well...

[Jon]

Here she is on the Tony Awards.

The whole joke of "Shy" is lost if you can't BELT THE CRAP OUT OF IT. She can't.
SJP is Shy

[Owen22]

God bless her, she tried. She tried so hard. And was somewhat semi-successful...sorta.

[MrMidwest]

SJP on Glee

[Owen22]

Part of the problem was Vienne Cox was at her height (still the greatest Amy in "Company" I've ever seen) and was so perfect for the role (indeed previous to the SJP announcement there was lots o'talk that she HAD to play Fred sometime soon) and though I'm not sure critics said this a good portion of the theatre community lamented that a movie/TV star was doing a role that was so ideal for "one of our own".

[somethingwicked]

Owen22, there's no way Veanne Cox could ever sing Winnifred. She's talked publicly about how the amount of singing she had to do in CAROLINE, OR CHANGE terrified her beyond measure, and that was barely more than spoken words set to music in a supporting role.

Also, considering how far back her roots in theater go, I would hardly classify Sarah Jessica Parker as an outsider that would inspire animosity from the theatrical community. If anything, she's a Broadway star who made it "big," not the other way around.

[MrMidwest]

SJP 1979 interview

[muscle23ftl]

I find the CD quite enjoyable, it seems there was a lot of drama between the cast and crew in that production.

[EricMontreal22]

The show IMHO should never be on Broadway. It's simply not strong enough--it has a lot of charm but that's pretty much it.