PODCAST: Chatting and Kvetching With ONCE UPON A MATTRESS' Jackie Hoffman and John Epperson

"Not exactly the theatre district," jokes WNYC host Leonard Lopate about the Lower East Side home of Transport Group's hit revival of ONCE UPON A MATTRESS.

"It was in 1904," snaps back star Jackie Hoffman.

The unpredictably dark-humored Broadway clown is taking a break this year from her traditional holiday schedule of Chanukah-themed solo shows to play Princess Winnifred, the role that propelled young Carol Burnett to Broadway stardom in 1959.

Hoffman is joined by co-star John "Lypsinka" Epperson (who is required to arrive two hours before showtime to get his Queen Aggravain makeup properly applied) and director Jack Cummings III.

They have a fun chat about the origins of composer Mary Rodgers' Broadway debut, with some interesting tidbits about who may have played the role pre-Broadway and what star it may have been offered to before Burnett.

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS plays at the Abrons Arts Center through January 3rd, with no chance of an extension because of another show booked into the venue.

"Yeah, but there's gotta be an empty Broadway house," quips Lopate.

How fast can they get the Hudson ready?

Transport Group presents Once Upon a Mattress, starring Jackie Hoffman (On the Town, Difficult People, Hairspray) as Princess Winnifred and John "Lypsinka"Epperson (Lypsinka's The Boxed Set, The Passion of the Crawford) as Queen Aggravain. The production, which is directed by five-time Drama Desk Award nominee Jack Cummings III, features Jessica Fontana (Cinderella) as Lady Larken, David Greenspan (The Patsy) as The King,Hunter Ryan Herdlicka (A Little Night Music) as The Minstrel, Cory Lingner (On the Town) as The Jester, Zak Resnick (Piece of My Heart) as Sir Harry, Jay Rogers (Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly) as The Wizard, and Jason SweetTooth Williams (Things to Ruin) as Prince Dauntless, with Vivienne Cleary, Richard Costa, Michael De Souza,Tim Dolan,Jack Donahue, Amy Griffin, Sarah Killough, Kristen Michelle, Ali Reed,and Doug Shapiro.

The raucous musical fairy tale Once Upon a Mattress stars the formidable Jackie Hoffman (On the Town, Xanadu, Difficult People) and the inimitable John "Lypsinka" Epperson (Lypsinka's The Boxed Set, The Passion of the Crawford). During a kingdom-wide search to find a princess fit for the hapless Prince Dauntless, in swims the less-than-regal Princess Winnifred the Woebegone (Hoffman). Unrefined and undeniably charming, Winnifred is like no princess Dauntless has ever seen and his heart is captured. The truly terrible Queen Aggravain (Epperson) goes on a mission to come between her son and his soulmate in this retelling of the classic story of "The Princess and the Pea." This is a Happily-Ever-After like no other!

Photo: Carol Rosegg