Sutton Foster shines in family-friendly ‘Once Upon a Mattress’

On Broadway, this whole Lear deBessonet production from City Center (now with some cast changes) really is pretty slight and seems to be saying, “Hey, it’s August and we’re all just having fun with our pals here on this low-budget set doing a show you loved when you were a happy little theater kid. We got air conditioning and it’s hot outside! Don’t be so judgy, people!”

Michael Urie, having just played as Sir Robin in the now-closed “Spamalot,” largely gets to do it again as the spindly Prince Dauntless, as daunted by a search for both a princess and emancipation from his mom, the overbearing Queen Aggravain, jovially if unwaveringly played by Ana Gasteyer as a blend of Meryl Streep as Anna Wintour and a pantomime dame, assuming that’s not the same thing. The narrator is the sandpaper-dry Daniel Breaker, who skillfully plays the normative character this kind of broad comedy needs. He’s essential. 

Brooks Ashmanskas  does some magic tricks as the Wizard and barely needs to break a sweat. Will Chase strolls out and leading-mans it as a zesty Sir Harry, Nikki Renée Daniels gets through the night as Lady Larken and David Patrick Kelly does his level best with King Sextimus, a mute character past his sell-by date.

Not in “Once Upon a Mattress.” Not as the above-the-title star climbs all over the signature bedding in search of a pea, or whatever. It takes guts, skill and talent, and Foster always has had all three of those happening at once. She’s clearly having a good time and you either jump on the Good Ship Sutton, or you’ll keep falling overboard all night long.