Once Upon a Mattress (1997 Broadway Revival Cast) [Cast Recording]

Sarah Jessica Parker, Lewis Cleale, Marshall Barer, Mary Lou Rosato, Mary Rodgers, Jane Krakowski | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 25, 1997)
• Original Release Date: March 25, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Cast Recording
• Label: RCA Victor Broadway
• ASIN: B000003G7Y
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,220 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #15 in Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Musicals > Revivals

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a fine recording; Sarah Jessica Parker tries her best, March 1, 2004

By 

Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Once Upon a Mattress (1997 Broadway Revival Cast) (Audio CD)

This cast album to the 1997 Broadway revival of ONCE UPON A MATTRESS is quite enjoyable, though the production itself met with mostly-negative reviews and it quickly shuttered.

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS and the lead role of Princess Winnifred are still largely identified with the legendary Carol Burnett. In this revival, Sarah Jessica Parker gamely attempts to crawl out from under Burnett's shadow, though she doesn't really succeed. Burnett had a seemingly-effortless belty singing voice, wheras Sarah Jessica Parker's light soprano is pretty but not substantial enough for the songs of the boistrous, bombastic Winnifred.

Parker especially struggles with the long, sustained phrases in "Shy" and "Happily Ever After", though her "Swamps of Home" is quite charming. Mary Lou Rosato is perfect for the role of Queen Aggravain, and David Aaron Baker is a fantastic Prince Dauntless.

Jane Krakowski (GRAND HOTEL, NINE) is a breathtaking Lady Larken, ably-partnered by Lewis Cleale as Sir Harry. Their duet of "Yesterday I Loved You" is sublime. The cast also features Heath Lamberts (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST), Lawrence Clayton, Tom Alan Robbins and David Hibbard.

A fine recording but it pales beside the peerless original Broadway cast album with Carol Burnett, Jane White and Joe Bova.

27 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's ok..., June 2, 2000

By 

Kristi A. Cates "bibliothecaire" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Once Upon a Mattress (1997 Broadway Revival Cast) (Audio CD)

I LOVE the musical Once Upon a Mattress, having played Princess Winnifred myself, but Sarah Jessica Parker just doesn't cut it for me. Of course, being a much more recent performance, the sound quality is much higher on this CD than on the original Broadway soundtrack, and some of the orchestrations are better too, but if you want to hear a REAL Princess Fred, buy Carol Burnett's recording. Parker's voice is too sweet and girly to be Fred. Burnett had the part down--wild, belting, exuberant, and bordering on obnoxious. Parker just seems to want to sing pretty--and while she does have a beautiful voice, having a beautiful voice isn't necessarily the top requirement for a Fred. I also don't really like some of the changes in the new Broadway version. Some of the songs really were better before they were "fixed;" they should have been left alone. Anyway, overall, this CD was at least worth my money, and I enjoy listening to it occasionally, but I prefer the original Broadway soundtrack, bad sound quality and all. So, go ahead and buy this CD, but make sure to buy the original too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Show!, January 14, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Once Upon a Mattress (1997 Broadway Revival Cast) (Audio CD)

Sarah Jessica Parker really shines in the lead role. This production of OUAM is a nice update on the original Carol Burnett version from the 1960s. It's a pity that it didn't last longer on Broadway, but shows like this (nice but not terribly flashy with sinking ships, flashing swordplay, or big animal puppets) don't seem to have the impact they used to. At any rate, I recommend this CD most highly for anyone who is tired of all the glitz and flash most Broadway musicals now have.