Once More Upon a Mattress

New York has always been a cradle to burgeoning stars, but occasionally, it births a legend. In 1959, a new show surfaced, penned by Mary Rodgers, daughter of Broadway composer Richard Rodgers, featuring an up-and-coming actress, Carol Burnett.

The production, “Once Upon a Mattress,” was a creative take on the classic fairy tale, “The Princess and the Pea,” in which a princess can feel a pea beneath a stack of mattresses. From the get-go, it was evident that Princess Winnifred was a role uniquely suited for Burnett.

This marked Burnett’s debut on Broadway and was a tremendous opportunity for someone who grew up with very little. Ironically, while she portrayed a princess atop plush mattresses, Burnett didn’t have a bed of her own until she was 21. “I slept on the couch; I lived with my grandmother in a one-room apartment in Hollywood until I left to go to New York,” Burnett shared. “And then I lived in a wonderful place called the Rehearsal Club, where I had a cot. And I thought, ‘Wow, this is nice. I have a bed for the first time.'”

Burnett’s rocky beginnings likely contributed to her relentless work ethic. In 1959, she juggled her role in “Mattress” with a regular gig on “The Garry Moore Show,” leaving her working seven days a week. One day she was so exhausted during a matinee performance that she actually fell asleep while pretending to be asleep onstage. “I’ve maybe put an audience to sleep, but I never could sleep in front of an audience,” she recalled.

Despite the grueling schedule, Burnett’s hard work paid off quite literally, earning her more than $500 a week, a substantial sum at the time. “I was rolling in dough,” she reminisced. “I had never seen that much money in my life.” Burnett wasted no time enjoying her earnings: “I bought the first pair of shoes that actually fit me. I wish I still had them. I’d have them bronzed.”

“Once Upon a Mattress” has enduringly charmed audiences on both stage and screen. The most recent TV adaptation was in 2005, with Burnett taking on the role of the evil queen. This week, a fresh Broadway rendition will open with two-time Tony winner Sutton Foster leading the charge.

“It’s such a gift to be able to play such a wild and crazy character,” said Foster. While the role is enjoyable, it demands significant effort: “It takes a lotta hard work to make it look easy,” she pointed out. Her objective is to make the performance seem effortless, although internally she feels the pressure.

Curious about Burnett’s thoughts on Foster’s portrayal, “Sunday Morning” arranged a meeting between the two, revealing that Burnett is indeed a fan. “There couldn’t be a better Winnifred,” Burnett told Foster. “You are it. The minute they said you had been cast, I thought, ‘What took them so long?’ It’s perfect. Perfect.”

Foster, who grew up watching “The Carol Burnett Show,” fondly remembers her admiration. “I was the one who was watching every week,” Foster said, to which Burnett humorously replied, “You were the one!”

Foster admired Burnett’s blend of humor, confidence, and fearlessness. “You were funny, you were tall, you were unafraid. I wanted to be like that. I tuned in to see that continuity and aliveness, to look up to someone unafraid to be ridiculous.”

As the mantle passes from one Princess Winnifred to the next, “Once Upon a Mattress” seems ready to enchant new audiences with its charm and humor. Burnett, when asked about her hopes for the show, said, “That it’s a great success. Here it is 65 years later, and I just feel it’s going to keep going.” Addressing Foster, she added, “Someday, there’ll be a girl that you’re going to love the way I love you, and you’ll be encouraging her. I have no doubt.”

To watch a trailer for “Once Upon a Mattress,” click on the video player below:

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Story produced by John D’Amelio. Editor: Steven Tyler.