Once Upon a Mattress

The scene opens in the present day at the Magic Kingdom, where a young girl asks Disney Princesses about Princess Winnifred. Carol Burnett begins to tell the story, setting the stage for the fairy tale to come. This framing introduces the story to the young girl and the audience as a nostalgic, magical tale.

A chorus describes a kingdom where no one can marry until Prince Dauntless does. Queen Aggravain imposes high standards for his bride, insisting only a 'genuine' princess is worthy. The Queen's strict rules create obstacles for royal matchmaking, and set the stage for the story's conflict.

Prince Dauntless suspects that his mother is sabotaging his marriage prospects after the latest princess fails her test. Queen Aggravain denies these accusations, intensifying the tension between them. The prince's desire to marry is thwarted by his mother’s controlling behavior.

Lady Larken learns she is pregnant and confesses to Sir Harry that they need to find a bride for Dauntless. Their plan is to marry themselves without Lady Larken being banished from the kingdom. This motivates their quest for a suitable princess and adds to the story's romantic subplot.

Harry brings back Winnifred, a princess from the northern swamps, who arrives at the castle after swimming the moat. Despite Her disheveled appearance, Dauntless immediately falls in love with her, contrasting her with typical princess standards. Her unconventional arrival sparks the beginning of their romance.

Queen Aggravain is disgusted by Winnifred, but Dauntless persuades her to give Winnifred a chance. The court prepares to test her suitability as a princess by subjecting her to a sensitivity test involving a pea under multiple mattresses. Tensions rise as the Queen's disapproval looms.

A test is set up where Winnifred must feel a pea hidden under twenty mattresses to prove her princesshood. Meanwhile, Queen Aggravain secretly plans to exhaust Winnifred with a tiring dance at the upcoming ball, intending to make her fail the test. The court's manipulations aim to thwart Winnifred’s acceptance.

At the ball, Winnifred survives a vigorous dance and even suggests performing it a second time, showcasing her energy. Dauntless expresses his love for her openly, and the crowd witnesses their connection. This moment signifies Winnifred's acceptance despite the Queen’s schemes.

Queen Aggravain and the Wizard secretly place the pea under the mattresses with plans to make Winnifred fail. Lady Larken discovers their scheme and warns the others. The plan revolves around exhausting Winnifred so she will falsely be deemed unsuitable.

Winnifred is given opium and a lullaby to help her sleep, but feels discomfort from a hidden lump under the mattress. She tries to find the cause but is ultimately exhausted, leading to doubts about her success in the test. Despite her pain, she worries about failing or passing.

The next morning, Winnifred counts sheep and claims she never truly closed her eyes, passing the test. Dauntless declares his love for her publicly. Queen Aggravain attempts to object, but Dauntless asserts his right to marry Winnifred, ending her manipulations.

The Jester reveals that the curse was actually about Queen Aggravain, and it is broken when King Sextimus regains his power of speech. He begins to rule again, and Lady Larken and Sir Harry announce their upcoming marriage, bringing peace to the kingdom. The story moves towards a happily ever after.

Prince Dauntless and Winnifred are married and sleep peacefully, with the Queen’s schemes thwarted. The kingdom is now free from interference, and love triumphs. The resolution emphasizes the themes of acceptance and true love overcoming obstacles.