Los Angeles Times - Recommended
"...But the real animation comes from the players. When Foster’s Winnifred climbs down from the mountain of mattresses a tired wreck and walks into her surprise happy ending, it’s hard not to share in the theatrical joy of a talented company hell-bent on entertaining us."
Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended
"...Almost two hundred years ago, Hans Christian Andersen penned a quaint story about a lonesome prince in search of a woman who can prove to his mother she is a real princess and thereby become his wife. The queen devises a plan for the woman to sleep on an incredibly high stack of downy mattresses with a single pea placed beneath. If she’s a true princess, her delicate disposition will be disturbed by the tiny lump and she won’t even be able to catch a wink."
LA Splash - Highly Recommended
"...The prince is a delight as a shy, bumbling kid who doesn’t have a clue but eventually morphs into something else. But the primary kudos must go to Sutton Foster, whose physical comedy skills are superb – and who has a roaming foot to boot. It was easy to see the influence of her predecessors on her performance – but the end result was very definitely Foster’s own as she nailed Winnifred the Woebegone."
Stage Scene LA - Highly Recommended
"...A supercharged lead performance by triple-threat extraordinaire Sutton Foster and Amy Sherman-Paladino’s freshly adapted book are just two reasons to celebrate the December arrival at the Ahmanson of Once Upon A Mattress direct from its Broadway run."
Stage Raw - Highly Recommended
"...The show, directed by Lear deBessonet, is an utter delight, frivolous fun of the highest order. Foster is, as always, wonderful. It’s a joy to watch her dance, and her lovely, bright voice is showcased well in Mary Rodgers’ score. But it’s in physical comedy where she really shines, popping her foot up onto the shoulders of various men onstage, and shoving grapes into her mouth like she’s working in a chocolate factory on I Love Lucy (surely an Encores! production of Wildcat is in the works for a future season)."
Ticket Holders LA - Highly Recommended
"...There are lotsa reasons to see Once Upon a Mattress while it’s stopped here. If nothing else, it’s a golden opportunity to experience the magical talent of folks such as Sutton Foster, Michael Urie, and David Patrick Kelly, worldclass performers who are becoming—no, already are—theatrical legends in their own time."
Its Not About Me - Recommended
"...I do have a few small issues with some of it, but it’s a fun, happy show, and exactly perfect for these trepidatious times. The supporting cast is all excellent, but let’s face it, most of us are there to see Sutton Foster. When she’s off stage, Once Upon a Mattress is just a good, entertaining, light-hearted show. When Sutton is on stage, it’s exciting and electric; she’s a joy to behold!"
Larchmont Buzz - Highly Recommended
"...Straight from Broadway’s Hudson Theatre comes a family-friendly musical to which you can literally wear your pajamas! This fresh take on Once Upon a Mattress provides a perfect escape for those who enjoy simple, but fun stories. Those familiar with Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea” will want to tip a hat to this production. Audiences can delight in the bright colors, clever choreography, and skills of a performative and diverse cast in this whimsical journey."
Broadway World - Highly Recommended
"...It's evident how Carol Burnett got the bug to put on her hit variety show in 1967. She had essentially already been in a variety show when she starred in the 1960 Broadway musical Once Upon A Mattress. The show is a trifle, light and airy, where only special ingredients can make it take flight. Luckily, at the Ahmanson, this stellar cast has created a tasty morsel, led by the deliriously funny Sutton Foster."