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CALUMET -- It starts out like any other fairy tale--there's an evil queen, a pair of unlikely lovers, and a bit of magic, but ‘Once Upon A Mattress’ is no ordinary story.

From the bumbling Prince Dauntless to the swamp-loving Princess Winnifred, it's a total twist on all of your childhood idols, specifically, those from the tale of ‘The Princess and the Pea’.

"This play has always been a favorite of mine," says Director Mike Aubin.  "It’s a colorful, lively musical, suitable for the entire family to come and see.  It's supposed to be the true story of ‘The Princess and the Pea’."

A cast of colorful characters adds to the laughs and lends their voices to a number of catchy songs, performed with the help of a live orchestra.

Everyone’s been working for several months to perfect their parts, and they say it's been as much fun for them to play as it should be for the audience to watch.

"It’s a new character for me, and it's much more physical than anything I’ve ever done," says Sara Perfetti who plays Princess Winnifred.  "I get to run around, and at the end of the show I’m acting from a seven-foot bed.”

"Instead of being the dashing, heroic prince going to get his princess, he's the one who's more in need of rescue," says Cal Wacker who plays Prince Dauntless.  "I really enjoy playing him, especially when I get to sing the song, ‘I’m in love with a girl named Fred’.”

‘Once Upon A Mattress’ takes the stage at the Calumet Theatre for five shows starting this weekend, so you have plenty of chances to see it for yourself.

All shows starts at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are available at the box office.