MILLEDGEVILLE — "My dad was debonair and quite as light as air, In his very soft shoes. How he could dip and glide, and skip and slip and slide, in his very soft shoes.”

Lyrics from one of my favorite numbers featured in the just completed play “Once upon a Mattress,” “Very Soft Shoes” featured a great interpretation from Mathis Wilkens as the Jester along with some very able assistance from a couple of wonderful dancers from the cast.

The curtain has fallen on this musical masterpiece from the Milledgeville Players. And I must admit, there were times when this somewhat grouchy old producer wondered if this play would come off or not!

But it did! And it was great! A wonderful cast brought this retelling of the fairy tale of The Princess and the Pea to life. There were great songs, costumes and sets. And special credit must go to director Leanne Branch.

Leanne directed last year’s musical “Annie Get Your Gun” as well. But that musical was for Leanne what “Pajama Game” had been a year earlier for yours truly. One of her all time favorite plays! She was not as familiar with “Once upon a Mattress.” But she took on the directing duties and did a fantastic job.

I’ve mentioned some of the cast members in previous columns, and it’s always hard to single out folks in a large ensemble cast — simply because EVERYONE contributes so much to the final production. In fact, I often find myself looking more at the “side” players in large group scenes — ones that may not be at the center of attention but are doing “things” anyway that keep you interested and wondering what will happen next.

However, there are a few folks I would like to mention in this column that I may not have brought up previously.

First are the two talented young people who played the secondary “love” interest — Sir Harry and Lady Larken.

Jared Powell is currently a student at Georgia College. He appeared in the aforementioned “Annie Get Your Gun” and helped backstage with “Moon over Buffalo.” His portrayal of Sir Harry was right on the money, bringing a great combination of haughtiness, tenderness and aloofness to what could have been a one-dimensional character. But in Jared’s able hands and boots, Sir Harry became someone truly complex and a lot of fun!

Sir Harry’s love interest, the beautiful Lady Larken, could not possibly have been in better hands than those of Natasha Lee. Natasha is a recent graduate of Georgia College, but this was her first performance with the M’ville Players. I hope it will not be her last as she was simply stunning in her role. Her two duets with Sir Harry were outstanding. But I think it was her stupendous soprano addition to the voices of the Minstrel and the Jester in “Normandy” that really sealed the deal. Hope to see you in another production soon, Natasha.

OK, I know I’m gushing. But every once in a while, you’ve got to let a little of the sentimental slobbering out. Otherwise, it gets hung up in the sinuses and crevices of your skull and can lead to all sorts of calamitous complications.

Speaking of which, I can’t finish my accolades to mattress folks without mentioning the simply magnificent Sandy Dimon and her portrayal of Queen Aggravain.

Sandy has been with the M’ville Players since their very inception way back yonder in those ancient days of 2001. In fact, she appeared in the very first official productions in that banner year — the cabaret “Directions of the Heart” and the musical “Robber Bridegroom.”

In years since, Sandy has appeared in several plays and murder mystery dinners and has helped back stage numerous times. Now I never thought she would top her performance as Bernice Roth in “Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” back in 2007, when she played half of the song writing team of Roth and Hopewell. By the way, her partner, Roger Hopewell, was played by an actor of inimitable talent, sophistication, wit and masculine machismo.

But enough about me!

As Queen Aggravain, Sandy was just fantastic. Not only did she shine in the song where she plots the downfall of Princess Winnifred, “Sensitivity,” but she also had to deliver one of the longest cascades of lines ever written for any show, when she basically sums up the whole relationship (and plot) between herself and her hapless son, Prince Dauntless the Drab. But she did it with perfection. Way to go, Sandy. I feel honored to count you not only as a colleague in M’ville Players performances, but as a friend.

Hopefully you made it out to one of the shows. If you happened to attend Saturday night, you were treated to a very special event that occurred during the curtain call that you don’t see every night on 6 and 12! Sorry, that’s a hometown (Richmond, Va.) reference. Here in central Georgia, I guess the equivalent would be 13 and 41. But it was definitely a heartwarming treat. And if you weren’t there Saturday night ... well, check with someone who was!

OK, let me quickly mention another upcoming event. An exhibition of works by Anne Carr will open Sunday, Aug. 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Marlor House in Milledgeville. Sponsored by Allied Arts, the public is invited to attend this opening reception.

Anne Carr was born and raised in Milledgeville but moved to Athens in 1948. Something in the press release about wanting to be near her husband. But she always had a love for painting and drawing, which was nurtured and encouraged during her years at the Georgia State College for Women in the mid 1940s. Hmmm ... I think that school eventually evolved into my current place of employment!

Carr paints primarily landscapes and still lifes in oil in a somewhat impressionistic style. She often exhibits her work and participates in workshops in the central Georgia area and Daytona Beach. Some of her paintings have been displayed on cars racing in the Daytona 500. Well, maybe not. Just seeing if you’re paying attention!

After the opening reception Aug. 29, Carr’s paintings will continue to be featured at the Marlor House through Sept. 24. There is no admission fee, so check it out!

Finally, let me remind folks out there that this column is largely dependent on what information you send to me. It’s a new school year, and though schools certainly do not have to be the only source of information, they tend to form a pretty good chunk of it.

Georgia College events typically get pretty good coverage in this column. Heck, as I mentioned earlier, I work at the joint. But I want to publicize events all over the Milledgeville area. So if you are associated with any school, from elementary on up through college, and have knowledge of an upcoming event of an artistic, musical and/or theatrical nature, please let me know. I’ll do what I can to make sure others also know about it.

And if it involves certain rhythmical dance steps, you can be assured of a mention. After all, “I've noticed in all his reviews, that when he took his bow to the crowd and the crown, The crowd went crazy and the house came down, when Daddy wore his very soft shoes.”

Catch you on the flip side.

Tom Toney can be reached at ttoney@unionrecorder.com.