On paper, "Once Upon a Mattress" looked good. Sarah Jessica Parker and the director and the designers -- everyone involved was reputable and had had huge successes in the past. What`s odd to me is that I could tell from the first day of rehearsal that it was not going to be right; I hoped it would find its way, but I don`t think it ever really did.

I`ve never felt anything so exciting as when this unanimous gasp came from the audience. That`s why I love doing live theater more than anything: You get an immediate reaction, whether it`s good or bad.