By Ruth SOWBY

It was 65 years ago that Carol Burnett made her Broadway debut starring as Princess Winnifred in the musical “Once Upon a Mattress.” On Saturday, she dropped in on the matinee of the same show at the Music Center in downtown LA.   

Burnett slipped into the theatre under heavy cover just after intermission. Although the comedienne probably didn’t want to take the limelight away from Sutton Foster, playing the same role as Burnett did, she was recognized just the same. As word quickly went around, every member of the audience stood up trying to see Burnett. The sighting ended a minute or two later as the lights lowered and the second act began.      

  At the end of story, after the Princess was able to feel a pea placed under 20 mattresses, she was dubbed genuine royalty and worthy to marry the Prince. A standing ovation accompanied the curtain call. All cast members tugged at their ears. The older members of the audience may have recognized the same sign Burnett gave at the end of her CBS-TV variety show of many seasons. She has said that her “grandmother wanted me to say hello to her when I was on television.”     

When the house lights came up, Burnett was quickly ushered into the Green Room at orchestra level. The firm message from Burnett’s handlers —no autographs nor photos allowed.