The Pea and the Princess

"The Pea and the Princess" is the first half of the third episode in the twenty-third season of Arthur.

Summary
Prunella is directing the third-grade's production of "The Princess and the Pea," but nothing seems to go according to her plan.

Plot
While a play is in production, Francine is upset over Prunella shortening the play's title from The Princess and the Pea to The Pea, and they tear the poster in half. A vase drops on Prunella's knee and George takes her off stage. Francine says that she has "just what it takes to continue the play" and starts the story "from the beginning."

The Pea and the Princess

On a rainy day, Prunella is auditioning for The Princess and the Pea. George, Muffy, Prunella, and Arthur audition for various roles. Binky runs in and causes a mattress to collapse, which Prunella finds "brilliant."

Prunella posts the cast list for the play: George is the prince, Arthur and Buster are the horse, Francine and Muffy are the princesses, and Binky is the pea. As the cast reacts to their roles, Francine wonders, "What on Earth is Prunella thinking?"

Prunella details the plot of the play, involving a princess who goes from "grim and grumpy" to "prim and proper." When Binky questions his role, Prunella explains that the pea joins the princess on her journey. Francine questions if the audience will understand the play.

Francine, Muffy, and Binky are confused as Prunella switches lines around. Arthur and Buster's horse costume consists of two back ends, which Prunella finds funny.

During the auditions for the play, Francine and Binky knock down the set on accident. Prunella feels that she cannot do the play, and she is reminded through Binky that "the show must go on."

Francine objects to Prunella renaming the play to The Pea, as in the episode's intro. Francine takes over the play, replacing Binky with a prop and making Muffy play the role of the horse.

Prunella, on crutches, views the play and how different it is from her original vision. The audience is disappointed as Prunella confronts Francine for changing it. Francine apologizes, and Prunella re-directs the play. Francine calls Binky, who had been "fired" by her earlier, and Binky runs through the rain back to the set in time for the play. As Binky dries off, Prunella is impressed.

When Binky signs autographs after the show, he credits Prunella as "the real genius."

Major

 * Prunella Deegan
 * Arthur Read
 * Buster Baxter
 * Francine Frensky
 * Muffy Crosswire
 * George Lundgren
 * Binky Barnes

Minor

 * D.W. Read

Cameo

 * Bud Compson
 * Ladonna Compson
 * Cisely Compson
 * Rufus Compson
 * Emily
 * James MacDonald
 * Cheikh
 * Liam
 * Timmy and Tommy Tibble
 * Edwin
 * Maryann
 * Miss Morgan
 * Alex
 * Molly MacDonald
 * Rattles
 * Jenna Morgan
 * Nigel Ratburn

Trivia

 * Binky says he quit the play, but Francine says he's fired, she can't fire him if he quits.
 * Moral: Don't be a bad director for your own benefits.

Episode connections

 * Francine previously directed a play in "Francine Frensky, Superstar."

Cultural references

 * The Princess and the Pea is a real life story that was written by Hans Christian Anderson.