Guest Review of Honk!

Guest Review of Honk!

There is nothing ugly about a show that manages to be both fair and fowl at the same time. South Carroll High School’s production of “Honk!” was a touching and entertaining quackerjack of a musical.

With a book and lyrics by Anthony Drewe and music by George Stiles, “Honk!” is the musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling.” With more than 8,000 worldwide performances since first hatching at the Watermill Theatre in England in 1993, “Honk!” opened in the West End in 1999 and garnered the 2000 Olivier Award for Best Musical. It follows the story of Ugly, taunted by his duck family and society for his odd appearance and inability to quack. He gets lost and lured by a hungry Cat. What follows is his journey of self-discovery, along the way meeting an eclectic flock of animals. Set to a score of upbeat music, it teaches a message of tolerance.

Zach Federici was awkwardly endearing as Ugly. From his first nasally honk in argyle socks, he possessed a vulnerable charm that captivated the heart. His emotional torment was palpable by his fidgety movements, hunched shoulders, and downward gaze. With a strong tenor voice, his plea for acceptance in “Different” was tear-jerking. Emily Alexander (Ida) played his nurturing protective mother with sincerity and warmth, with the anguish evident on her face when Ugly disappeared.

Federico Alvarado (Cat), the predatory antagonist of the show, was a standout. He craftily captured the sly, conniving and cunning villain, and was an unadulterated tomcat in his seductive dance with Queenie – Meow! His deep baritone voice commanded attention, accentuating his nefarious persona. Sophie Stromberg (pretty Penny the swan) danced with artful precision in “Now I’ve Seen You”, landing each leap exactly on the beat of the music. She also showcased her sweet soprano voice during Ugly’s transformation. Jeb Hamel (Bullfrog) achieved maximal comic effect, despite limited stage time, hopping on his lily pad, and imparting wisdom about true beauty and the importance of “staying sexy.” The newly-hatched Ducklings (Seth Hamel, Lorin Loftus, Grace Lawell, and Melissa Dorsey) were eggs-cellently childish with their high-pitched voices and playful games.

Technical aspects fit the bill. Costumes by Emily Stipcak and Zoie Henry were done in Victorian Era style with large bustled skirts and fitted jackets. Deviating from obvious animal garb, the costumers took a more subtle approach, instead incorporating the animal’s colors- ducks in gold, turkeys in brown, cats in black, and swans in white. The set featured a rotating carousel and reversible painted wood-panels, allowing for seamless scene transitions. Romeo Cardenas and Zach Miller’s sound design enhanced the farmyard atmosphere with animal noises playing in the background throughout the show.

With an exuberant cast and colorful palate, discovering that “it takes all sorts to make the world go round” is not a wild goose chase in South Carroll’s “Honk!”. This musical underscored that even though birds of a feather flock together, life is awfully boring when everyone looks the same.

by Erin Jack of Glenelg Country