SALEM COMMUNITY THEATRE 'Honk' retells ugly duckling tale of rejection and motherly love

Delightful family-pleasing tale of an ugly duckling is not all fluff and feathers.
BY MARGARET NERYVINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
Hans Christian Andersen's absorbing childhood fable about an ugly duckling has been translated into a sentimental study of maternal love and given the unlikely title of "Honk."
Staged Friday night at Salem Community Theatre, the delightful visual interpretation of the classic entertained youngsters and oldsters alike with its rousing songs, corny puns and lively production numbers.
While mother-love is the overall theme in "Honk," the play manages to convey the message that discrimination, bullying and prejudice are unacceptable without becoming preachy,
Although "Honk" is the tale of an ugly duckling, it is not all fluff and feathers -- it is a story about moral principles, a tribute to a mother's love.
The story is told magically by a host of wonderful characters, only a few props and amusing costumes that leave much to the imagination.
Her nest egg
The action begins in a barnyard where a mother duck named Ida (Sue Vollmar) patiently sits on her nest until the eggs burst open and four of the cutest little yellow ducklings (Kacie Honeywell, Kelsey Crismon, Annie Maglione and Kenzie Hagy) are born.
The biggest egg finally opens revealing an odd-looking bird that greets the world with a resounding "Honk" and is immediately given the name of Ugly.
Josh Lewis is a delight to watch as he portrays the sometimes hurt and lonely, and often overenthusiastic and overly awed Ugly, who is rebuffed and rejected.
Although his mother tries to comfort him by saying, "It is not how you look on the outside, it's what's inside that really counts," it is apparent even his father the Drake (Tom Hathhorn) can't accept Ugly as a son.
And when he is unable to stand the constant teasing by other barnyard creatures, including the Turkey (Kyle Snyder who has the turkey trot down to perfection), Ugly runs away and finds the cruel new world both confusing and deceptive.
He is temporarily befriended by a cunning cat (the devishl Roger Gaskins) whose real motive is to make a purr-fully delicious meal of the hapless duckling.
Catnipped
Cat keeps trying but is continually thwarted in his attempts to devour the duck. And although he becomes involved in a fascinating feline flirtation with a sexy Queenie (Joanna Andrei), his appetite reminds him that Ugly is what he really wants.
After escaping again from the conniving Cat, Ugly meets a gaggle of geese masquerading as an RAF crew. And he finds momentary happiness when he meets a beautiful swan and, thrilled with the encounter, sings "Now I've Seen You."
Still unable to find his way home, Ugly is feeling down and discouraged when he encounters a wisecracking Bullfrog (played with gusto by Kyle Snyder), who, with the help of precious little froglets, convinces Ugly that eventually someone will love him, "Warts and All."
Ugly is finally reunited with his loving mother and finds both love and acceptance as he is transformed into a swan.
Directed by Marlene Strollo, this whimsical adaptation is delightful family entertainment.